Veteran angler George Craig of Elizabeth City caught a large tarpon Tuesday morning on Jennette's Pier in Nags Head just after 10 a.m. He fought it for an hour and 13 minutes. In the end, the big fish swam away unharmed. "I'm glad the fish lived, I'm very glad about that," he said. Craig thanked several of his fellow experienced anglers, Jacob Barlow and Taylor Bandy, for all of the effort they … [Read more...]

On May 30, 2022, Randy Morton was fishing at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel when he landed a 9-pound, 2-ounce sheepshead on 8 lb. test line, it was a potential world record for that class. This year Randy is back with a 13-pound 7 oz Sheepshead pictured above. Monster sheepshead are now being caught routinely at the CBBT and on other bay structures. They go for fiddler crabs and are considered … [Read more...]

Looks like the Shenandoah is the spot for smallmouth these days. Water quality has been a bug-a-boo for the scenic Valley river but recent upgrades to runoff and pollution are paying off. Bryce Davis and John Savides from Afton took a float on the Shenandoah and put 50 in the boat, including nice smallies like the one pictured above. The river was a bit high and slightly stained and flashy … [Read more...]

An early saltwater surprise this year is the large number of bluefish being caught all the way from the sounds behind Nags Head up to Virginia Beach and across the bay. Many of the fish are running 2 to 5 pounds, but some monsters in the 10-15 poundclass have also made an appearance. Biting alongside the blues, are Spanish mackerel which are now well up into Bay waters. Cobia are now along the … [Read more...]

  Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, here come the cobia. For the past few weeks, cobia have been moving up the Carolina coast and now they’re here. The first schools have joined with red drum and will hit anything in sight - live eels, spot, menhaden, mullet, large spoons, white buck tails, plastic eels, swimming plugs or cut bait. They are hanging around buoys and other structure, … [Read more...]

Spring Rockfish season opened on May 16 and extends through June 15. Anglers have been catching lots of fish from the James. The minimum size is 19 inches, with the maximum size 24 inches. Rocks are also being caught from the Chick and Appomattox rivers. The James and Chick have also been excellent for bass fishing, typical for the month of May. The upper James has been a bit low, and the … [Read more...]

About this time 30 years ago, sportsmen headed for the coasts of Virginia and Carolina to catch bluefish. Big, gator-sized bluefish to 20 pounds. Then, they went away, perhaps victim of the netters who caught them by the truckloads and sold them as catfood for a nickel a pound. Well, maybe they are back. Capt. Reese Stecher and parties have been catching them up to 10-pounds in the sounds at … [Read more...]

The striped bass of Buggs Island Lake are now on the move up the Dan and Staunton rivers where they will spawn. The Staunton, in particular, is a great spot to intercept and catch nice fish to 15 pounds and more. Walleye are also available in the same spots. Some huge blue catfish are now biting at Buggs Island. These fish can exceed 100 pounds. Crappie throughout Virginia have largely … [Read more...]

The water temperatures have hit the 60’s and it’s “Game On” at Nags Head. The sound has been delivering trout to 23-inches and red drum to 30-inches and lots of them, says Capt. Reese Stecher with beachbumfishing.com. “We’re also catching some nice bluefish from 2 to 6 pounds,” Reese said. The past three years have been phenomenal for trout and pups in the Roanoke Sound and this year … [Read more...]

By Alex McCrickard/DWR   Anglers living along the I-95 corridor can experience exceptional year-round fishing on Virginia’s tidal rivers. These rivers are popular destinations to chase largemouth bass, gar, bowfin, flathead catfish, blue catfish, and more, regardless of what month it is. However, every spring anglers are blessed with the seasonal arrival of ocean migrants that provide … [Read more...]