Virginia Saltwater
Dr. Julie Ball reports: A persistent northerly wind direction this time of year can provoke changes in the fishing scene, so anglers are watching with interest the upcoming forecast with predicted northerly gusts.
The cobia bite has been good throughout this season, and this week is no different. More fish are gliding along the surface in small pods in lower Bay waters and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, making favorable targets for sight casters. Casters are also still finding agreeable fish hanging along tide lines and under turtles, with some big fish available right now. The typical trend of the fish favoring buoys and bridge pilings also continues to gain momentum as the summer draws to a close. Chummers are still luring cobia to the shoal areas in the lower Bay, with some decent catches to show lately. Big red drum are also a welcome by-catch for cobia hunters as they also roam about much of the lower Bay and ocean shorelines.
Flounder action is waning, but for those putting in the time, nice flatfish are responding at many areas in the lower Bay. Most of the lower Bay structures can produce fish for anglers working live bait, or jigs and Gulp baits. Most flatties are decent sized lately, up to 21-inches, with a few trophies mixed in. The bite within local inlets slowed some this week. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, decent flatfish are also available on most inshore and offshore wrecks. Nice keeper sized sea bass are also providing some good action on many offshore structures.
Spanish mackerel are still providing action from mid-Bay on out to the Chesapeake Light Tower, where anglers are also still encountering some stray bailer Mahi-Mahis. King mackerel are also a possibility in these same areas.
Triggerfish are everywhere near structure in lower Bay waters. A few fish up to four-pounds were recently caught near the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBBT. Sheepshead anglers continue to have good catches on the bridge pilings of the CBBT as well as over the tubes of the artificial islands. Spadefish are also lingering in these same areas and near the Tower Reef, but not for much longer.
Northerly winds can jump-start the spot run this time of year. Spot are available in their usual haunts on the southern end of the Bay, inlets, and along the Beach oceanfront. Local piers are reporting good spot action on a moving tide, along with a smattering of decent croakers. On the Eastern Shore, the croaker run in Oyster lagged this week. And if water temperatures drop too quickly, the tarpon will begin moving out.
Big amberjack are lurking among the legs of the Southern Towers as well as on several offshore wrecks, and jack crevalle are still a possibility at the Chesapeake Light Tower. Deep dropping is good when boats can get out to target the deeper water off Virginia. Nice blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish, and a good number of barrelfish continue to keep anglers happy. Tinker mackerel are also making a good showing in these same areas this year.
Bluewater anglers are encountering decent numbers of billfish, but a Northeasterly blow could escalate the bite. Boats fishing in the popular ‘Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament’ this week are experiencing good results with a mixture of white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and some spearfish. A few grand slams have been reported, and some nice wahoo are also stripping rigs. Although tuna action is slow, a flurry of yellowfin tuna along with some big eye tuna are showing promise lately. Bailer and gaffer dolphin are plentiful, often filling the void for other offshore species.
Nags Head
On 8-27, TW’s Bait And Tackle reported scattered showers and a few Pompano and Sea Mullet. Surf fishing would be tough today but a couple of fishermen on the beach were giving a try. The winds are NE at 18 and the water temp is 79 degrees. The surf is rough this morning. On Tuesday, surf fishermen are catching small Pompano and Sea Mullet. Cary Zhang caught a nice size Sheepshead yesterday.
Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported small Trout and Croaker.
Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Bluefish on cut bait and Spanish.
Nags Head: Blues, Mullet and Spanish.
Jennette’s: False Albacore, Sea Mullet, Bluefish, and Sea Robin.
Outer Banks: Mostly small stuff.
Near shore boats are bringing in Spanish, Blues and Albacore. Inshore caught Spanish and some keeper Trout. Open boats caught Flounder, Croakers, Spot, Sea Mullet, Puffers, Trout, and Pinfish.
Oregon Inlet
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center report: Aug. 25 was a fantastic day here at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. The Mahi-Mahi are still being caught in enormous numbers. Most of our Off Shore charters caught their limits again today. The charters also caught several wahoo, one a 65 lb. citation and another weighing 47 lbs. Some Yellow Fin Tuna are showing up. We had several caught and brought in today. The billfish are picking back up again. Today, the Off Shore charter boats caught and released 18 white marlin, 7 blue marlin and 4 sailfish. The Pelican caught a grand slam with 2 blue marlin, 1 white marlin and a sailfish. The Near Shore charter boats also had a great day of fishing. A substantial amount of blues were caught today, along with Spanish mackerel. They are also catching some albacore and sharks. The In Shore boats caught a bounty of ribbonfish today. Also caught In Shore were blues and Spanish mackerel. The Miss Oregon Inlet caught flounder, croaker, blue fish, gray trout, pigfish, puffer fish, sea mullet and pinfish. Give us a call today to book a charter at 1-800- 272-5199.
Hatteras Surf
Wednesday Fishing Report from Red Drum and Tackle:
The Spanish were thick on the Point this evening. Glass minnows in the color “ghost” worked best. Pink and green glass minnows worked pretty good also. Some Bluefish were mixed in with the Spanish. There were some nice Flounder caught on Mission Fishing jig heads with white and chartreuse Swimming Mullet Gulp baits. Avon had Spot, Croakers and Sea Mullets. The Off Shore Fleet had plenty of Dolphin and Wahoo.
On Tuesday, The Point had Bluefish and Spanish in the morning and evening. Red drum has a great selection of Sting Silvers and Glass Minnows that the Spanish and Blue Fish are being caught on. A few Flounder at the Jetties were caught on jig heads with chartreuse Gulp Swimming Mullets. Avon had Sea Mullet and Spots. Ramp 55 had Pompano and Sea Mullet. Off shore boats are having a awesome Wahoo bite with Bailer and Gaffer Dolphin.
Hatteras Offshore
Capt. Dave Wilson noted that wahoo fishing was pretty good again on Tuesday. “We went three for four. We pushed offshore and beat around in some scattered grass looking for some bailers but happened on a school of gaffers. We landed a dozen including a 30-pounder. We did find some bailers as well, to give the tired arms a break.”
“On Monday, we found a small school of dolphin on the way out, and bailed close to a dozen before putting out the trolling baits. Our average wasn’t as good as it had been, but we still hung on to land five out of twelve wahoo bites. That’s a plenty good mess of fish to enjoy this week and put away in the freezer.”