Capt. Bob’s in Chincoteague reports red-hot fishing at Blackfish Banks Reef. Flounder fishermen are putting limits of fish, big fish, on ice in two hours or less. Also in the mix are nice sea bass, triggerfish and even Mahi Mahi. Francis Kosinski of Pennsylvania landed an 8-7, 285-inch citation flounder.
To book a trip at blackfish Banks Reef, or for more information, call 757-336-6654.
Eastern Shore Report
Chris Bait & Tackle reports: Late in the day, red drum are biting consistently. At the Middle Grounds and Buoy 36 , the croaker bite is better with bigger fish starting to move in on 262, out of the Ditch and out of Oyster by the Tripod and Chimney . Flounder action has been good at the Fourth Island, the High Rise and a few at the concrete ships . Spadefish have been hanging around the 4th Island . Sea mullet have been off Sunset Beach in by Lattimer Shoals
Virginia Beach
Dr. Julie Ball reports that a cold front rolled through this week, bringing some welcomed relief from the heat. With a decent forecast for the weekend, plenty of anglers will hit the water.
The flounder action in the Bay is still productive if you put in the time, with some respectable flatfish to show for your efforts. But the best action is still coming from the near shore and inshore wrecks, where anglers are cleaning up with limits of nice fish running from 22- to 24-inches. Jigging with Gulp baits, metal jigs, or fresh, stripped baits are good methods for wreck fishing for flounder. Some keeper sea bass will also take these offerings on the same wrecks. For the Bay flounder hotspots, jigging and live bait are most effective right now, with both techniques working around all four islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. The average flattie is running 20- to 22-inches. Anglers drifting with strip baits and minnows are also lucking into good numbers of fish near the 4th Island, the Hampton Bar, and the Thimble Shoal Channel. Both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are also giving up a few keepers.
Cobia continue to provide good action, with more of the larger fish making a showing this week. Chummers using chunks of bunker, live eels, and live croaker fished on the bottom are scoring with keeper-sized fish. The best locations for chumming have been the seaside areas of Fisherman’s Island, the Nine Foot Shoal, and Latimer Shoal, but the trash fish and sharks continue to harass chummers. Sight-casters are finding some incredible fish, with brutes pushing to over 70-pounds. Pods of cobia are starting to form near the mouth of the Bay, and more fish are starting to favor buoys, making easy targets. Red drum are also schooling around the mouth of the Bay, with reports of schools also showing off the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
Spanish mackerel are still the word on the trolling scene along the oceanfront, but these flashy fish are also hitting within Bay waters. The bigger Spanish are coming from shallower water on small spoons trolled at a fast clip, with most ranging from 16 to 21-inches. King mackerel continue to emerge, with scattered catches of fish off Sandbridge, showing some promise for a good season. Sharks still have folks’ attention as boats drift with chum slicks off Virginia Beach, especially at night. Some of these sharks are well over 6-feet long.
Sheepshead are still biting along the CBBT structure, with more fish beginning to move to the tubes of the artificial islands. Triggerfish are still hitting in many of these same areas, with some fish over 3-pounds, especially on some of the near shore wrecks. Spadefish are available at the Chesapeake Light Tower, the Tower Reef, the CBBT, and several inshore wrecks. The 4th island of the CBBT was particularly productive this week.
Bottom bouncers are flocking to Oyster to get in on the popular croaker run, as the size of the hardheads increase. Within lower Bay waters, croakers are everywhere. The area off Kiptopeke State Park is a favorite location, while some nicer croakers are also coming from the Inlets. Sea mullet are also lurking off Kiptopeke.
Tarpon are active on the Eastern Shore, with several hook-ups and a few suspected landings keeping tarpon hunters happy in the backwaters of Oyster.
Amberjack are an easy target at many offshore wrecks and the Southern Towers, while anglers may also luck into a few ‘jacks at the Chesapeake Light Tower. Deep dropping is going well, with good hauls of the usual blueline tilefish, black-bellied rosefish, and an occasional grouper with a side catch of nice sea bass.
Offshore, the billfish bite is improving daily, with good numbers of white marlin and several blue marlin reportedly crashing through spreads this week. Boats using live bait are catching the most billfish. Further south, crews are also finding a few sailfish. Some nice yellowfin tuna and big eye tuna are scattered around, and wahoo are becoming more common. Some big dolphin are showing here and there, along with many surprise shark encounters.
Nags Head
On Thursday, July 29, TW’s in Nags Head had this report: Another gorgeous day on the OBX. Winds are light out of the east with water temps ranging from 68-75 degrees. Surf fishing has been pretty good with catches of spot, croaker, sea mullet, a few flounder and some occasional blues on artificial lures. Oregon Inlet is still producing some sheepshead, Spanish and blues off the bridge pilings.
The sound has been a little slow but we’re still having a few reports of croakers, blues, puppy drums and flounder. Little Bridge reports some croaker, sea mullet and a few puppy drum. Also, anglers using lures reported a nice evening run of blues and Spanish.
From the piers: Avalon reports spot and nice catches of sheepshead the last couple of days. Nags Head Pier had a few spot, croaker and one tiger shark. Jennette’s anglers decked sea mullet and pigfish in the morning followed by some nice Spanish, blues and spot later in the day. The Outer Banks Pier produced croakers, spot and sea mullet.
Near shore boats scored with good catches of dolphin, albacore, blues and Spanish. Some boats added some kings and cobia to their fish box.
Offshore, the billfishing was awesome on Wednesday. Lots of blue, sails and white marlin hooked and released! Numerous gaffer dolphin were also reported.
Hatteras Surf
Midweek action at Hatteras included some sea mullet and croakers at Ramp 49. Ramps 43 and 44 produced sea mullet and croakers. Ramp 55 anglers had some bluefish. At Avon, it was sea mullet, croakers and spot. Ramp 44 anglers reported some Spanish on Wednesday evening. Notable catches include Robert Ritchie with a citation 1 pound 13 ounce sea mullet from ramp 43. Jordan Cunetl landed a 5 pound 3 ounce sheepshead at the inlet. Clyde Karnes had a beautiful 3 pound, 19 inch pompano, beached at ramp R4
Hatteras Offshore
Capt., Dave Wilson reports (Wed. 7-29). “Today my great friend (and ex-slave) Jonboy brought his family out for the annual Godspeed adventure. Things were slow all over today. I found an edge this morning that I would have bet the farm on, but never had a dolphin bite. We batted 500, landing 2 out of 4 wahoos, thanks to Mitch and Zander. The weather was beautiful and we had lots of laughs in between the bites.”
On 7-27, “We had several schools of dolphin today and wound up with a barrel full of bailers, plus Mattie’s nice gaffer.”