Veteran angler George Craig of Elizabeth City caught a large tarpon Tuesday morning on Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head just after 10 a.m. He fought it for an hour and 13 minutes. In the end, the big fish swam away unharmed. “I’m glad the fish lived, I’m very glad about that,” he said. Craig thanked several of his fellow experienced anglers, Jacob Barlow and Taylor Bandy, for all of the effort they put into assisting the fight. The pair estimated that the fish probably weighed in between 100 to 130 pounds. It’s been years since Haynes Courtney landed one half that size. Ironically, Craig landed that one with the net. Today’s fish was caught off the southeast corner on the end, made its way around the entire length of the pier on the northside and then went back out and around to the southside for another run. Eventually it went under the pier on the northside, and the guys had to drop the landing net on the south side.
Elsewhere on the OBX, it’s been a Bic Mac attack for nearshore boats. The mackerel are plentiful, they’re hungry and they are nice size. Sound fishermen continue to score with blues, pups, specks, and rockfish.
Virginia Saltwater
The Spanish fishing is red hot. There have been numerous days of close to limit fishing. Some of the catches had a very nice size class of fish as well.
Big red drum are showing throughout the lower Bay and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Anglers are having success sight casting and bottom fishing. Most hook ups are coming from the shoals on the north side of the bay and around the islands of the
Cobia action remains red hot. Anglers are fishing live bait in chum slicks. But you never know when they’ll pop up on the surface, so always have a rod ready to sight cast. The capture season is now open.
Spadefish are around buoys, the pilons of the CBBT and the Chesapeake Light Tower. Also hanging around the bridge pilons are lots of large hungry Sheepshead.
Flounder catches are picking up. Look for them along the CBBT, around inshore wrecks and artificial reefs throughout the lower bay and along the coast.
Pier and surf anglers are finding bluefish, flounder, croakers, and sea mullet. Small spot are starting to show up in better numbers.
Coastal wrecks are holding bluefish and triggerfish. Big AJ’s (Amberjacks) should be arriving as well.
Offshore, the dolphin have arrived. We should soon see a pickup in marlin release flags decorating outriggers. Yellowfin tuna action is on the upswing.
Anglers bottom bouncing baits on the edge of the canyon continue catching blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, and sea bass.
Freshwater
It’s the same ol’, same ol’ report for freshwater, Bluegills have spawned, crappie are deep, and bass are in full summer patterns. Some giant catfish are being caught at Buggs. The rivers are all low but full of damselflies and topwater bite is on.
The best bets for great fishing continue to be the tidal rivers – the Chick and Potomac.
