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Virginia Beach Report
Dr. Julie Ball
Summer officially started this week, with the rising summer heat to confirm the event. Although folks may complain about the heat, they are not complaining about the fishing, as the action continues to improve on most all of the fishing fronts.
Cobia are still the top target for most anglers. The bite is good for both chummers and sight casters, with some really big fish hitting the scales. Cobia catches are coming from across the lower Bay, with the best action occurring for chummers near Bluefish Rock, the Inner Middle Grounds, and the Nine-Foot shoals. Fresh cut bait, such as bunker, is out-producing live bait lately. Site casters continue to chase fish near the Baltimore Channel, the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBBT, as well as off the oceanfront, with eels the preferred bait. Deep dropper catches are still going strong for tilefish, wreckfish, grouper, and rosefish.
Flounder action is steady this week,. Plenty of keepers are available in the usual flounder spots. Anglers dragging baits near the 1st and 3rd islands of the Bridge Tunnel are lucking into some decent fish. Flatfish are also coming from the Cell, Buoy 42, Back River Reef, and Oyster. The biggest fish are going for live bait and jigs around the structure of the CBBT, where several trophies pushing 10-pounds and over were boated.
The Spanish mackerel bite from Cape Henry to False Cape is still on, with boats filling their limits with nice fish ranging from 16- to 20-inches. Small gold and silver Clark spoons trolled at 6 to 8 knots with an inline sinker or small planer is enticing the best response. Taylor bluefish are also taking these lures in the same areas.
Spadefish action picked up some at the Chesapeake Light Tower and around the islands and the High Rise area of the CBBT this week. Folks are still fishing hard for limits, with a few nice fish scattered in the mix. The sheepshead action continues to escalate as anglers picked big fish off the pilings of the CBBT. Grey triggerfish are lurking about in these same areas, creating a nuisance for anglers targeting other species.
Plenty of big red drum are still taking baits along the Eastern Shore shoals, especially on the Nine Foot Shoals, and off Fisherman’s Island. Many reds are taking the fresh bait intended for cobia. Schooling reds near the CBBT can also provide great top water action right now.
Small and medium-sized croaker are hitting in the Thimble Shoals Channel, near the 1st island of the CBBT. Larger croaker, pushing to around a pound, are lurking around the James River Bridge, and the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. Medium-sized spot have also shown up within Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets.
Amberjack are enticing anglers to make the long run to the Southern Towers, where a few big fish will test your strength and skills.
Deep droppers are still going strong with catches of tilefish, wreckfish, grouper, and rosefish. Several citation blueline tilefish up to 15-pounds and snowy grouper pushing 50-pounds came from private boats trying their luck offshore this past week. Jumbo sea bass are still a common by-catch in these areas.
The Virginia offshore season is off to a good start, but the early yellowfin tuna run has been scattered, with big gaffer dolphin taking up the slack. Boats are finding great catches of gaffer dolphin, with some weighing in at over 30-pounds. Billfish are arriving on the scene lately, with several reports of blue marlin hook-ups over the past weeks. Wahoo and Mako sharks still a good bet, with some big wahoo over 75-pounds weighed in this week.
Nags Head
TW’s reports. On Wednesday June 24, surf fishing was slow on the beaches. There was lots of sand blowing. A few bottom fish were caught in the surf. Stephen Miller had a triggerfish. On Tuesday, it was a few Sea Mullet and Spot. The wind was NE at 5 and the water temp was 77 degrees.
In the Sound, anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported Trout and Croaker on Wednesday. On Tuesday, it was croakers. Boaters in the sound are catching spot, sea mullet and croakers.
The Piers reported:
Avalon had Mullet & Spot. Nags Head Pier caught some Blues.
Jennette’s reported Mullet, Spot and a Gray Trout. The Outer Banks Pier had Mullet. Spadefish are also showing up for anglers on the piers.
Inshore boats trolling for Bluefish and Spanish continue having good luck outside the Inlet and a short distance off shore along the beach. They also caught Amberjack yesterday. Nearshore boats caught Hammerhead Shark and Cobia. The Oregon Inlet head boat reported Croaker, Sea Mullet and Spot.
The Blue water fleet brought in a Wahoo, Big-eye, scattered Dolphin and Yellowfin with some citations on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Yellowfin were plentiful, plus good catches of Dolphin and some Wahoo. There was a 500-pound Blue Marlin release.
Hatteras Surf
On Wednesday, 10-year old Noah Morre caught and released a pair of 31-inch Puppy Drum on Ramp 49. The Jetties had a early morning bite on Spanish. Ramp 55 had a couple of Puppy Drum and Flounder. Ramp 43 had Sea Mullet and Puffers. Avon had Croakers, Spot and Sea Mullet.
On Tuesday, Red Drum & Tackle reported that there were some Spanish and Bluefish landed behind the motels. Ramp 38 had some Sea Mullet. Ramp 49 Bluefish and Sea Mullet on bottom rigs.
Hatteras Offshore
Capt. Dave Wilson’s crew caught just a few dolphin on Sunday, due to strong currents. On June 18, a slick calm day resulted in an outstanding catch of dolphin.