If you like variety, now is the time to hop aboard a charter boat and dunk some bait off Virginia’s coast.
Reefs and wrecks offshore are loaded with black sea bass, triggerfish, blues, and some big flounder. Venture deeper, and tilefish are waiting in the depths for the patient angler. Captain Jake Hiles (above) reported seeing bluefin tuna busting the surface multiple times while fishing offshore. One of them was a giant bluefin. They’re out there. Go get ‘em.
Water temps are holding steady in the high 50s to low 60s in the bay – textbook conditions for trophy trout. The bite has been outstanding and showing no signs of slowing. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters caught smaller ones nonstop in Rudee on Saturday. There are also some grays mixed in with the specks. November is shaping up to be a banner month for quality fish.
Rockfish and slot drum are feeding up inside rivers, creeks, and inlets, with catches on the rise. The night bite for stripers is stealing the show—lighted docks, piers, and bridges are prime real estate. The CBBT islands are delivering keeper-sized rock at night and early mornings, with bluefish crashing the party as a feisty bycatch.
Tautog are holding tight to hard cover inside the Bay—artificial reefs, bridge tunnel islands and wrecks are your best bets. These scrappy bottom-dwellers stay ready to test your equipment.
OBX
The fall temperatures have been all over the place in recent days, but many anglers have been finding steady action across the sounds and along the beaches.
The northern beaches are seeing Sea Mullet, Spot, Speckled Trout, and Puppy Drum. The southern beaches, which includes the villages south of Oregon Inlet and towards Hatteras and Ocracoke, are reporting big Drum around The Point. Bluefish, Sea Mullet, Black Drum and Sharks are also in the mix.
There has been some good action off the piers with catches of Spot, Trout, and Sea Mullet. There have been a few big Drum caught from the piers, as well.
The sound side fishing has been excellent for Speckled Trout. Lots of nice sized keepers are around. Boats are also catching Puppy Drum and Bluefish along with a few Sheepshead that are still hanging around.
Despite the inclement weather, the offshore boats were able to catch Tuna and Mahi before the blow. There were also reports of Wahoo and King Mackerel further south. The cooler temperatures and changing conditions continue to shake up the bite this week.
