Some giant sheepshead are being caught now along the CBBT.
Shawn Sawyer from Virginia Beach hooked one pushing 20 pounds.
Sheepshead are a mysterious fish. They have the unique ability to snatch a bait from a hook. Some say that to catch a sheepshead, you have to set the hook just before he bites. They are powerful fish, in the drum family, and they are prized as table fare. The fish feeds on bivalves and crustaceans, and baits such as shrimp, sand fleas, clams, fiddler crabs and mussels are productive. Rocky bottoms and places with structure, such as jetties and pilings, hold lots of sheepshead. The fishing now in the Bay is topnotch.
Elsewhere in Virginia waters, Captain Todd Beck with Knot Wish’n guide service said the Spanish mackerel and bluefish bite slowed a bit last week, but ribbonfish are all along the oceanfront in 25 to 50 feet of water.
Anglers continue catching cobia throughout the bay and along the coast. Chumming and using live or cut bait is working well. When fish are spotted near the surface anglers are sight-casting to them.
Flounder fishing continues to pick up steam. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, bay and coastal wrecks, artificial reefs and inside Lynnhaven Inlet are hot spots.
Lots of spadefish are around the CBBT islands and navigation buoys. Triggers and spades are hanging around coastal wrecks.
Speckled trout numbers are decent throughout the lower bay and inlets. Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle said spot, croaker, flounder and puppy drum are biting inside the Lynnhaven Inlet.
The areas around the mouth of the Piankatank River have been good for keeper flounder, puppy drum, trout, and spot.
Tarpon have made a showing on the Eastern Shore in the barrier islands backwaters. The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier reported whiting, blues at the end of the pier and flounder in the surf zone.
Virginia bluewater action is fantastic right now. Several crews returned to Rudee Inlet with catches and releases of white and blue marlin, sailfish, spearfish and swordfish. Dolphin and tuna were also in the mix.
OBX
On Wednesday, the piers produced king mackerel, Spanish, sheepshead, spadefish, sea mullet, spot croaker and flounder – an excellent day. Surf fishermen beached sea mullet, spot, flounder, croaker and pompano. The inshore boats had a good day with specks, puppies, sheepshead and both flounder and striper releases. Nearshore boats continued to hammer the blues, Spanish and ribbonfish. Offshore boats scored with yellowfin, blackfin, Mahi and tilefish.
Freshwater
Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540-672-3997) at Lake Orange reports that the water temperatures are in the low eighties and the lake is clear. Bass can be caught around aquatic vegetation with soft plastics the bait of choice. Walleye fishing has been good throughout the lake for those using live bait. Crappie fishing remains strong with live minnows on offshore brush in 8 to 12 ft. Catfishing has picked up with chicken liver and nightcrawler baits. The northern end of the lake is best.
In the Valley, Beaver Creek and Mossy Creek are fishing well as big browns and rainbows are rising to misplaced hoppers and beetles. The Shenandoah may now be out-fishing the James and the New in the smallmouth department. Despite gin clear water, the topwater bite is producing some nice 4 and pound smallmouth.
A bag of bass weighing 17 lbs. won the Friday night Lake Anna tournament. Successful anglers are fishing docks, deep brush, and rock structure in various depths with soft plastics.
Kerr Lake elevation is currently 299.86 feet. Crappie are being caught from the deeper brush located in 25′ of water with the brush topping out at around 15 feet. Bass are being caught from the brush as well but are also being caught from rock structure and stumps edging the main river or creek channels. Lots of huge blue cats are now being caught at Kerr Lake.
