Flounder have started showing up with greater regularity in the Bay and tributaries. Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets have been particularly good, but the Eastern Shore is still tops. Some black drum weighing over 40 pounds were caught this week, and red drum catches improve daily. Puppy drum and bluefish are being caught from the piers and in the inlets. A huge 10-10 speckled trout was reported this week.
The Carolina surf is giving up bluefish, pompano, red drum, sea mullet, and sharks. Some huge bluefish were caught this week from nearshore boats, along with cobia to 40 pounds.
Charter boats are putting clients on Mahi, blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and Wahoo. Deep droppers are hauling in tilefish, rosefish, and groupers.
Freshwater
The recent rain deluge has rivers at flood stage, but when levels drop down, the smallmouth action should be on fire. Stripers are moving up into the rivers out of Buggs Island. Bass and crappie have spawned but are biting. Bluegills and shellcrackers are on the beds and will swat most anything thrown in their direction. Big catfish – blues and flatheads – are biting in the rivers and lakes.
