By Dr. Julie Ball
The speckled trout scene continues to develop, and the size of the fish continues to grow. Most backwater locations are producing respectable fish, with jigs, plastics and Mirro-Lures attracting plenty of strikes. Rudee Inlet, Little Creek Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet and the Poquoson flats are productive speck areas, presenting a surprisingly nice class of trout. This could be a good sign of a recovering fishery after the fish kills of recent years.
Rudee Inlet’s action is steady, with fish going 20-inches or more. Folks on the Eastern Shore are also experiencing an increase in speck activity. Good numbers of nice puppy drum are also hitting in most of the same locations, along with school-sized rockfish.
Folks are still finding some decent spot activity this week, with bloodworms the bait of choice, especially in Lynnhaven Inlet. Some croakers are still around, especially at the HRBT, off Ocean View and within Lynnhaven Inlet.
Tautog action is also evolving with the dropping water temperatures. Most any lower Bay structure is giving up keeper-sized fish averaging in the 3 to 5 pounds. Fiddler crabs are becoming harder to come by, but blue crabs or clams will also work. A few triggerfish are in the mix, and smaller sheepshead are still a possibility. Inshore and offshore wrecks are showing more tog activity, along with some flounder, nice sea bass, and big triggers.
The early striped bass action will continue to evolve in the lower Bay as mostly schoolies are keeping anglers busy right now. Lower Bay inlets are providing plenty of opportunities for casters along bulkheads and docks, especially at night. Nicer rockfish, up to 32-inches, are also responding for anglers in the tributary rivers, with the bigger fish heading this way.
Surf anglers are hauling in big red drum from the surf lines along the Eastern Shore, and down to the Virginia Beach Wildlife Refuge. Nice bulls and puppy drum are responding around the artificial islands of the CBBT on cut bait, but these fish are on the move southward, where the North Carolina fall red drum surf fishing trend is heating up.
The flounder scene is slow inside the Bay, so deeper wrecks are the best bets. Some flatties are still available along the channel edges and the CBBT structure. Scattered keepers are also coming from within Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.
The deep dropping scene will draw more interest as more species leave the area. Decent catches of blue-line tilefish, grouper, and black-bellied rosefish are available along the walls of the Norfolk Canyon.
The offshore scene is dominated mostly by wahoo – when boats can get out. Mahi, longfin and blackfin tuna are also possibilities. Boats targeting swordfish are having a decent season, with the best to come as the waters cool.
Nags Head
Surf Fishing: There were trout, bluefish and puppy drum caught from the surf on Wednesday. A five-foot shark was taken from the surf up at Duck. The fish had monofilament line wrapped around the fish and cutting into the skin. The angler removed the line and returned the fish back in the ocean and it swam off. Unfortunately, later in the day, another shark pulled the angler’s rod and reel from the sand spike and swam off with it. Not a great day.
Sound Fishing: Capt. Reese Stecher says that cooler water is pushing baitfish out of the sound. Eels fished in deep water at Oregon Inlet will pick up the slack. Lots of stripers are available in Mann’s Harbor. Puppy drum and specks continue to bite well. The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported trout, drum and bottom fish.
Pier Fishing: The piers reported plenty of keeper trout, bluefish, black drum, puppy drum and spot.
Nearshore: Nearshore boats caught a mixed variety of King Mackerel, Albacore, Blues and Spanish. Inshore anglers also caught a mix bag of Triggers, Sea Bass and Amberjack and Tripletail. Boats fishing the sound caught their limits of stripers and trout.
Offshore Boats Report:
Charters reported Yellowfin and Blackfin on Wednesday, and also released a citation Sailfish
Hatteras Surf
Wednesday was a nice day on Hatteras Island. The fishing was just as nice with plenty of action on puppy drum up and down the beaches. The morning bite produced a 50-inch drum on the Point. After that, it was consistent all day with puppy drum, bluefish, and even a citation sea mullet and a beautiful 3-4 citation Pompano. Avon had puppies, sea mullet, and pompano. The south beaches had sea mullet and pompano.
Hatteras Offshore
Temperatures in the 70’s and slick calm water made for a beautiful day on Wednesday. Inshore anglers returned with limits of Speckled Trout. They experienced good Drum fishing that afternoon. After getting their limits, they also went clamming and enjoyed a wonderful time playing in the Sound on the first of November.
