Calm seas and mild weather this week have combined to produce some great fishing in Virginia salt waters. Along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, some nice pompano have been biting sand fleas. Pompanos are more of a warm water, tropical fish and relish the waters off Florida, but in late summer they will venture as far north as Virginia. They are one of the finest eating fish that swims. Their mouths are relatively small, and they feed on small clams, sand fleas and other small crustaceans.
Other fish of note:
Spanish Mackerel: Excellent action reported off the beaches with trolled and cast spoons.
Bluefish: Feeding aggressively around scattered bait schools throughout the bay.
Cobia: Popping back up regularly post-spawn, with more surface catches and early movement toward the CBBT tunnel pilings.
Sheepshead: Solid numbers now reported, rebounding nicely after earlier lulls.
Flounder: The doormat bite is slowing down slightly, but steady catches continue to come on Gulp grubs and minnows.
Bull Drum: Bull drum remain active in the lower bay and around the islands of the CBBT.
Offshore: Calmer hot days are yielding nice catches of red snapper and other wreck and bottom dwellers.
Blue Water; Lots of Mahi and billfish are beginning to show in greater numbers.
OBX
Surf and pier anglers along Nags Head and Hatteras are pulling in pompano, sea mullet, spot, croaker, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel. Offshore boaters are finding Wahoo, tuna, and Mahi. The king mackerel bite is picking up steam.
Freshwater
Welcomed rain has drastically improved freshwater fishing, raising water levels in lakes and rivers. The James has been productive for smallmouth as the topwater bite is in full swing. Striper fishing at Lake Anna is excellent, but live bait is now out producing artificials.
