My Grandson James and I went fishing last week, in search of the Snakeheads in Lake Orange. We didn’t hook up with any, but they’re in there. Every week Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing posts pictures (like the one above) of lucky(?) anglers who brought one to the scales. In fact, Snakeheads have become so popular that lots of bass guides, particularly on the Potomac River, are booking guided … [Read more...]

There has been a surge of nice flounder catches in the lower Bay, especially at the CBBT. Lots of fish in the 5–6-pound class are being caught on live spot, jigs and GULP baits. The flatties are also biting on Virginia piers along with croakers, spot and a few rockfish. Surfcasters at Sandbridge are beaching spot, croaker, and Spanish mackerel. The lower bay and Va. Beach oceanfront has been … [Read more...]

A strong bite of triggerfish is now happening at the CBBT. Triggerfish are largely a tropical species but have been showing up increasingly in Virginia waters on offshore reefs and at the mouth of the bay. Triggers have very small mouths, so small hooks are required. The fish hang in large schools and relate to cover. The average fish runs around 17-inches and weighs 5 pounds. They are strong … [Read more...]

Some nice Spanish mackerel are being caught from the coast off Virgina Beach and well up into Bay waters. Trolling techniques with Clarke Spoons are most effective. Water temps are now around 70 in the Bay where bluefish, flounder, stripers, spot and croakers are all biting. The cobia season is in full swing, and some big boys have been landed. Some impressive bull drum have been caught recently, … [Read more...]

Cobia start out as little fellows (see the above picture of a juvenile), and then they grow, and grow, and grow. The world’s record cobia went 175 pounds. They don’t get that large in Virginia waters, but some can push 100 pounds. Cobia are the “snowbirds” of the fish family. They winter in the tropical Gulf waters, then gradually begin to migrate north. Recently, cobia made a blitz through North … [Read more...]

Is it possible to have too much luck when you go fishing? It is if you fish with Capt. Reese Stecher with BeachBumFishing out of Nags Head. Just ask Donald Taylor of Charlottesville. “I used his services when in Corolla back in middle May. We (three guests and myself) each caught Drum back in the Pamlico Sound. Great fun! But they were all too big to keep.” If they are over 27-inches, you … [Read more...]

Right now, is a great time to catch a mess of crappies (as seen from this Lake Orange catch). The fish are through spawning, they’re hungry and well spread out. A small minnow is your best weapon. The water temperature at Lake Orange has dropped from the mid 70-s back to the upper 60’s. Bass are cruising and catfish are biting nightcrawlers, minnows and chicken liver. Sprouting vegetation in … [Read more...]

Striper season is in full swing and lots of slot sized fish are being caught in tidal rivers around docks, on shaded shorelines, and on deeper structure. Croaker catches are steadily improving in the James and other tidal rivers, but sizes remain on the smaller size. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is beginning to produce sheepshead, black drum, and red drum around the pilings. Flounder are … [Read more...]

If you’re headed to the OBX this Memorial Day weekend – or anytime soon for that matter – you can expect to catch some nice bluefish from the piers. The sleek predators are hitting Gotcha plugs and most anything else that gets in their way. It looks to be another excellent year for catching bluefish all the way from Hatteras to the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay. Pier jockeys at Jennette’s … [Read more...]

They were first discovered in Virginia back in 2004, and it was thought at that time that Northern Snakeheads might seriously harm the native fish populations. As it turned out, the strange looking fish with serious dentures have not affected our native species and they have proven to be a blast to catch at the end of a rod and reel. Fact is, they are now established in Lake Orange despite all … [Read more...]