The temperature is dropping but the saltwater bite remains strong in Virginia. Pier and bottom fishermen are still catching croakers, spot, whiting and bluefish in the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Red Drum: Good numbers are roaming the shallows, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, reefs, and local inlets like Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlet. Cut bait or soft plastics are working.
Speckled Trout: Steady action continues around grass flats, creek mouths, and Chincoteague Bay. Fish are going after live shrimp under a popping cork.
Stripers: Schooling stripers are active in the bays and marshes, with larger fish and night bites picking up around well-lit docks.
Flounder & Tautog: Keeper flounder are holding near structure and inshore wrecks, while tautog and sea bass action is improving on bottom structure with crab or clam baits.
Tuna & Mahi: Yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi are still moving through offshore grounds, though trips require running further out as water temperatures transition.
OBX
Big waves and a rough surf plagued OBX anglers during midweek. Last weekend was decent with croakers, small trout, bluefish and a few sharks reported. There are lots of tuna and Mahi in the Gulf Stream when the blue water fleet can get to them.
Freshwater
The upper James received lots of welcomed water last week and the smallmouth have responded well. Buggs Island Lake is still low at 288’. The cooler weather has stripers feeding more aggressively in Buggs, Smith Mountain and Anna. Fishing in small lakes and ponds has been excellent for crappie and bream.
Trout are being stocked daily, and water levels are decent.
