Last Saturday was an exceptional day for boats patrolling the Gulf Stream out of Oregon Inlet. The Mahi Mahi fishing was on fire. One boat returned with 50 of these spectacular fighters. In addition to the dolphin catch, there were also yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, lots of king mackerel, wahoo and albacore gaffed and a sailfish release. At Nags Head, nearshore trips had catches of sea bass (catch and release), ribbon fish and catfish. Inshore boats had great catches of puppy drum on both morning and afternoon trips. Stripers continue to bite back in the sounds. Pier fishermen were catching lots of sea mullet and a few specks.
In Virginia waters, tautog fishing remains excellent. The Virginia season closes May 15th.
The first red drum of the season are arriving on Latimer Shoal and the shallow bar near the north end of the CBBT.
A few reports of black drum are starting to surface. The big fellows should soon be along the shallow channel ledge running from Fisherman’s Island to north of Cape Charles.
Flounder, speckled trout and bluefish are starting to bite inside local inlets. Captain Todd Beck, with Knot Wish’n Guide Service picked up reds from 17- to 27-inches this week. He is seeing nice size speckled trout, but said they have been reluctant to eat for some reason. Flounder action is improving along the CBBT. Numbers will continue to improve as the water warms.
Anglers fishing off the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier are catching skates, rays and a few roundheads. The water temp is 57°. Anglers are using bloodworms, clam bites and Gulps.
Sea bass, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, snowy grouper, black belly rose fish and dogfish are available this time of year to Virginia offshore deep droppers.
OBX
Anglers are beginning to score on big red drum at Cape Hatteras. The Nags Head area has been good for the surf and sound anglers. Good sized puppy drum, speckled trout, and sea mullet are being caught.
The pier anglers are doing well with the sea mullet and specks. The Hatteras surf anglers have been reeling in some good sized bluefish.
Freshwater
There are still some shad and white perch to be caught in the tidal James and Rappahannock rivers, but it is slowing rapidly. Bass fishing is excellent now on the Chick, James and Rapp. Fresh shad are the preferred bait for cat fisherman.
Bass are spawning at Buggs Island and many other Virginia lakes and many fish are being caught in shallow water. Crappie fishing is outstanding now at Buggs as the silvers have moved to brushy cover. The upper James is now in ideal condition and the smallmouth bite is on.
At Lake Orange, water temperatures are in the low 60s and crappie and bass are shallow. Spawning crappie are feeding on small minnows and bass are being caught on soft plastics and a few top waters, as well. A few nice walleye have been caught on live bait around rocky points down lake. Catfishing is picking up in the mid-lake areas.
