Speckled trout action has been on fire on the Outer Banks for several months, and now it’s “speck” time in Virginia.
Specked trout and puppy drum action is picking inside the inlets. Topwater baits or popping corks baited with fresh shrimp, fresh cut bait or soft crabs will do the trick. Captain Beck and his Knot Wish’n Charter crews have been catching them inside Rudee Inlet. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle registered several Virginia State Citation. Susan H. Gordon had a 25″ speckled trout release, Mike Firestone a 24″ speckled trout release. Stephen C. Davis had a 52-0inch red drum release and Jose Pires Encarnacao countered with a 50-inch red drum release.
Rockfish season is open for slot sized fish. The best catches are coming from around structure, especially at night under lights. Trollers are using umbrella rigs, tandem rigs, swim shads and stretch baits mostly in the rivers.
Tautog are available and hungry. They’ll be available throughout the winter. The islands off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and wrecks like the Cape Henry are productive areas. Dr Ken Neill reported a few nice ones caught on the Healthy Grin.
Sea bass fishing on ocean wrecks is great right now. Anglers are also catching flounder and triggerfish while targeting the sea bass.
Surf and pier anglers are catching spot, drum, trout, sea mullet, bluefish, and rockfish. Amy Eanes and crew from Danville loaded their cooler with some nice late season spot off the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.
Offshore anglers are successfully targeting swordfish. Bluewater trollers are picking up tuna, a few mahi and some nice wahoo.
OBX
The piers had a good fall day on Wednesday with catches of spot, bluefish, trout and a few puppy drum. Fishing off the beaches was excellent with limits of speckled drum reported. There was also a sea mullet, striper, and puppy drum bite.
Inshore/Sound Fishing Report:
Inshore fishermen also took limits of specks, stripers, and puppy drum in the sounds.
A few of the offshore boats made it out and had success with yellowfin and blackfin tuna.
Freshwater
Crappie are prime time players now on all the larger lakes and many smaller impoundments. The fish are feeding heavily in advance of their winter migration to deep structure. They are hanging beneath deep water docks and snuggling up to bridge pilings. Brush in 10 to 12 feet of water is also producing lots of fish. Some whoppers to 3 pounds have come recently from Buggs Island. As always, use small to medium shiners.
With a recent influx of rainfall, trout streams are now in excellent condition and fall stocking is well underway.
