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...]

The last several years have seen ever improving catches of nice bluefish and 2026 looks to continue that trend. Big bluefish up to 10 pounds are currently ravaging schools of bait in the lower Bay, in the Virginia surf and from piers. No reports of those 15- and 20-pound gator-sized blues from the past, but an 8- or 10-pounder is certainly no slouch Croakers are spreading throughout the bay, … [Read more...]

In years past, the shad run on the Potomac at Fredericksburg would almost be over by now, but this year, it hasn’t really started. Mark Scott said he drove to Fredericksburg to try for shad last week and never saw a fish. He said that locals noted that the herring haven’t arrived, and they are usually ahead of the shad. Mark also said the water was extremely low. The shad runs are still in … [Read more...]

One of Virginia’s top crappie fisheries is right here in Central Virginia – Lake Orange. The 124-acre lake was stocked with crappie from Buggs Island Lake, known to produce lots of 3-plus pound slabs. The food chain ion Orange is abundant with lots of shad to feed on. Darrell Kennedy (pictured above) of Angler’s Landing the says that crappie are currently in all phases of the spawn – some are … [Read more...]