Virginia fishermen are pounding the red drum as they exit the Chesapeake Bay. Big reds are being pulled up on the beaches from Virginia Beach down to Sandridge. It’s all catch and release, though, for the big drum. Some puppy drum, however, are in the mix along with some nice speckled trout.
Rockfish season is now in and good numbers of keeper size fish are coming from the James, Potomac and Rappahannock rivers.
The sheepshead bite has been phenomenal this summer and the action continues, especially near the big bridges. Some flounder are being caught withing bay waters, but the best action has been on the offshore wrecks. Sea bass are plentiful when wind and weather permit. The offshore fleet stayed put most of the week, but the nearshore boats did well with stripers, specks and drum.
OBX
The pier people were busy this Wednesday catching sea mullet, puppy drum, croakers, spot, and black drum along with some big red drum. Surf fishermen found the same species along with a few nice flounder. Boats fishing the sounds slayed the drum, specks, stripers, and sheepshead. Winds kept near shore and offshore boats in port until Thursday – then everybody sailed.