(By TH Spangler and Connie Barbour)
Flounder catches are on the rise! They’re being boated along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and on rough bottoms throughout the Bay. Many of the larger fish are coming from near-shore wrecks and artificial reefs. Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets are also holding flounder, along with speckled trout and puppy drum. Captain Craig Paige, Paige II charters enjoyed impressive flounder catches last week.
Cobia are being found throughout the lower Bay. Both sight-casters and angler anchoring and chumming are catching fish – some have topped 70 pounds. Remember the 2018 Virginia recreational cobia regulations. A 40-inch, total length, minimum size limit; 1-fish daily possession limit or 3-fish-daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; only one fish per vessel per day may be greater than 50 inches in total length; the season runs through September 30. All anglers, captains, and guides fishing for cobia must obtain a Recreational Cobia Permit from the Commission and report all harvest and cobia fishing activity.
Red drum remain plentiful on the shoals at the mouth of the bay. Occasionally anglers have encountered large schools on the surface.
Sheepshead are hanging around the pilling of the CBBT. Small crabs are your best bait.
Spadefish remain plentiful. Look for them around buoys, pilings and over wrecks. The Chesapeake Light Tower is a favorite spot but some of the larger fish are being found in the Bay, at the Cell near Cape Charles.
Boats trolling the oceanfront off Sandbridge are catching limits of Spanish mackerel. Anglers working coastal wrecks are catching lots of triggerfish.
The Eastern Shore shallows are holding some tarpon. Catching a tarpon in Virginia waters is special,
Croaker are available throughout the lower bay now. Virginia piers are reporting croaker, sea mullet, pompano, spadefish, flounder and a few Spanish mackerel and cobia.
The offshore fleet has been finding good numbers of white marlin and a few blue marlin and sailfish. Mahi-mahi numbers are good but our tuna bite is almost non-existent.
Deep-droppers are enjoying excellent catches of golden and blueline tilefish, along with sea bass.
Look for amberjack around the south tower.
Outer Banks
Surf Fishing Report: There was no rain Thursday morning and there is bright sun. It rained most of the day Wednesday. There is no news from the surf, but the conditions are good.
Sound Fishing Report: The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported Trout, Croakers and some Stripers.
Pier Fishing Report: Nags Head: Croaker and Spot.
Jennette’s: Sea Mullet and Spot.
Outer Banks: Croaker, Spot and a Black Drum.
Inshore Boats/nearshore: No report but fishing should get back to normal the next couple of days.
Offshore Boats Report: No report. Maybe Friday?
