One of the first signs of spring – fishing-wise – is the arrival of the big black drum, and they have arrived. Anglers are starting to find black drum along the Eastern Shore. Long Bay Pointe Bait & Tackle registered their first black drum citation on March 30th. The 52-inch citation (shown above) was caught and released near Fisherman’s Island by Jonathan Hughes. Look for them to show up next near the Concrete Ships, the Cabbage Patch and some of the favored striper haunts like the 36A Buoy and the High Rise off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Surf anglers are finding the drum in the surf on the Barrier Islands.
Also among coming attractions are togs and flounder, now biting minnows on the Eastern Shore. Wachapreague especially, has been a hot spot for nice flatfish.
Some gator specks are being caught in the inlets along with some nice puppy drum.
OBX
Trout fishing in the sound has been stellar the last few days, according to TW’s Bait & Tackle. There were also some trout caught trout caught off Avalon Pier.
Surf fishing has been good the last few days. Greg Doggett from Bon Air, VA caught a 34” striper from the surf on Monday evening, and Alex Huss landed a 27-inch puppy drum in Frisco on Easter Day. Blow toads and sea mullet have been popping up all alongthe Southern beaches. Shad have been caught at the Little Bridge.
Freshwater
Shad have arrived in Richmond and Fredericksburg. Recent rains will further push the migration and the next few weeks should be exceptional. White perch are schooling among the shad and with all this bait inside the rivers, the fishing is red hot now for bass, crappie, and catfish. Enormous catches of cats are occurring now on both on the James and Rappahannock rivers.
Some slab-size crappie are being caught at Buggs Island. Smith Mountain anglers are boating some big female stripers loaded with eggs.
The trout streams are full of water and full of fish. Things are looking good.
