Red drum, that is. Big red drum. Over the weekend, schools of large red drum were sighted off Rudee Inlet. Some have already entered the Bay. Anglers fishing the Eastern Shore breakers near Fisherman’s Island have caught the first of the year. There are many more fish on the way up from Carolina. Hatteras Inlet filled up with feeding fish on the surface several days last week.
Lots of black drum are being caught seaside in Eastern Shore inlets. Look for the black drum numbers to increase inside the Bay around the Concrete Ships and the Cabbage patch.
Inlets are warming quickly and lots of puppy drum are being caught. Rudee, Lynnhaven and Little Creek inlets are hot spots and there are plenty of fish in the Elizabeth River. Currently, most fish are being caught on shrimp or crabs. Speckled trout are starting to be caught in the same areas as the pups. There are some nice grey trout and small stripers in the mix.
Nice size tautog continue to be available on bottom structure. Baits for tog fishing include quartered blue crabs, marsh crabs, fiddler crabs. The tog season temporarily closes May 15.
Flounder action is on the upswing. The best catches are coming from Eastern Shore sloughs and creeks.
The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier has reopened and anglers are catching small spot and croaker. Bluefish and sea mullet should show soon.
Yellowfin tuna continue to provide excellent action off the Outer Banks of NC. Many boats limited out over the weekend.
The surf temp in the ocean is 53 degrees, still a little cold, but the stripers are active in the sound and there was a good trout bit at the Little Bridge to Manteo.
Freshwater
Everything is biting in freshwater – the shad and white perch have overrun the James at Richmond. The Rapp is also a hotspot for shad.
Crappie fishing is outstanding, especially at Buggs Island where three pounders are weighed regularly.
Smith Mountain has really turned on for bass anglers. Twenty-three pounds won a weekend tournament. Anna anglers are having similar success and stripers are biting at both lakes.
Smallmouth anglers can’t seem to catch a break. Just as the water levels begin to drop, rain comes in sheets. The James is still very high.
At Lake Orange, Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540.672.3997) reports that water temperatures have reached the low 60s, generating spawning activity from both bass and crappie. The crappie are feeding on small minnows. Bass are being caught on soft plastics. A few nice walleye have been caught using live bait. Catfishing has steadily picked for anglers using chicken livers and nightcrawlers.