It’s fall on the Outer Banks and the next few weeks will provide some of the best fishing of the year. Blues, drum, specks, and stripers will be cruising the beaches so get ready to rumble.
A bitter cold snap slowed the action during mid-week, but as the weather improved, so did the fishing. Surf anglers were beaching sea mullet, drum – big and small, some specks and lots of sharks. Speckled trout continue to be caught sound side with good reports coming from the Little Bridge and around Mann’s Harbor. At Hatteras, it’s been red and black drum plus lots of trout.
Only a few offshore boats have gone out the last few days, but the the blackfin tunas are plentiful with a few dolphins in the mix.
Virginia Saltwater
It’s still speckled trout! Quality specks are being caught in numerous places inside the bay. Some, like in the Hampton area, are being caught along the main body of the bay, while many more are being caught inside the tributaries, and inlets. The waters of Hampton, Norfolk, Lynnhaven, and Rudee Inlet are producing limits of trout for many anglers. The Piankatank, Rapp, and areas north of the Rapp are productive. Areas with grass are where many anglers target the trout and throw popping corks dressed with shrimp baits. Swim baits are a staple for a lot of anglers, as are Mirr-o-lure baits. Redfish inhabit many of the same areas as the trout and hit the same baits. Inside the York River, some of the best night fishing is taking place. The Elizabeth River is providing good catches of trout, reds, and rockfish. Rockfish are being caught in many of the tributaries, most often caught shallow. Water temps need to cool down quite a bit for the bite to increase in the Bay. Some stripers are being caught along the main river sections of the Rapp, James, and Potomac. The islands of the CBBT have been producing at night, as have the light/shadow lines of the bridge. Chumming up current of structure, is working for some, as is jigging over structures.
The spot bite has dropped off, but there are still some nice fish being caught in the lower bay still. Tautog action is getting better inside the bay, with some Sheepshead sharing the same structures as the Tautog. Offshore anglers are doing well with sea bass on ocean structures. Quality triggerfish are being caught alongside the bass.
