The end of the 2025 fishing season is fast coming to a close, but the stripers in the lower bay are keeping things interesting. Big -as in 60 pounds – stripers are eating live eels whenever they see one. The bite is on near the CBBT, Hampton Roads, Moniter/Merrimac Bridge Tunnel as well as pilings, channel edges and rock lines. The ocean run stripers are now merging with resident fish and the action is red hot.
Cold water has definitely cooled down the speckled trout bite. They are sluggish, but still available. Tautogs love the cold weather and will bite a hook rigged with fresh crab if they see one.
The black season sea bass season ends on Dec. 31, but for those lucky enough to reach them offshore, there are some big blacks hanging out in deep water.
OBX
On the Outer Banks, those who brave the cold and head offshore are loading their fish wells with blackfin tuna. Surf fishing is slow now with a red drum reported here and there. Some trout, pups and rockfish are being caught in the sounds.
The big news at Nags Head was the arrival of whales. Several sightings were reported from Jennette’s Pier. I remember one New Year’s at Nags Head when we saw several whales cavorting a few miles offshore. They are definitely large creatures and fun to watch.
