Spring Rockfish season opened on May 16 and extends through June 15. Anglers have been catching lots of fish from the James. The minimum size is 19 inches, with the maximum size 24 inches. Rocks are also being caught from the Chick and Appomattox rivers. The James and Chick have also been excellent for bass fishing, typical for the month of May. The upper James has been a bit low, and the … [Read more...]

About this time 30 years ago, sportsmen headed for the coasts of Virginia and Carolina to catch bluefish. Big, gator-sized bluefish to 20 pounds. Then, they went away, perhaps victim of the netters who caught them by the truckloads and sold them as catfood for a nickel a pound. Well, maybe they are back. Capt. Reese Stecher and parties have been catching them up to 10-pounds in the sounds at … [Read more...]

The striped bass of Buggs Island Lake are now on the move up the Dan and Staunton rivers where they will spawn. The Staunton, in particular, is a great spot to intercept and catch nice fish to 15 pounds and more. Walleye are also available in the same spots. Some huge blue catfish are now biting at Buggs Island. These fish can exceed 100 pounds. Crappie throughout Virginia have largely … [Read more...]

The water temperatures have hit the 60’s and it’s “Game On” at Nags Head. The sound has been delivering trout to 23-inches and red drum to 30-inches and lots of them, says Capt. Reese Stecher with beachbumfishing.com. “We’re also catching some nice bluefish from 2 to 6 pounds,” Reese said. The past three years have been phenomenal for trout and pups in the Roanoke Sound and this year … [Read more...]

By Alex McCrickard/DWR   Anglers living along the I-95 corridor can experience exceptional year-round fishing on Virginia’s tidal rivers. These rivers are popular destinations to chase largemouth bass, gar, bowfin, flathead catfish, blue catfish, and more, regardless of what month it is. However, every spring anglers are blessed with the seasonal arrival of ocean migrants that provide … [Read more...]

If you are a kite flyer, this has been a great spring. If you like to fish, not so much. But as the winds finally begin to calm, fishing is starting to take off. Big tautogs are all over the CBBT and blue crabs (their favorite meal) are now available in bait shops and fish markets The speckled trout have made appearances in various inlets, including Rudee Inlet, Little Creek Inlet near … [Read more...]

One of the first signs of spring – fishing-wise – is the arrival of the big black drum, and they have arrived. Anglers are starting to find black drum along the Eastern Shore. Long Bay Pointe Bait & Tackle  registered their first black drum citation on March 30th. The 52-inch citation (shown above) was caught and released near Fisherman’s Island by Jonathan Hughes. Look for them to show up … [Read more...]

The Giant Bluefin Tuna continue to crush baits and baitfish (like 15-pound bluefish) in the blue water off the Outer Banks. The vast schools of yellowfins are due to arrive any day. Inshore, the trout and striper bites remain strong. The northern beaches are giving up dogfish (these are good to eat, by the way), skates (not good to eat), blow toads (very, very good to eat) and black drum … [Read more...]

  They always show up first at Chincoteague and Wachapreague, and this year is no exception. Some nice flounder have been caught on the Eastern Shore and the tasty flatfish will soon enter Bay waters. Trout and puppy drum have been active in both Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets and tautogs are stealing baits along the CBBT and other structures. The first black drum of the year were caught … [Read more...]

  Angler’s Landing, the marina and bait shop at Lake Orange, is open again for business. Just in time for the crappie and yellow perch bite, Angler’s Landing rents jon boats and sells bait and supplies for one of the most productive lakes in Virginia. Owned and managed by the DWR, Orange gives up trophy bass in addition to channel cats, redear sunfish, walleye, saugeye, bass, crappie, … [Read more...]