Just a few years ago, they shut down the speckled trout fishing entirely in Virginia because a late freeze had decimated populations. But what a comeback! Not only are there now plenty of speckled trout in the bay and our tidal rivers, they are big. Really big. Like the 6-1 beauty above caught by Bob Caudle. The trout are being caught in a number of locations - inside Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee … [Read more...]
Striper Action Heating Up
In Virginia waters, striper fishing has been excellent inside the Rappahannock River. Stan Cobb at Greentop says that multiple presentations are working now. Stretch baits, umbrella rigs rigged with 4-6 inch baits, lipless crankbaits, and jigging bucktails are productive. The Whitestone Bridge area has been very good, as have areas for several miles upriver. Anglers fishing the Hampton area of the … [Read more...]
That’s A Nice Opah
You don’t see an Opah fish like this one very often. In Virginia, it’s like never. But last week a bunch of fishermen out of Hampton ventured out to the Norfolk Canyon, some 80 miles off Virginia Beach and tried their hand at swordfish. No luck on the swords, but just as they were ready to call it a day, they had a bite. A big bite. It was a 143-pound Opah, sometimes called a moonfish. … [Read more...]
Give Thanks for the Outer Banks
In years past, lots of Virginians packed their bags, stuck rods and reels on the front of their trucks and headed for North Carolina’s Outer Banks for Thanksgiving. In this, the year of the Chinese Virus, it may be a good time to go again. Capt. Reese Stecher of Beach Bum Fishing says that the fishing in his neck of the woods is on fire. “We are catching specks, grey trout, puppy drum and lots … [Read more...]
A Good Day’s Fishing
Capt. David Wright and crew aboard the charter boat, High Hopes, had an awesome day last week. They caught a limit of blueline tilefish, four of which were citations. They also landed some beautiful black sea bass, and then topped the day off with two swordfish, one 78 pounds and the other 201 pounds. I’d call that a good day’s fishing. Elsewhere in Virginia’s saltwater, speckled trout and … [Read more...]
Puppies On Deck
Pier fishermen are a patient lot. On many days, if not most days, they sit and wait and not much happens – maybe a pinfish or a small spot. On other days, every cast seemingly finds an unwanted skate or a sand shark. But then, but then… It happens. Fish bite. Nice fish bite and it happened this week in Nags Head. Lots of puppy drum and many keepers were tugging at lines and were soon flopping … [Read more...]
Check Out the Chick for Stripers
The saltwater striper season is underway in both the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. But in many cases, the tributaries are more productive than the Bay itself, especially the tidal Chickahominy. Stripers are most plentiful in the Chick and a trusty Ratt’l Trap will get the job done. While some stripers will be throw backs, there are good numbers of 22- to 24-inch fish. A falling tide … [Read more...]
Striper Season Underway
The saltwater striper/rockfish season opened October 4 in Virginia waters and runs through the end of the year. The limit this fall is one fish per day at least 20-inches in length and no more than 36-inches. Lots of stripers are being caught by trollers and caters, but many fish are throwbacks. It seems that no matter where they set the size limits, the fish you catch will be one inch short – at … [Read more...]
Expect Some Nice Specks
Here comes October …. a time of transition. Our summertime species start leaving, the waters are less crowded and fish are very active. Speckled trout anglers are catching some quality fish. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports speckled trout and puppy drum biting inside Lynnhaven Inlet, and Captain Jake Beck found a mix of specks and redfish inside Rudee Inlet as well. The previous two mild … [Read more...]
Once There Were Blues
Once there were blues. Bluefish. The tigers of the ocean. Virginians waited for the news each April, that bluefish had entered the Chesapeake Bay, then it was game on. If you had a boat, you hitched it to the trailer and headed for the coast. If you didn’t have a boat, you pooled your resources with 4 or 5 buddies and took a charter out of Reedville or Lewisetta or Coles Point and went … [Read more...]
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