Calm seas and mild weather this week have combined to produce some great fishing in Virginia salt waters. Along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, some nice pompano have been biting sand fleas. Pompanos are more of a warm water, tropical fish and relish the waters off Florida, but in late summer they will venture as far north as Virginia. They are one of the finest eating fish that swims. Their mouths … [Read more...]

One of the best eating fish in freshwater is a nice, fat catfish. The lady in the picture who fished in Lake Orange last week will soon be enjoying a catfish dinner. Lake Orange is one of Viginia’s most productive impoundments – with scores of nice crappie, bluegills, shellcrackers, walleye, snakeheads, yellow perch, lunker bass, pickerel and – yes – catfish. The best catfish tactic is to use a … [Read more...]

Last week produced difficult fishing conditions with passing storms and rough seas offshore. Water temperatures cooled slightly which should improve this week’s catch. Cobia are now in their spawning mode, but anglers having success setting up chum lines and fishing deeper waters. Some big boys came in over the rails last week. As for other species, red drum are starting to show … [Read more...]

Fishermen, we have a problem. Blue catfish. They are taking over the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Ironically, it was the Game Department’s idea to bring blue catfish to our area, thinking that because of their ability to grow to huge sizes (over 100 pounds), they would be a welcomed addition to our gamefish  menu. Little did they know that this now invasive species would take to saltwater like a … [Read more...]

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...]