Native trout fishing in August? Absolutely. Our mountain streams are full and brook trout are sipping flies and bugs from the surface. With more rain on the way, the great brook trout fishing should only continue.
All this water also bodes well for the coming spawn in October. So often, brook trout nests are exposed to predators because of drought conditions, but not this year, or so it seems.
While lots of water is ideal for brook trout, the smallmouth anglers are sucking wind. Too much water. As often as not, the James, Shenandoah and New rivers are running mud red. After the storms pass, perhaps water levels will return to a near normal and the smallmouth bite will be on.
Lake Anna has been a beacon of success on the freshwater front. The striper bite continues as Anna Guides drop live bait down to the feeding schools. Bass fishing remains steady, as well
At Buggs Island, the elevation is 301 and should rise further as the tropical storm remnants pass through. Cooling weather should trigger the freshwater bite soon – from the lakes to the rivers and especially farm ponds.
Virginia Beach Fishing Rundown
Spanish mackerel and ribbonfish continue to keep anglers busy. Look for them along the oceanfront and near tide-rips in the Bay from Cape Henry to the mouth of the Potomac River. The Spanish mackerel seem especially attracted to gold spoons paired with a #1 or #2 diving planer. Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle weighed some really large Spaniards last week, up to 5.5 lbs. He said the larger fish were caught on live bait and king mackerel rigs.
September is Virginia’s peak king mackerel season. Smoker kings have already been landed and they are crashing both live and trolled baits. Bay anglers are still enjoying a fantastic cobia bite, but they are on the move now. As they prepare to head south there should be outstanding top water action available.
Big red drum are still roaming about the lower Bay and around the shoals of the barrier islands. It is time for reds to begin showing more around the artificial islands of the CBBT. Fresh cut bait and live bait work well for this area. Big bull reds can debut in the surf lines along Sandbridge and the Wildlife Preserve at any time. A northerly blow will jump start some good drum surf fishing action.
Flounder did not disappoint this week and their numbers and size should get better through September. The CBBT, the Cell, artificial reefs and ocean wrecks are holding fish. Bucktails and strip baits work well, but live spot is best for larger flounder.
We are seeing increased catches of large speckled trout. This trend should continue into September. Pier anglers are reporting a good spot bite. Look for spot to increase in size. Soon we’ll see coolers full of yellow bellies.
Offshore, ocean deep-droppers are finding plenty of sea bass. Along with the bass are golden and blueline tilefish. The Rudee Inlet head boat has 17 hour deep dropping trips planned for Aug 27 and Sep 3. The white marlin bite is excellent and it’s not even September yet. Charters are also picking up blue marlin, wahoo, dolphin and tuna.
Sea Toy captained by Bull Tolson based from Manteo, NC won the 17th annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. held out of Rudee inlet last week. 80 teams competed for a total of $620,000. The three-day event produced 429 billfish, all released.
OBX
TW’s Tackle in Nags Head, reports that there were Spanish again at the Cape, but most too far out to reach. Sea mullet and pompano were caught on the southern beaches. Sea Mullet and spot showed on the north beaches with red drum at the Inlet.
The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported bottom fish with some trout. The piers produces Spanish, blues, sea mullet, puppies and spot.
The nearshore anglers boated ribbonfish, false albacore and drum. The inshore sound fishing remains very good for trout, puppies and flounder.
Billfish are dominated the news this week with every blue water boat returning to the docks with flags flying. There were also dolphin and wahoo caught along with tilefish.