They are not very glamorous fish, in fact most anglers consider a Spiny Dogfish to be a “trash’ fish. But if you’re heading to the coast of Virginia or the Outer Banks between now and March 1, they are likely to be one of the few fish you can catch from a pier or the surf. They have many names - dogfish, dog sharks, or spiny dogfish and they love cold water. They are carnivorous and … [Read more...]

The saltwater scene is winding down in Virginia waters though boats just offshore are still finding a few king-sized bluefins. Tog fishing is good for cold weather enthusiast near most any bay structure and there are lots of stripers, but it’s catch and release. On the OBX, it’s dogfish (spiny sharks) and a handful of sea mullet from the piers and surf. Specks and pups continue to bite back in … [Read more...]

The 2024 striper season has largely been disappointing. The big fish are just not coming into the bay as they once did, and who can blame them? The shelves are empty. The once plentiful menhaden have been turned into fish oil and shipped off to Canada. The food simply isn’t there anymore. Yet, some big stripers have been caught in their usual haunts off Cape Charles and live eels have been the … [Read more...]

Large bluefin tuna are actively feeding off the Virginia coast, with numerous reports of surface activity in several locations. Most boats are concentrating near the windmills, where the action appears to be most consistent. The water temperature is in the low 50°F range, which is ideal for these highly adaptable fish that thrive in temperatures between 50°F and 60°F. Many of the bluefin being … [Read more...]

The big fellas are back. Giants bluefins from 150 to 200 pounds are close to shore - at the Windmills area, Chesapeake Light and Triangle Wrecks. Sometimes they are as close as Caper Henry. Rockfish are now leaving the tributaries, heading out into the Bay where ocean fish from the north will join the schools. The Eastern side of the Bay is a hotspot, where anglers have success drifting or slow … [Read more...]

Fishing for rockfish, speckled trout and puppy drum is excellent, offering a perfect opportunity for those with extra time off this weekend. Speckled trout are being caught in Lynnhaven, Rudee, and Little Creek inlets, Poquoson Flats, creeks along the Eastern Shore Bayside, and the York and Elizabeth rivers. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings are holding striped bass, with … [Read more...]

June 9th was a special day for Grant Bentz. He caught a 14 lb., 12 oz. rainbow trout, a new state record. The previous Virginia record rainbow trout at14-7 had been caught in June 1993 by Michael Lowe in Greer’s Pond. Bentz’s fish, caught in Spring Creek, broke the record by 5 ounces. Bentz, of McGaheysville, Virginia, caught his monster rainbow on private property where he has permission to … [Read more...]

A sheepshead can be one of the most difficult fish to catch. They are very picky about their baits and have an affinity for fiddler crabs. Their bite is very light as they snuggle up to pilings and structure. But they are one of the best easting fish in saltwater. The angler pictured above is certainly in for some fine dining with a citation 10-pounder. The sheeps will hang around for a few more … [Read more...]

Blue marlin, white marlin sailfish – billfish, one and all. But so are swordfish, and unlike their long snouted cousins, they are prized as food fish. Swordfish anglers fish in deep water to attract their quarry and often take overnight trips to reach them. This past week, the “Reelin N Dealin” put a 326-lb. swordfish on the scales and claimed first prize in the Oceans East Swordfish … [Read more...]

Specks, speckled trout, are biting in earnest at Lynnhaven, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel area, as well as the Elizabeth, York, Piankatank, and Rappahannock rivers. Successful anglers are using popping corks, swim baits, topwater baits, and live bait. Long Bay Point Bait and Tackle reports a large variety of fish inside Lynnhaven now, signaling a bustling season for anglers. The waters are … [Read more...]