Summer is about over, but the fishing is just getting started. It’s flounder time in the Bay, big flounder time. The flatties are now fattening up on the countless schools of spot that are in the Bay waters. The flounder above was caught on the Paige II with Captain Craig Paige, one of the best flounder guides in Tidewater. The best action has come from the CBBT, the Cell, artificial reefs, and the ocean wrecks
Spanish mackerel are all along the oceanfront and up into the Bay. Anglers trolling larger diving plugs are picking up some monster ribbon fish. Nice king mackerel should show up any day and will be feeding on the ribbonfish, a favorite mackerel bait.
Cobia fishing is peaking. Late August through September is always best – when the largest fish are weighed. Many charters are reporting limits. Sight casting with live eels has been the most effective method.
Red drum are still around but catches of large fish have temporarily slowed. Black drum are being caught in the same areas as the reds.
Spadefish, sheepshead, and a few triggerfish are hanging around the CBBT pilings and islands.
Schools of the larger yellow belly spot are beginning to show in local waters. Until recently, the fish have been small, but they provide great action for families with young anglers. When spot are biting you can catch them two at a time as soon as your bait hits bottom. Bloodworms work best, but bloodworm flavored Fish-bites will do the job as well. The speckled trout bite has picked up slightly in bayside creeks along the Eastern Shore.
Offshore fishing is good. Anglers are catching tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and blue and white marlin. Congratulations to angler Jeremy Duffie and crew of the boat “Billfisher” for their 77.5-pound white marlin caught in the Ocean City White Marlin Open. While not a world record fish, the winning payout was special. The “Billfisher” crew took home over $4.5 million.
OBX
At Nags Head, TW’s reports that the Spanish mackerel and bluefish showed up at the piers on Thursday morning! Got-cha plugs were nailing the fish. The Outer Banks surf has been in the 70’s this week, and the fishing has been good for bottom fish. Good catches of spot, croaker, and sea mullet are being made. There was a good run of Spanish mackerel and bluefish at Buxton.
A huge 6.58-pound speckled trout was weighed in by Lawrence Benner. There are scads of trout and drum back in the sound waters
Offshore fishing has been a grind recently, but there are still a few tuna around along with scattered dolphin, Wahoo, and a handful of billfish.
Freshwater
Greentop reports that bass anglers have been doing well on the Potomac River. Main river grass beds are holding fish. The insides of the larger creeks are also giving up good bass. The grass bite has been good on the Chick. Smallmouth are now biting well on the upper Rapp and upper James rivers. The topwater bite is getting better by the day. At Anna, striper fishing has been good for those using live bait. Down lines are working best. Crappie continue to be caught from bridge areas, and on deeper brush. The brush has been better at Kerr for crappie. Night fishing for catfish has been good on all the tidal rivers, as well as in the larger lakes.
