The saltwater report is about the same this week. It’s still very good and there’s a wide variety of fish from which to choose. The latest target is amberjack at the south tower and the Chesapeake light tower.
Good Spanish mackerel fishing continues along the oceanfront and in the lower bay. Most fish are being caught on Clark or Drone spoons tied directly to a 20-30-foot mono leader behind a planer or an in-line trolling sinker.
Cobia action is excellent. Most anglers are fishing live bait in chum slicks. But always have a rod ready to sight cast.
Spadefish are around buoys, pylons of the CBBT and the Chesapeake Light Tower.
Sheepsheads are hanging around structure. Look for them around the Cell, CBBT, Plantation Light, York Spit Light, the buoys at the mouth of the bay, the Chesapeake Light Tower, Tower Reef, and any wreck you can find.
Big red drum are still plentiful throughout the lower Bay. Latimer Shoal and the shallow water near the northern section of the CBBT are producing the most fish.
Flounder catches are on the rise. Look for them along the CBBT, around inshore wrecks and artificial reefs throughout the lower bay and along the coast.
Coastal wrecks are holding bluefish, amberjacks and triggerfish.
Pier and surf anglers are finding bluefish, Spanish, flounder, croaker, sea mullet and small spot.
Offshore boats are catching gaffer dolphin, blackfin, yellowfin tuna and an occasional big eye tuna. They’ve also released a few blue marlin.
The Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament was held last week. Some 87 boats competed for $190,900 in prize money. Sea Wolf took first with a 212-pound big eye, winning over $88,000.
Deep droppers are catching plenty of tilefish and sea bass. The crew on High Hopes loaded up with bottom fish this week.
OBX
Surf anglers fishing Duck and Kitty Hawk caught sea mullet, bluefish, triggerfish and pompano. Hatteras surf anglers caught sea mullet, pompano and Spanish mackerel.
The OBX pier action goes like this. Avalon: Spanish early mornings. Nags Head: red drum, plenty of Spanish, triggers and trout. Jennette’s: Spanish, sea mullet, sheepshead, triggers, flounder, spot and blues. Outer Banks: Spanish, nice spot, flounder and a few red drum. Anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway caught some keeper flounder this week.
Inshore boats are catching bluefish, Spanish, albacore and sound side – trout, and sheepshead.
Offshore boats are catching blackfin, yellowfin, bigeye tuna, dolphin, marlin, a few wahoo and kings.