In Virginia saltwater, cobia are dominating the action. Chumming has been super productive, says Stan Cobb with Greentop. Eels are what most use for bait, but live fish, such as croakers, are also excellent. The problem is that croakers have been hard to find. At least, the good-sized ones. Use plenty of chum, as to make the scent trail as strong as possible. Be prepared to tangle with sharks, however, as they love eels, and are attracted to the chum slick/scent. The drum action has slowed this week, primarily due to the rough conditions. There are plenty around, it’s just that they haven’t been spotted along the surface much this week. The flounder reports have also slowed over the past week. June is typically a great month for the bigger flounder at the CBBT. Spanish Mackerel seem to be a little bigger this year. Folks are catching them inside the bay, but oceanfront catches are also occurring. Spadefish are making a good showing inside the bay, but catches have been better from the Chesapeake Light Tower.
Offshore, the Mahi bite has been outstanding the last 2 weeks. Big eye tuna have also been making a good showing. A few blue marlin have been caught, as the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament started on Tuesday. So far, the leading weight has been 588.9 lbs.
Outer Banks
On Wednesday, a few pompano were reported at Frisco, a day with rain and swells. On Tuesday, bluefish and Spanish were beached at Ramp 55. Some sea mullet and pompano were caught in Frisco and the same in Buxton.
In Nags Head, the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported small trout with some keepers and flounder,
Avalon Pier had nice pompano bluefish, mullet and Spanish.
Nags Head Pier produced spot, flounder, bluefish, trout and sea mullet.
Spanish, bluefish and ribbonfish were caught by nearshore boats. There was very good striper fishing inshore.
Out of Oregon Inlet, boats returned with yellowfin, lackfin, Mahi and some wahoo. There was a sailfish released as well.
Hatteras offshore boats found good gaffer dolphin and blackfin tuna on Tuesday. Inshore boats caught Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Good Times released the first white marlin of the day in the Big Rock Tournament. The inshore fleet stayed busy getting in the Pamlico Sound for sea mullet, bluefish, speckled trout, and gray trout.