Large red drum have arrived in Virginia waters on the shoals between Fisherman’s and Smith islands. The most popular angling technique is to anchor on top of the shoal and position your boat so the baits drift back to the deeper waters. Chumming helps draw the fish in. Dr Ken Neill picked up one on Saturday.
Speckled trout action is picking up in local inlets and along the beach. The best action is in the inlets, where trout prefer shallow, grassy areas. Live shrimp works well. Guide Todd Beck on the Knot Wish’n picked up a few keepers in Rudee Inlet this week.
Black Drum are showing up along the shallow channel ledge running from Fisherman’s Island to north of Cape Charles. Look for boats anchored close together near Kiptopeake, the Cabbage Patch and the Concrete Ships.
There has been some nice early season flounder action on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The best catches are coming from Wachapreague, Oyster and Chincoteague. The minimum size limit is 16 1/2 inches, with a limit of 4 per person. The Virginia capture citation is 6 pounds. The release citation is 26 inches, if that’s your thing. The state record: 17 lbs. 8 oz and was caught in 1971 by Charles E. Cross.
Tautog fishing remains excellent. Look for them around underwater obstructions like wrecks, reefs, rocks and the pylons of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Tautog like fresh crab. Dr Ken Neill caught a few togs along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Saturday. You have until May 15th to catch yours. The season closes from May 16th, 2020 to June 30th, 2020. The limit is 4 per day at least 16 inches in long.
Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle says tilefish, grouper, swordfish, tuna and sharks are available offshore.
The Outer. Banks is basically closed to all except local landowners.
Freshwater
Shad, white perch, yellow perch, bass, catfish – basically everything is biting in freshwater, but the rivers are largely unfishable due to heavy rains early this week.
At Lake Orange, the water temperatures are in the lower 60s and the lake is clear on the lower to mid lake area and stained in the upper end. Bass are in all phases of the spawn. Bass can be caught on soft plastics and hard baits now with the upper end being the best. Pretty much goes the same for crappie, with the exception of small minnows being the bait of choice. Walleye are being caught on nightcrawlers and minnows on rocky points