The Bay’s water temperature is currently hovering in the high 50s, which means that the trophy speckled trout are on the feed. Specks like cold weather and they are hitting bais under popping corks, swim baits and Mirro-Lures in most of the tidal inlets, creeks, and rivers. Captain Todd Beck with Knot Wish’n charters reported a fantastic trout bite at Rudee Inlet on Friday, with almost every cast producing a fish for 3 straight hours. Tautog fishing is also improving at the CBBT Islands and on the lower bay’s wrecks and reefs. Blue crab is the most effective bait, but Togs will also take mole crabs, clams, and whelk. Big Red Drum should show up soon in Rudee, as the water temperature there is now 56 degrees.
Small Rockfish, under 10 pounds, are being caught in the the Rappahannock, James, Piankatank, Elizabeth and York. Some fish are also around the CBBT. Umbrella rigs, tandem rigs, swim shads or bucktails are effective lures. Many creeks and inlets have lighted docks at night, which attract baitfish and hungry rockfish. Cooler temperatures should trigger the migration of larger Rockfish down the coast and into the Bay.
Sandbridge surf anglers are catching a few Black Drum, Red Drum and Sea Mullet. Black sea bass fishing is good on the offshore wrecks. The season is open until the end of the year.
Offshore, there have been a few reports of Blackfin Tuna and King Mackerel. Those targeting swordfish have been successful.
OBX
The inshore boats had a great day on the water on Wednesday with plenty of pretty Stripers, Puppy Drum, and Speckled Trout.
Surf fishing was also good, with reports of Gray Trout, Black Drum, Sea Mullet, Flounder and Puppy Drum caught along the beaches.
Offshore boats have been getting into some Big-eye Tunas up to154-pounds.