The cobia season is open in Virginia and anglers are catching. Both chumming and sight casting tactics are working. Anglers sight-fishing for cobia are also seeing large schools of red drum. Even prior to the season opening, numerous trophy cobia release citations were registered. Remember all anglers, captains and guides fishing for cobia must obtain a Recreational Cobia Permit from VMRC and report all harvest and cobia fishing activity.
Spanish mackerel and taylor blues have arrived along the oceanfront off Virginia Beach. Anglers trolling for bluefish and Spanish are also encountering large red drum and cobia.
Eastern Shore flounder catches remain strong inside the seaside inlets.
The coastal wrecks are holding good numbers of sea bass and some triggerfish. Spadefish can be found over the wrecks and flounder can be caught around them. Spadefish are being caught at the Chesapeake Light Tower. A nice class of sheepshead has shown up in their usual holding spots. Small bluefish and striped bass are still holding around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel islands.
Offshore anglers making a long run south out of Virginia or fishing from Oregon Inlet have been experiencing one of the best tuna seasons in years. The big eye tuna numbers have been off the charts and so have the size of the yellowfins. Many, many of the hooked tuna have been lost to the sharks. A couple of boats fished their way back to Rudee Inlet this week and reported good tuna fishing all the way. The good tuna conditions are moving closer to Virginia. Offshore bottom fishing remains strong for tilefish and sea bass.
Outer Banks
Surf Fishing Report: Bluefish and Sea Mullet were scattered on beaches with Drum reported in Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras. Citation size Pompano and Sea Mullet at ramp 48 and 49. Sea Mullet and small Bluefish north of the Inlet.
Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported Black Drum, Trout and Spot.
Pier Fishing Report: Nags Head: Some Sea Mullet and Bluefish. Overall slow.
Jennette’s: Sea Mullet and Triggers. Anglers decked a 48# and 50# Cobia on Tuesday
Outer Banks: Some Sea Mullet, Spot and Blues. Overall it was slow.
Inshore had good catches of Spanish, some Cobia sightings and some Flounder. Nearshore boats caught plenty Spanish, Blues and King Mackerel. The Miss Oregon Inlet head boat reported Spot, Sea Mullet and Trout.
The offshore boats returned early having limited out with Yellowfin, plus good numbers of Dolphin and Bigeyes, some weighing over 100 lbs.
At Hatteras, anglers fishing the Pamlico Sound were busy catching Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, and Bonita. There were also several Red Drum releases. Inshore anglers got into scattered schools of King Mackerel and Wahoo. The Dolphin bite was fair. Bottom fishing was good for Triggerfish and Tilefish. The Sundown and Gambler charter boats released Sailfish.