One of the best eating saltwater fish of all – the black sea bass – is tugging on rods in deeper water, over wrecks. Quality Triggerfish are also being caught. Other boats have successfully been targeting Swordfish.
Quality Speckled Trout are being caught in local creeks and inlets. Prolonged, unseasonable warm water temperatures have held smaller speckled trout longer than usual. Larger trout should show in greater numbers as the water cools. Grassy areas using either popping corks baited with shrimp, swim baits or Mirr-o-lure plugs are effective. The minimum size limit is 14 inches and anglers are allowed 5 per person, only 1 greater than 24″.
Puppy Drum and Grey Trout or Weakfish are feeding in the same areas. Grey trout must be at least 12 inches, with a bag limit of 1 per person. Citations are available for any greater than 9 Lbs. or any released 30 inches or greater. The Drum capture slot limit is 18 inches to 26 inches, 3 per person.
The Rockfish bite is still mostly up the rivers. The islands of the CBBT have been producing a few at night. The minimum size for Rockfish inside the Bay for the Fall Chesapeake Bay Season is 20 inches, with the maximum size being 31 inches. The possession limit October 4 through December 31 is 1 per person.
Tautog action is getting better inside the Bay, with some Sheepshead sharing the same structures. Crab and clam is best for the Togs, and Sheepshead.
OBX
The swell is starting to pick up and good reports are expected from the piers. Anglers from the surf have been catching Sea Mullet, Speckled Trout, Puppy Drum and Black Drum. Anglers from the piers have been catching Black Drum, Sea Mullet and Speckled Trout.
The catch and release Striper fishing has been hot inshore! There’s also been a few Speckled Trout still being caught in the sound. We also heard of a few Sheepshead down by Oregon Inlet.
Offshore, Carolina boats have been finding Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, and some Wahoo.
