By Dr. Julie Ball
The fall weather is settling in, and the cool water saltwater species are becoming more active.
Surf anglers are off to a great start with big red drum providing good action along the breakers on the Eastern Shore barrier islands. A few reds are also showing for surf anglers fishing from the Little Island pier and along the surf lines in Sandbridge, but the best of the drum fishing is yet to come. Cobia are still around, but not for much longer.
The fall backwater fishing action is heating up nicely. Puppy drum are biting well in local shallows and inlets, with the best action happening on fresh cut bait or live mullet. Good numbers of speckled trout are hitting lures and live bait in the Eastern Shore shallows, Lynnhaven, Rudee, and Little Creek inlets, and the Poquoson flats area. This will continue to intensify through the cooler months.
The spot action is good, keeping local pier anglers busy. Little Creek Inlet, the HRBT, and Rudee Inlet have been the most productive areas, with bloodworms the top bait. Nice pompano are also showing up in the surf off the oceanfront, with some fish over a pound. Big croaker are still responsive in the deeper holes near the HRBT, the CBBT, and within local inlets.
Within Bay waters, big sheepshead are lingering along the structure of the Bridge Tunnel, and tautog action is rekindling. Keeper togs averaging 4-pounds are hitting fiddler crabs. Offshore and inshore wrecks are productive for flounder, some jumbo sea bass and triggerfish.
The Chesapeake Bay striped bass season opens this week. As of October 4th you can keep two fish per person measuring between 20- and 28-inches, with one of the two fish allowed to measure above 28-inches in Bay waters. Most rockfish will be schoolies caught while targeting other species in backwater and inlet areas.
October can be a good month for smoker-sized king mackerel, but clear water is a must. Spanish mackerel and false albacore are also available. Some big amberjack are circling the South Tower, while jack crevalle are a possibility at the Chesapeake Light Tower.
Deep dropping will pick up when more interest stirs, but the offshore bite is still a distraction. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reports that a good selection of barrel fish along with nice blue-line tilefish, golden tilefish, and a variety of grouper are hitting along the edges of the Norfolk Canyon.
Fall offshore action is good, with billfish providing chances for releases of both white and blue marlin, along with a smattering of round-scale spearfish. Catches of decent yellowfin tuna and some big eye tuna are possible, along with lots of nice mahi. Wahoo action is still on the rise, and should continue into October. A few swordfish are starting to show, with this action typically improving over the colder months.
Nags Head
TW’s said that the surf was unfishable on Wednesday with NE winds at 25.
Sound Fishing: The Little Bridge anglers on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway limited out on trout and also caught some keeper stripers.
Pier Fishing: Nothing to report.
Inshore Boats/Nearshore: The inshore open boats caught some nice sheepshead. Nearshore anglers fishing in the morning caught Spanish and blues
The offshore fleet has remained largely in port.
Hatteras Surf
A blustery day on Wednesday. A couple of anglers landed drum, one was 48-inches caught and released near Ramp 55. Another at 38 inches was caught and released at the jetties. Also a small Striper from the Jetties.
Hatteras Offshore
One boat fished inshore on Wednesday and a young lady landed a keeper Red Drum. Captains and mates have been busy with preparations in anticipation of storm force winds and high waters. Hurricane Matthew is a very big storm and will have some impact on the North Carolina coast, although the current track shows it turning back out into the ocean.