Chris Bait & Tackle on the Eastern Shore says the drum bite is on, big time, in the barrier surf. Flounder have also moved into the ocean waters off Oyster.
Virginia Beach Fishing Center says that with water temperatures in the mid-fifties, tautog fishing is red hot. Anglers are finding togs around most inshore structures. Favorite spots include the tower reef area, the Cape Henry Wreck, the Rock Islands of the CBBT and around the Concrete Ships.
Flounder fishing is picking up every day, especially in the shallows on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Chincoteague, Assateague, and Oyster are producing fish to 5 pounds. Drifting minnows on flounder rigs inside the seaside inlets is the favored method. Flounder are also being caught inside Virginia Beach’s Rudee Inlet.
The black drum are biting. Anglers using fresh clams are catching large fish near the Eastern Shore. Some extra large black drum have also been landed from the surf.
The reds are right on time. Fish are showing up along the beach from Sandbridge and north to the eastern shore. These fish will be plentiful in the lower bay over the next several weeks.
Croakers are biting off Ocean View and in rivers feeding the bay. Croaker sizes will continue to increase all summer. A few speckled trout and some puppy drum are being caught inside Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, Mobjack Bay and areas north.
The Virginia Trophy Rockfish season opened May 1st and runs until May 16th. There is a 36-inch minimum, and a one fish per person, per day limit. Check the VMRC website for exact regulations.
Outer Banks
On the Outer Banks, anglers fishing Cape Point caught mostly sharks last week. To the south, Frisco anglers caught puppy drum, black drum and a few sharks. To the north, surf anglers found slot size red drum and good numbers of bluefish and a few rockfish. Anglers fishing the Little Bridge on the Nags Head Manteo causeway caught catfish, trout, stripers and some spot.
The pier report: Avalon: Trout. Nags Head: Bluefish. Jennette’s: Puffers, Shad, Skate, and small Stripers. Outer Banks: Toads and lots of Skate.
The Outer Banks Gulf Stream charters have been returning to the docks with yellowfin, blackfin and mahi. Good to see some mahi, look for many more to follow. The Carolina Girl returned with limits of nice dolphin.
Hatteras Offshore
Inshore fishing was a bit slow Wednesday. Bluefish were biting and there were some schools of Drum spotted, but for the most part it ended up being a pretty ride around the Pamlico Sound. The fishing offshore was good with nice catches of Dolphin and Blackfin Tuna.
On Tuesday, a few boats offshore returned with good Blackfin Tuna and a few Wahoo. Dolphin really picked up with some boats doing very well. Bottom fish (Grouper, Sea Bass) were in the box as well. Inshore boats were finding good Red and Black Drum with several citations.
