The water temperature along the oceanfront and near the CBBT is approaching 75 degrees. At the mouth of the Elizabeth River, it’s a warm 77. Offshore at the Norfolk Canyon, it’s hovering around 68. That means just about everything’s biting. Inshore, red drum, cobia, spadefish, sheepshead, flounder, bluefish and Spanish mackerel are biting. Offshore, it’s tuna, dolphin, marlin, tilefish, and sea bass.
The offshore yellowfin tuna action is excellent which is great news for the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament. This week a couple of boats caught tuna limits. Dolphin fishing should take off any day. The Virginia Beach Tuna Tourney takes place June 22nd – 25th, 2022.
Anglers bottom-bouncing baiats along the edge of the Canyon are catching blueline tilefish, golden tilefish and sea bass.
Anglers trolling the ocean front are catching Spanish mackerel. Bluefish and ribbon fish are mixed in with the Spanish.
Spadefish are around buoys, the pylons of the CBBT and the Chesapeake Light Tower. Also hanging around the pylons are hungry sheepshead.
Big red drum are spread throughout the lower Bay. Anglers are having success sight casting and bottom fishing.
Cobia action remains good. Most anglers are fishing live bait in chum slicks. The harvest season opened June 15th.
Flounder catches are picking up along the CBBT, around inshore wrecks and artificial reefs throughout the lower bay and along the coast.
Pier and surf anglers are finding Spanish, bluefish, flounder, croaker, sea mullet and small spot.
Coastal wrecks are holding bluefish and triggerfish. Big AJ’s (amberjacks) should be arriving soon.
OBX
The fishing remains good! Even with a little rain in the forecast, it isn’t stopping anyone! The weekend is right around the corner and looks like it is going to be beautiful!
The offshore fleet is booking up fast, if you don’t already have your spot, call them quick. The tuna fishing is still on fire with some wahoo, dolphin, and marlin in the mix.
Nearshore, anglers are catching some bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, triggerfish, puppy drum and sea mullet.
In the sound, spot and small croaker have been the ticket for finding the big trout. Also available are puppy drum, skates and rays.
From the bridges and piers, there have been reports of bluefish, puppy drum, trout, sea mullet, spot, croaker, pufferfish, skate, and sheepshead.
Freshwater
At Lake Orange, water temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s. The water is stained with bass schooling up feeding on baitfish. Topwater baits worked slowly around mid-lake points work in low light periods. Soft plastics are the best choice during midday to entice the bass bite. Crappie are schooling up on mid-lake brush in 8 to 10 ft of water with small minnows being the best bait. Walleye fishing has improved as of late with harness rigs producing best. Catfishing has picked up as well. Mid-lake has been the best for anglers using chicken liver and nightcrawlers.