As we ease into December, the cold-water fish are taking center stage. The croakers, spot, cobia, flounder and spadefish have moved out of the bay. Remaining are the rockfish, speckled trout, tautogs, sea bass, bluefish and red drum. December is the peak time for big rockfish as they migrate down the Atlantic Coast and hang a right into the Chesapeake to gorge on baitfish. The best action is … [Read more...]

Some fishing improves as the waters warm while some fishing gets better when it cools. Right now, the speckled trout and puppy drum is scorching hot, with great reports coming from the Rappahannock River down to the Rudee Inlet and Lynnhaven areas. Peak action often ramps up after sundown, when these feisty fighters prowl the shallows under cover of darkness—ideal for those who don’t mind trading … [Read more...]

Even though it’s getting colder, there is still some very good fishing to be had in Virginia’s saltwater. November brings some of the best striped bass action of the year. Big migratory fish are beginning to surge into the lower Chesapeake Bay, holding along channel edges, river mouths, and especially around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Successful anglers are casting or trolling spoons, … [Read more...]

If you like variety, now is the time to hop aboard a charter boat and dunk some bait off Virginia’s coast. Reefs and wrecks offshore are loaded with black sea bass, triggerfish, blues, and some big flounder. Venture deeper, and tilefish are waiting in the depths for the patient angler. Captain Jake Hiles (above) reported seeing bluefin tuna busting the surface multiple times while fishing … [Read more...]

The speckled trout bite is on fire in the lower Chesapeake and tributaries. Cool water has the fish on the move to take advantage of stranded baitfish and sluggish shrimp. Hot spots include Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet, the Fort Monroe stretch of the James River, and the Elizabeth Rive. Puppy drum are biting alongside the trout in the same areas. Rockfish are showing up in rivers and creeks, … [Read more...]

Red drum, that is. There was a nice run of the Reds on Virginia’s Southern Beaches this week. Many anglers had luck after dark. Captain Craig Page and guests aboard the Paige II also landed some impressive red drum near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel proving that the fall fishery is still strong. Captain Todd Beck of Knot Wish’n Charters reported 62-degree water and a strong speckled trout … [Read more...]

Our trout streams are suffering right now from lack of rain. Generally, a decent hurricane refreshes our mountain streams in September and October, but that has not happened this year. John Savides of Afton fished the Jackson River last weekend, and despite low water, found one pool holding a 26-inch rainbow which John brought to net. The fish are there, they just need more water. The state has … [Read more...]

As the water temperatures decrease in the Chesapeake Bay, the speckled trout bite is on the increase. Currently, the sleek, speckled warriors are the Fish du Jour in the bay and tributaries. Some anglers are using live shrimp to entice the trout while other go with GULP baits under popping corks. Fishing shallow water banks with grass and structure on a falling tide produces the best … [Read more...]

Everybody let’s rock! Rock, as in catching rockfish – stripers, that is, and the season is here. As of today, October 4, anglers are allowed to keep one rockfish per day between 19- and 31-inches. This means that those 40-pound plus fish – the big females with lots of quality eggs – will be off limits but those school sized stripers are in play. There seem to be lots and lots of 18- to 24-inch … [Read more...]

Lake Orange will hold its annual Youth Fishing Day this Saturday, September 27 from 10 to 2 pm. It’s a free event for those between 2 and 16 and there will be lots of fun and prizes in store. This will be the last week that Angler’s Landing will be open for the year, but the fishing is wide open. Says Darryl Kennedy, “The water temperature is in the low 70s bass and crappie heading to the shallows … [Read more...]