The Virginia black sea bass season opened Feb. 1 and runs through Feb 28. Remember, a no-cost recreational species permit along with a regular license is required to catch sea bass. The head boats will be running trips and we should have some good reports coming. In the mean time, cod, large red hake, cunners and pollock have been keeping head boat anglers busy while fishing the ocean … [Read more...]

Now that the super cold weather has broken, a handful of anglers are finding their way back on the water. The frigid, ice-cold water took a toll on some Chesapeake Bay stripers and our local speckled trout population. Hopefully not too many were stunned to death. The bay water is still way too cold for much fishing. At Cape Charles the water temperature is 39.0 F. Cape Henry it’s 39.6 F and at the … [Read more...]

By Dr. Ken Neill   We got out yesterday and did some bottom fishing. As expected, the spiny dogfish were bad, especially on the south side of the canyon while trying for golden tilefish. On the north wall of the canyon, we caught a lot of smooth dogfish…like the canyon was a dividing line. We also caught a dogfish that seemed almost a cross between the two. More body type and spots like … [Read more...]

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia as they consider revising the current management system. Public hearings will be held via webinar with public listening stations beginning January 22, 2018. Information on the proposed changes is now available from the Council’s website at: … [Read more...]

VBSF Reports Frigid winter weather has set in on the lower Chesapeake Bay, but that didn’t stop some very hearty anglers from closing out the bay striper season with a bang. A number of fish topping 40-pounds were weighted the finale week. Now it’s time to turn our attention to ocean waters. The Virginia coastal season for striped bass opens January 1st and we can continue harvesting … [Read more...]

    Big stripers continue to come to the scales from the lower Chesapeake. Stripers to 50 pounds and more are active around Buoys 38 and 40 on the Eastern Shore. Live eels are the most productive baits. The Virginia Beach area and around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is showing schooling stripers in the 22-38 inch range. Best success is also from drifted live eels, but umbrella … [Read more...]

  Chris Bait & Tackle on the Eastern Shore says the wait is over. The Big Mamas are in the Bay and some nice fish are coming to scales. The big stripers have shown around Plantation Light and the area between the CBBT and Cape Charles. The larger fish are taking drifted live eels. Anglers trolling the oceanfront for ocean stripers, do not be surprised by a giant blue fin tuna … [Read more...]

The Nolin Family from Vermont at Oregon Inlet   From the upper reaches of the bay down through the Carolinas, anglers are doing better and better with stripers following the recent cold snap. From Nags Head, Capt. Reese Stecher reports: “The Stripers gave us the slip for a few days. So, we went after the Drum and they were biting. The cold weathered helped us out and we figured out … [Read more...]

By Dr. Julie Ball The speckled trout scene continues to develop, and the size of the fish continues to grow. Most backwater locations are producing respectable fish, with jigs, plastics and Mirro-Lures attracting plenty of strikes. Rudee Inlet, Little Creek Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet and the Poquoson flats are productive speck areas, presenting a surprisingly nice class of trout. This could be a … [Read more...]

This is shaping up to be an excellent striper season, both in Carolina and Virginia waters. Down at Oregon Inlet, Capt. Reese Stecher and fellow captains have been slamming the stripers. They are even catching some larger fish (28-inches plus) and that fishery will only improve. Reese continues to catch puppy drum and speckled trout, often right along wit the stripers. There are still two full … [Read more...]