As the season changes, so do the fishing patterns in the lower Chesapeake Bay. The arrival of fall brings cooler temperatures and winds that stir the bay’s waters, leading to a phenomenon known as “Fall Turnover.” This mixing of water layers distributes nutrients and oxygen more evenly, affecting where fish can be found. This transition presents opportunities for catching a variety of species as … [Read more...]

  Black sea bass enthusiasts have found the ocean wrecks to be fruitful grounds, with lots of nice fish available for those heading offshore. Flounder fishing has been particularly rewarding, with the lower bay areas such as the HTRB and the CBBT yielding impressive catches. These locations, along with the ocean wrecks, have become hotspots for those targeting flatfish. Cobia fishing hit … [Read more...]

I used to do fishing classes for beginners and one thing I always emphasized was to buy good equipment and stay away from those cheap Zebco Combos – like the kids’ Mickey Mouse Rods. I might have been wrong. On July 21, West Virginia’s Tyler Rutherford took his family fishing at a local farm pond. He put a worm on the hook of his three-year old daughter’s pink Zebco equipped with 6-pound … [Read more...]

  You troll and troll and nothing happens. You sit back and relax, maybe light a cigar or pop open a beer. Then, suddenly, “It’s fish on!” Not one, not two, not three, but four rods go down. It’s bluefish and some nice ones. Veteran angler, Dr. Ken Neill, had that experience this week while trolling in the lower Bay. Blues were all over the water. This has been an unusually good year for … [Read more...]

    This week, a pair of anglers caught two big sand tiger sharks in the surf at Nags Head. The sharks were 96” and 92” respectively. Note, however, that they were sand tiger sharks, sometimes called gray nurse sharks, and not tiger sharks. Tiger sharks are aggressive, sand tiger sharks are not. There has never been a report of a sand tiger attacking a human. Sand tiger sharks … [Read more...]

Sheepshead aren’t the easiest fish to catch. Their take is swift and soft. Some fishermen say that in order to catch a sheepshead, you have to set the hook before they bite. And they fight like John Deere Tractors once hooked. The 19.3-pounder above must have put up a mighty battle before coming to net. The sheepshead action is good, with many nice-sized catches reported. Fiddler crabs, … [Read more...]

  Spaniards. Spanish Mackerel. They’re well up into Bay waters and if they see a Clarke Spoon, they’ll eat it. I can remember about 30 years ago when Spanish first began to poke their snouts up into the Chesapeake Bay. Before that, they stayed in the ocean – mostly to our south. Today, the mackerel make an early appearance in the Bay and head well past Deltaville and Sting Ray … [Read more...]

As the summer heart intensifies, so does the saltwater fishing in Virginia. Flounder fishing is starting to take off with more fish and bigger fish taking baits. The increased catches are coming from along bridges, inshore wrecks, and artificial reefs throughout the lower bay and along the coast. Flounder are ambush predators, favoring hard structures, drop-offs, and creek entrances—ideal spots … [Read more...]

Cobia are stealing the headlines on the saltwater front. The big fellows have moved well up into Bay waters. The best results for bigger fish have come from chum lines. Winds have made it difficult for sight casting. Live eels are by far the best baits. Red drum fishing just gets better and better. The lower bay is producing nice catches and nighttime has been the right time for many boats. … [Read more...]

Boats out of Oregon Inlet and Pirates Cove are pounding the Mahi on each trip.  Also in the mix are yellowfin bluefin and bigeye tunas. A few wahoo have been gaffed and blue marlin and sailfish action is picking up steam. Nearshore and inshore boats are loading up on bluefish, Spanish mackerel, albacore, and sharks. The speckled trout and puppy drum bites are hot in the sound. From the Nags … [Read more...]