Red drum are a highly protected species in Virginia. Recreational anglers are allowed to keep only three fish between 18 and 25 inches per day. The large drum – the breeding stock – are strictly off limits. To everybody but Omega Protein. A Fish Reduction Vessel from Omega “accidentally” netted large numbers of drum while they were seining for menhaden this week. When they saw the drum in the nets – they are basically dead fish at the time – they released their catch and large numbers of dead fish washed up on the shore at Kiptopeke State Park. The beaches were closed while crews undertook the massive cleanup.
The state of Virginia allows Omega to patrol the bay and scoop up vast numbers of menhaden, the primary food for striped bass even as striped bass stocks tumble. The seiners are not allowed in Maryland waters, but because Omega has a large work force in Reedville, they do pretty much whatever they want in Virginia.
Enough is enough. Our Bay waters need protection. Our gamefish need to eat.
Kick the bums out – for good!
Virginia Beach Report
Water temperatures are peaking in the low 80’s with lots of species available, the outstanding fishing continues along the Virginia coast.
Spanish mackerel provided great action last week with large numbers and nice sized fish. Bluefish and ribbonfish are mixed in with the Macs. Brian Dunn and crew had a great day catching Spanish with Captain David Wright on the High Hopes.
Flounder fishing is picking up steam. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, bay and coastal wrecks, artificial reefs and inside Lynnhaven Inlet are good spots.
Anglers continue catching cobia throughout the bay and along the coast. Chumming and then using live or cut bait is working well. When fish are spotted near the surface anglers are sight-casting to the schools.
Large red drum are around the CBBT and along the coast. Puppy drum and small stripers are feeding inside local inlets, Little Creek, Rudee, and Lynnhaven. Speckled trout numbers are decent throughout the lower bay and inlets.
There are large sheepshead to be had along the CBBT. Dr. Ken Neill caught a limit on a recent trip.
Look for spadefish around the CBBT islands and navigation buoys. Triggers and spades are hanging around coastal wrecks.
Tarpon have shown up on the Eastern Shore in the barrier islands backwaters.
Inside the inlets and rivers of the bay, anglers are finding speckled trout, puppy drum, croaker, and spot. Fishermen are catching good numbers of spot in the Deltaville area.
The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier reported roundheads, rays, spot, blues, Spanish, flounder, and hound fish.
Virginia blue water action is and will be fantastic from now until mid-September. White and blue marlin, sailfish, spearfish, and swordfish are showing up in good numbers. Dolphin fishing is very good.
OBX
TW’s in Nags Head reports that good weather and good fishing continues.
The trout bite has picked back up in the sound. They weighed two fish at 4 pounds each on Sunday. Limits of nice fish are being caught. There are still plenty of drum inside the inlet and back in the sound. Some citation size fish are being caught on cut bait and artificials.
The ocean side piers are reporting spot, croaker, sheepshead, flounder, and spadefish. There have been a few nice cobia seen as well. There was a nice one was caught Sunday on Avalon Pier. Sheepshead and black drum are still the top targets at the Bonner Bridge Pier. Fiddler crabs, sandfleas, and cut peeler crab have all been working well there.
Offshore continues to be a mixed bag with a few tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and billfish. Capt. Dave Lusk and his father caught a pair of nice Wahoo while fishing with Capt. Jack Graham on the Afishionado.
Freshwater
Lake Orange Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540.672.3997) The water temperatures are in the mid 80s and the lake is stained. Bass are schooling beneath small baitfish, with topwater baits working best. Crankbaits and soft plastics work well when the bass head deep. Crappie can be caught around deep brush on small minnows and jigs. Catfishing remains strong with chicken livers and live bait working best. A few walleye have been caught by anglers using harness rigs with live nightcrawlers.
The Rappahannock River has become a hotspot for Snakeheads as the toothy fish prowl the shallows. Bass fishing has also been excellent on the Rapp. Bass in the major lakes are going deep throughout the day, but come shallow at first light. Crappie are at depths of 15 to 25 feet and clinging to brush piles.
Trout fishing remains surprisingly good in the mountain streams with decent water flow. The spring creeks in the valley have been very productive. Ants, beetles, hoppers, and other terrestrials are catching fish.
