Dr. Julie Ball reports:
Gusty winds, crazy fronts and unseasonal drops in temperatures are making it a challenge for the spring saltwater season to come together.
Croaker are now available in various areas in the Bay, especially near Willoughby, Ocean View, Little Creek and Buckroe, where pier anglers are using squid and bloodworms. The bigger hardheads are still coming from the lower Bay Rivers such as the James and York Rivers.
Tautog are a good bet, especially within Bay waters. Inshore anglers are scoring with tog by using fiddler crabs and clams on lower Bay structures and wrecks. When boats can get out, the rocks and tubes of all four artificial islands and the pilings near the High Rise section of the Bay Bridge-Tunnel are providing the best results, but the Concrete Ships on the Eastern Shore can be more accessible in windy conditions. Most folks who are toughing out the weather are catching limits of fish ranging up to about 5-pounds, but some 8- and 9-pounders are also around. Deeper ocean wrecks are also holding nice tog, along with some nice sea bass, which are illegal to keep until mid-May. If tautog is on your list, better hurry since the season closes on May 1st.
Anglers are thrilled that the flounder are here and biting, but gusty weather is making flounder fishing conditions less than favorable, and keeping the water fairly dirty. Although flatfish anglers are finding some decent fish in protected areas, folks are working hard for their catches. Some flatties ranging from 17- to 21-inches have come from both the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and the Southside inlets lately.
Big bluefish are still keeping casters in Rudee Inlet content, with top water lures still the best choice. Some scattered reports of speckled trout are also coming from protected waters this week, with both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets reporting that most specks are small, but a recent citation trout caught in Rudee Inlet has speck hunters hopeful for an improving season. Puppy drum are also hitting in these areas.
Drum enthusiasts are still anticipating the first catches of big red and black drum near the Eastern Shore, but for now, anglers are mostly watching for weather openings.
When deep droppers can get out, the usual bottom dwellers are available. Tilefish, black-bellied rosefish, and grouper will hit for anglers working the edges of the Norfolk Canyon in water ranging from 600 to 900 feet. Dogfish are still making this fishery difficult to access right now, but will begin to clear out soon.
Nags Head
It’s blowtoads and more blowtoads – everywhere. All the piers are catching blowtoads along with small sea mullet.
Oregon Inlet reported that an offshore boat brought 17 yellowfin and 6 dolphin back to the docks.
The winds are SE at 6 and the water temp is 60 degrees. Sunny skies, warm temperatures and light winds.
Hatteras Surf
Red Drum reports on Wednesday: A lot of blow toads on the north beaches and south beaches. Ramp 44 had black drum, one slot puppy drum, a 15-inch gray trout, sea mullet and more blow toads. The Point had blow toads. Ramp 49 had sea mullet and blow toads.
It was a pretty day on Tuesday with lots of blowtoads, some sea mullet, and small black drum reported at the Point. Toads and mullet were caught in Frisco and Hatteras as well.
Hatteras Offshore
Wednesday report: An inshore boat went out yesterday and anglers caught a handful of Sea Bass and some Gray Trout. This morning some Bluefish were caught in Hatteras Inlet.
The wind blew from the N-NE again today, however some hardy anglers ventured offshore and returned with Gaffer-size Dolphin, some Yellowfin Tuna and some Blackfin Tuna. Another boat bottomed fished and filled the box with Snappers, Amberjack, and Triggerfish.
On Tuesday, several boats enjoyed good Blackfin Tuna catches along with some nice sized gaffer Dolphin. Good bottom fishing as well. Citations included blackfin tuna to 25 pounds and triggerfish to 5.5 pounds.