The beauty of a Mahi Mahi (dolphin fish) when it first comes out of the water is breathtaking. But when aas soon as they die, the colors fade.
Anglers on the Outer Banks have been catching limits of these beautiful and spectacular leapers, some as close as two miles from shore. Occasionally, there are reports of Mahi being caught from the piers.
Currently, the piers are reporting spot, kingfish, mullet, lots of small pompano and Spanish mackerel. Nearshore boats – in addition to a few Mahi – are picking up drum, Spanish, and bluefish. The offshore fleet is returning with lots of Mahi, yellowfin, and blackfin tuna and billfish releases.
Virginia Saltwater
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel continues to be a hotspot. Anglers are finding impressive sheepshead in the 10- to 15-pound range, often alongside tautog, with crab being the go-to bait. Black drum are also being caught from hard cover areas around the bay.
Spanish mackerel are active, being caught from the oceanfront and bay piers, and around the spans of the CBBT. Trolling the mouths of many rivers is also proving effective for mackerel, with bluefish often caught as a bonus.
Red drum are showing up in the ocean and bay, particularly off Sandbridge and within the bay, near the second island of the CBBT.
Cobia fishing has been steady, but recreational anglers and guides are reporting fewer fish. The Cobia that are being found are a larger class, with many exceeding 50-inches.
Flounder enthusiasts are having success inside the bay, around the CBBT, Lesner Bridge, various artificial reefs, Rudee Inlet, and ocean wrecks.
Speckled trout fishing has become more challenging due to heavy rains. The increased freshwater in their shallow habitats is causing them to move closer to the bay or deeper in the water column.
Weakfish are making a strong showing around the concrete ships at Kiptopeke, though many are undersized, some keepers are definitely in the mix. Additionally, cutlassfish (ribbonfish) have arrived and are biting well in the evenings, particularly under the lights of piers.
The offshore bite is strong. Anglers are landing good numbers of tuna, a trend expected to continue throughout the summer. Mahi and wahoo are also being caught. For those targeting billfish, blue marllin, white marlin and sailfish are providing lots of release opportunities.
Freshwater
Boat traffic on the major lakes has been a problem for fishermen. Crappie anglers are tying up beneath bridges and finding willing fish at 20 feet and more. The rivers – the Rapp, Chick and Potomac – are producing the best results for bass fishermen. Some late spawning bluegills are being caught near shorelines.
Water temps are high but should start dropping soon.
