The water temperature in the Chesapeake Bay is now 44, but rapidly rising. When it hits 50 degrees, things happen.
In the meantime, speckled trout are becoming more aggressive and are no longer in danger from frigid waters. They’re biting and so are puppy drum and the cold-water-loving tautogs.
To catch tautog, the flowing 3 baits are recommended.
Crabs: Blue crabs, fiddler crabs, marsh crabs, and mole crabs are particularly effective.
Strips of Clam: These can attract tautog and entice them to bite.
Whelk: Another bait option that can work well for tautog.
As for specks, they are attracted to warmer water and many move shallow where the sun does its magic. Live or fresh shrimp are ideal baits for specks. They will also attack GULP swimming minnows fished beneath a popping cork.
OBX
More sun means more and better fishing and the action is beginning to heat up on the Outer Banks.
TW’s Tackle reports some drum on the Hatteras beaches and at Ocracoke. Shad are beginning to move beneath the Little Bridge to Manteo along with trout. A few croaker were caught off Jennette’s Pier and that’s great news.
Inshore captains are returning with stripers, drum, and a few trout. Tuna are out there in in the blue water when boats can reach them.
It’s only going to get better.
Freshwater
There are already reports of shad being caught ijn the James River, but they have yet to arrive on the other rivers. The tidal rivers, however, are delivering good fishing now for bass, crappie, catfish, and yellow perch. Striper fishing has been heating up at Anna, and the crappie bite is underway as the slabs move shallow to spawn. Buggs Island and Lake Gaston crappie anglers are in their element with big fish and lots of them.
Trout fishing is excellent in the mountain streams and lakes.
