The Spaniards are at our doorstep, Spanish mackerel, that is, and they are moving well up into the Chesapeake Bay. Along side the sleek mackerel are an even sleeker fish – ribbonfish. They are fun to catch and good to eat.
Spanish mackerel are now available to trollers from Sandbridge to Cape Henry. A large class of fish has arrived along the oceanfront and some smaller ones were caught in the tidal rips inside the bay. Captains are trolling small spoons like the 00 Drone or a 00 or 01 Clark behind a small plainer. Spanish mackerel average between 1 and 3 pounds but the Virginia state record is 9 pounds, 13 ounces.
This week water temperatures rose to 72-73 degrees in the Bay and warm water extends all the way out to the Norfolk Canyon.
Cobia action remains good along the oceanfront and inside the Bay. They should be available for the rest of the summer. Watch for fish on the surface. Chumming is effective, create a chum slick and use live eels, live spot or croaker for bait. The fishery is all catch and release until June 15th.
Red drum schools have been popping up along the oceanfront and around the shoals at the mouth of the bay. Some captains reported catching and releasing dozens last week, it’s just a matter of finding a large school. Remember, approach schools slowly, so not to spook them.
Sheepshead are around the pilings of the CBBT.
The spadefish bite turned on this week. Look for spades around buoys, the pylons of the CBBT and at the Chesapeake Light tower. They tend to draw a crowd – divers, snorkelers, and anglers – so pack some patience.
Anglers are picking up a few flounder and speckled trout inside Lynnhaven, Little Creek and Rudee Inlets. Specks are also being caught in the Elizabeth River. Look for small stripers inside Rudee Inlet.
Anglers fishing off the Virginia Beach Pier have caught some nice Spanish mackerel, small croaker, spot, and sea mullet.
Virginia’s offshore, summer-time bluewater action is kicking in. Over the past week yellow fin tuna were caught. Look for gaffer-sized dolphin numbers to increase.
Deep dropping action remains good, crews are catching nice tilefish bottom bouncing. AquaMan Charters is currently running charters targeting blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, and snowy grouper.
OBX
On Wednesday, the offshore fleet out of Oregon Inlet rolled in with limits of yellow fin tuna and Mahi-Mahi.
Ribbon fish, croaker, Spanish mackerel, red drum, and bluefish were caught by boats trolling nearshore. Cobia are cruising in large numbers around Oregon Inlet.
On the piers, it was sea mullet, spot, and small croakers.
Inside the sound, the inshore guys smoked the speckled trout, puppy drum and bluefish.
Freshwater
The freshwater report is predictable. Bass and crappie are mostly through with their spawn. Crappie are hovering under deep docks and baas are cruising the shallows and points. Early morning action is good for Lake Anna stripers. Both the tidal Chickahominy and James rivers are outstanding now for bass fishing. Blue cats are bending rods near Hopewell. Trout fishing for holdovers is still good with water levels decent. Up and down levels on the upper James have resulted in poor catches.