Dr. Ken Neill   Some nice catches of spadefish have been made at the Chesapeake Light Tower and over some of the coastal wrecks. More are showing on structures inside the bay. “Nice” means by today’s standards, not the 9- and 10-pound spadefish we used to catch. Spanish Mackerel are being caught along the oceanfront and have begun to move on into the bay. Cobia have arrived in the … [Read more...]

  The cobia season is open in Virginia and anglers are catching. Both chumming and sight casting tactics are working. Anglers sight-fishing for cobia are also seeing large schools of red drum.  Even prior to the season opening, numerous trophy cobia release citations were registered. Remember all anglers, captains and guides fishing for cobia must obtain a Recreational Cobia Permit from … [Read more...]

Many of our spring species have found their way to the Chesapeake Bay and our coastal waters. The tautog action is still good and should remain so through the close of the season. The Tog season closes from May 16 thru June 30. Red and black drum are here in numbers and fishing for them should continue to improve over the next few weeks. Fishing fresh crabs, clams or live bait produces the best … [Read more...]

(Amberjacks must be at least 32-inches to keep)   You almost need a law degree to understand the nuances of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Regulations, and sometimes they change things in mid-season. Regardless, as many of us prepare our spring and summer vacations to the coast, the regs printed below might be of some help. Each species is listed with minimum size and the daily creel … [Read more...]

Chris Bait & Tackle on the Eastern Shore says the drum bite is on, big time, in the barrier surf. Flounder have also moved into the ocean waters off Oyster. Virginia Beach Fishing Center says that with water temperatures in the mid-fifties, tautog fishing is red hot. Anglers are finding togs around most inshore structures. Favorite spots include the tower reef area, the Cape Henry Wreck, … [Read more...]

It’s time to roll. The fish are biting! Speckled trout are around, but good luck finding someone to share the location of his or her hot spot. Try the shallows around Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. Tautog fishing is excellent around the rock islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, at the Kiptopeke Concrete Ships and on near shore wrecks. Dr. Ken Neill and crew fished a couple of inshore … [Read more...]

Flounder reports are starting to roll in from Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Look for the big flatfish to start showing up in the bay very soon. A few red drum have also been caught on the Eastern Shore. Some puppy drum and speckled trout have been reported inside Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets, so things are looking up. Tautog catches are picking up at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and on other … [Read more...]

So, what has been happening out on the water so far? In addition to the great bluefin fishing out of Oregon Inlet, both yellowfin tuna and some bigeye tuna have been caught. Blackfin tuna are being caught out of Hatteras. As early as late January, big red drum were being caught out of the Hatteras surf during that early spring we had. Typically, about 2 weeks after that bite starts, we get them … [Read more...]

Virginia anglers need four or five warm days in a row to kick off the speckled trout and puppy drum seasons inside Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. A few warm days will lure bait into the shallows and the predators will follow. Cold, inshore water is holding up the big red drum bite. But a few warm days will take care of that as well. Then look for reports to start coming in from the Outer Banks of … [Read more...]

  Despite three nor’easters in a row, Virginia saltwater anglers have found small windows of fishable weather. Tautogs are available on the ocean wrecks and at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Last week Jamal Esfahani and crew had an incredible day. They weighed their largest fish (9 lb. 13 oz.) at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle. They tagged and released 27 citation … [Read more...]