Big bluefin tuna are stealing the spotlight on the saltwater scene. With the weather improving (slightly) more boats have made offshore jaunts, and many are connecting with the big boys – 500 pounds and more.
Some good news from the Outer Banks:The 2.8-mile new Oregon Inlet Bridge is now open to traffic. It replaces the old Herbert C. Bonner which was built in 1963. Now the old bridge has to be removed and officials will haggle to figure out what new bridge will be named. My guess is it won’t be after a Confederate war general.
There has been some pretty weather at Nags Head but hardly anyone is surf fishing. Wednesday was a nice day and the Oregon Inlet fleet took advantage. There was a good showing of Yellowfin. One boat reported good catches of Black Sea Bass. Another mammoth 96-inch Bluefin was decked.
In the Hatteras surf, there have been reports of puppy drum at ramps 43 and 44. Out of Hatteras Harbor, boats took advantage of Wednesday’s mild temps. One boat out fishing caught a dock full of Triggerfish, some Sea Bass and a Blackfin Tuna.
Virginia Saltwater
Dr. Ken Neill and crew on the Healthy Grin returned to the wrecks for more sea bass action and Stan Simmerman caught the trophy fish, a state citation sea bass. The boat Playin’ Hookey got in on the action as well with several bass in the 4 to 5-pound class. Ken said the bluefish were not as plentiful as on his last trip. The dogfish are still thick, but everyone managed to land a nice catch of sea bass. He also landed a lone blueline tilefish, which was released.
Fishing offshore Virginia Beach last week the boat Diehard got into some nice February yellowfin tuna and picked up a wahoo as well.
Freshwater
The crappie bite may well be on. At the Chickahominy Lake, the water temperature has inched up to the mid-forties. Capt. Conway says that most crappie are on drop-offs and in
channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover, but a few have begun moving into the major creeks. Activity has been varying with water temperature stability, with the active crappie hitting live minnows, small jigs and small tube jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 8 crappie and 1 bass.
Stan White at Greentop says that despite large amounts of rain and high water, excellent catches are being made last weekend. A 5-bass limit weighing 23.87 lbs. was weighed in at Lake Gaston. Above Gaston, Kerr Lake has risen very fast. The current elevation is 309.75′. Reports are that even Nutbush Creek is stained. Nutbush is rarely stained, just to give an idea of the amount of rain we had just this year. There was a substantial crappie bite developing, but that has slowed. Lake Anna has a small watershed, which has kept it from climbing fast, so catches of bass have been improving. Look to the bridges for stable crappie action. They will be making a move towards shallow water soon. Shallow docks, stumps, and grass lines will become much more productive. The stripers are slow.
On the Chickahominy River, excellent catches of bass are being made with crankbaits, jigs, and silver buddies. Stripers are also biting, but must be released. The Yellow Perch bite has slowed this week, again, due to the rain. The tidal rivers normally producing this time of year, have been hit hard, obviously. This, of course, is the case with the James also. If out on the James this weekend, be alert for debris. The pits are going to have the cleanest water, but getting to them may be a challenge. Private lakes and ponds may be your best bet.