By Dr. Julie Ball
June represents the first official month of summer, and the saltwater fishing scene is picking up momentum.
Cobia is one of the most anticipated summer species in the Chesapeake Bay. These stealthy, brown fish are making a strong showing in Bay waters, with some fish weighing over 70-pounds. Both chumming and sight casting are rewarding anglers.
Although red drum are mostly old news, big reds continue to bite along Fisherman’s Island, and the Nautilus and the Nine Foot Shoal areas. Many catches are incidental by-catches by anglers targeting cobia.
Flounder action is becoming more consistent in lower Bay waters, with the Bay Bridge-Tunnel the best spot for the larger fish. Anglers fishing Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets are also finding some keepers and the seaside inlets of the Eastern Shore and Back River Reef are also good. Remember, this year you can keep up to four flounder at least 17-inches in length.
Spanish mackerel is another summertime favorite, with some nice fish hitting along the Virginia Beach oceanfront and near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Trolling small Drone and Clark spoons along tide rips will entice strikes from mackerel and smaller bluefish. King mackerel will likely show up by end of the month.
Spadefish are making a comeback, with some of the first citations in years coming from the Chesapeake Light Tower area. Nice spades are also hitting around near shore wrecks, and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, with clams the top bait.
Sheepshead action is sizzling, with dozens of big fish taking a variety of offerings along the bridge’s structure and on several lower Bay wrecks. Fiddler crabs and clams are the top producers. Triggerfish are also available in many of these same locations.
Small croaker and small bluefish are available at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, while croaker are hitting off Ocean View and around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Some speckled trout and puppy drum are available within the lower Bay inlets, and within the backwaters of Mobjack Bay. The elusive tarpon are now active in the backwaters of Oyster on the Eastern Shore, but no confirmed reports of any catches as of yet.
Amberjack are prowling around the Southern Towers and on several offshore wrecks, but few boats will show any interest with the good tuna bite underway.. Deep droppers are catching a variety of bottom fish in over 300-feet of water at the Norfolk Canyon, including blue line tilefish as the standard, and exceptional catches of golden tilefish. Big sea bass are also hitting as a by-catch in most of these areas.
Offshore, the yellowfin tuna scene is still drawing a lot of attention, with boats filling coolers with respectable 40 and 50-pound class fish. Some big eye tuna are also around. Mahi are providing some scattered action, with a few gaffers weighing over 40-pounds rounding out catches, along with the occasional wahoo and Mako.
Nags Head
TW’s Thursday report:
Surf Fishing Report:
With the clear water hanging around for several days, we thought the bluefish bite would have improved, but it is slow. There were a few blues and bottom fish caught.
Sound Fishing Report:
The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported lots of small Trout, and plenty of bottom fish. A 21-inch Puppy Drum was caught yesterday.
Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon: Spanish and Blues.
Nags Head: Slow.
Jennette’s: Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, Spadefish, Croaker and Sand Perch.
Outer Banks: Slow.
Inshore Boats/nearshore Report:
Nearshore boats had a spectacular day catching good numbers of Spanish, nice Drum, Black Bass and some keeper Cobia. The inshore fleet also caught Spanish, plenty of Specks, Flounder and Sea Mullet. The Headboat caught nice size Sea Mullet, Croakers, Spot, Sand Perch, Puffers, Flounder, Pins and Pigs.
Offshore Boats Report:
Another good Yellowfin day for the fleet, some Wahoo and Dolphin were caught. There were both Blue Marlin and White Marlin releases.
Hatteras Surf
Another pretty day on Tuesday. There has been great shark fishing on the new island, Bluefish, too. Ramp 38 produced a decent Spanish bite on metal. The jetties has had some nice Sheepshead. There have been some big Sea Mullet caught recently. Von Mitchell caught a 1-11 Pompano at Ramp 55. The water has been calm and clear.
Fishing picked up on Wednesday. Ramp 55 had a good bite on Pompano for anglers using sand fleas. Ramp 43/44 caught Spanish in the afternoon on metal. One keeper Flounder was beached at Ramp 55. Karla Neal caught a 2-pound and 1oz Pompano off of ramp 55. Ramp 38 north had Spanish.
Hatteras Offshore
The weather this week has been absolutely beautiful. Lots of anglers have been enjoying the conditions along with good fishing. On Wednesday, inshore anglers had an excellent day with Red Drum releases and some keepers! The Bluefish bite was on for inshore and near shore anglers. Offshore, two Blue Marlin and three Sailfish were released. The Blackfin Tuna bite was on as well. Several nice Yellowfin Tuna were caught to the north. There will be lots of good eating tonight.
