There are Bluefin Tuna out there when the boats can get to them. A 447pound Bluefin was caught out of Pirate’s Cove over the weekend.
At Nags Head, nothing is happening in the surf. The water temperature is 46 degrees. Some hardy anglers on Jennette’s Pier were catching all the skates they wanted. One keeper puppy drum was also caught at Jennette’s.
Hatteras Surf
Last weekend, some nice sea mullet were reported behind the motels. Blow toads and some black drum were beached at Ramps 48/49. Southwest winds have made for nice conditions, but not many are fishing. No boats have fished offshore out of Hatteras in a week.
Virginia Saltwater
Togs are available, some sea bass and blueline tilefish, but little else. A few specks are coming from the Hot Ditch and Lynnhaven Inlet.
Freshwater Update
By Charlie Taylor
Little Creek Reservoir
Bass and stripers are deep, but will take a blade bait. Waleye are active near the dam and large yellow perch are hitting crankbaits in 8 to 14 foot depths.
Lake Gaston
Bass action is starting to pick up after the colder months have passed. Coves are the top spots. Crappie are elusive but will bite. Stripers are being caught at the lower end of the lake on live shad and bucktails.
Buggs Island
Crappie fishing is excellent, as scghoools move shallow, in 3-8 feet of water. Bass anglers are finding some fish along the banks with crankbaits. A near world record blue catfish was caught off Clarksville in a local “Ice Bowl” catfish tournament. The big fish weighed in at 141.76 pounds and was released alive.
Briery Creek
Pickerel and smaller bass are being caught with regularity. Bluegills are starting to take red wigglers, nightcrawlers and Beetlespins.
Smith Mountain Lake
Fishing is off and on, but some nice stripers are being caught in the larger coves on live shad and trolled Mann’s Stretch 25s. Musky are taking bucktails, while smallmouth bass are being caught on spinnerbaits.
Lake Moomaw
A few trout in the 3-4 pound class are being caught on minnows, fished at 30-35 feet.
New River
Muskie fishing is good, with a number of fish being caught last past week. Smallmouth action is improving as the water warms.
Rappahannock River
White perch fishing is picking up in the lower stretches. A bloodworm is the bait of choice. Yellow perch are biting on minnows and nightcrawlers in the lower reaches. Crappie fishing is good in the tidal sections. Some blue catfish, to 30 pounds, are being caught on cut bait, fished in the main river channel bends, from Massaponax Creek to Hicks Landing.
Shenandoah river
Smallmouth are beginning to stir on the Shenandoah, taking minnows and crankbaits like Rapalas.
A few largemouth bass have also been caught. Most of the action, however, centers around catfish and white suckers. These fish were feeding heavily on cut bait, live minnows and nightcrawlers.
Lake Anna
Big fish are beginning to feed. Live bait is at it’s best for trophy bass. Fish are making their way into the shallows, from the Route 208 bridge to Dike III. The water temperature is in the low to mid 40’s. Walleye action is good throughout. Gitzit grubs and live shiners are the best baits for the walleye. Crappie are schooled up and taking small shiners and jigs. Best action is found under the bridges and suspended over creek channels. Yellow and white perch are found on dropoffs adjacent to deep points. Striper action is fair to good around the 208 Bridge and Dike III.
James River
Lots of reports of catfish to 40 pounds and more are coming from , the Dutch Gap power plant. A few large smallmouth are being caught in the upper stretches of the river. Yellow perch and crappie are being caught with consistency around Dutch Gap.
Chickahominy River
The mouths of the feeder creeks are producing for anglers drifting live minnows. Speed Shads, Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits are also taking good numbers of large bass. Lots of jumbo yellow perch are being caught on medium minnows, while blue catfish to 30 pounds are taking jumbo minnows. Crappie fishing is picking up.
Potomac River
Parallel presentations
Keep baits on the bottom with horizontal movements several techniques will work but a few are better than others. Water is warming into the upper 40s and fish are staying closer to drops and not as deep.
Split shot rigs are a great bet now. Use 15-pound test GAMMA Torque with a 6-pound Edge fluorocarbon leader. Use a 1/8 or 3/16 ounce BullShot bullet shaped split shot weight crimped about 10 inches ahead of the bait. A 1/0 Mustad Mega Bite hook can hold small worms or creature baits. One of my favorite variations is to use a size 1 Mustad Octopus hook and nose hook a Mizmo grub. Green pumpkin works well as does smoke with black flake. Pull a few inches and stop. Soak soft plastics in Jacks Juice Bait Spray.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River info@nationalbass.com
Chickahominy Lake
Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures are in the mid 40’s to low 50’s.
Most blue cats and bullheads were on flats and channels in the main lake and scattered in creeks and hitting live minnows and cut bait. Many crappie were along drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover, and a few crappie were in channels in the creeks, especially up the lake. Many crappie were scattered rather than in large schools, and have been on flats adjacent to deeper water on sunny afternoons.
Most bass, pickerel, and bowfin were on flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in the major creeks and the main lake. Bass activity has been sporadic, but has been increasing with more stable conditions. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting s live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, suspending jerk baits, and jigs.