Two new arrivals in the Chesapeake Bay have created quite a fishing stir. Spanish mackerel along with some big spadefish have made their presence known. Add to that, cobia, red and black drum, croakers, whiting, flounder, bluefish and stripers – and what’s an angler to do?
Go fishing.
The charter boat Knot Wish’N found lots of Spanish ready to bite while Paige II Charters put limits of fat spadefish on the docks.
Long Bay Pointe has been issuing quite a number of citations for trophy fish and releases, including Cobia releases to 66-inches, red drum releases to 51-inches, a hammerhead shark release and blueline tilefish weighed in at up to 14-5.
Some extra-large sheepshead have been caught at the CBBT and the inlets are giving up lots of specks and pups. Spot have made an appearance in the tidal rivers, croakers, too. Ocean View, Virginia Beach Pier, Buckroe, and Sandbridge piers have been producing nice catches of spot, puppy drum, whiting, flounder, Spanish mackerel and cobia.
OBX
Storms churned up the waters at the OBX early this week, putting a hamper on surf action. With the dirty water, it was mostly sea mullet with an occasional speck, pup and some Spanish and blues. The Outer Banks Pier reported bluefish and sea mullet, along with a good run of some keeper sheepshead for those fishing close to the pier pilings. The sound fishing remains top notch for drum and speckled trout. Boats patrolling the ocean coast are finding lots of Spanish and a good number of King Mackerel. The offshore fleet pounded the Mahi and big-eye tuna early this week.
Freshwater
In freshwater, the tidal rivers are where it’s at. Bass fishing is super on the Chick and James. The Rapp and Potomac are also productive for largemouth. Anna remains good for stripers (mostly at first light), bass and crappie. Boat traffic is a pain after mid-morning.
At Buggs Island and other larger impoundments, crappie are moving to deep brush. At Lake Orange, Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540-672-3997) says the water is stained and in the low to mid 70s. The walleye fishing has remained strong with fish being caught on live bait in 8 to 12 ft. of water. Largemouth bass are being caught on top water baits in low light periods and a variety of soft plastics during mid-day. Crappie have schooled up on deep brush and can be caught on live minnows. The catfishing has picked up in the upper region of the lake using chicken livers and live bait.
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing says the Valley action is red hot.
They report multiple spring creek browns over 20 inches. The creeks are crystal clear and the big browns are looking up and eating dry flies. Brookies are all over the massive hatches of little yellow stones. Smallmouth bass on the Shenandoah are looking up and eating topwater baitfish, poppers, wiggle minnows, and frog patterns.