Now that the super cold weather has broken, a handful of anglers are finding their way back on the water. The frigid, ice-cold water took a toll on some Chesapeake Bay stripers and our local speckled trout population. Hopefully not too many were stunned to death. The bay water is still way too cold for much fishing. At Cape Charles the water temperature is 39.0 F. Cape Henry it’s 39.6 F and at the buoy off Duck NC it’s 40.6 F
Anglers making the long offshore run to the canyons are finding lots of spiny dogfish. Mixed in with the dogfish are a few golden tilefish and hake. They are being caught on jigs and fresh bait. The blueline tilefish season is now closed. The headboats are finding some cunners, taugs and pollock on near shore wrecks. The black sea bass season is also closed. Black sea bass seasons are Feb 1-Feb 28, May 15-Sept 21, Oct 22-Dec 31.
Outer Banks
Nothing to report at Nags Head. At Hatteras, slot drum were being caught at the inlet. Black drum and puppies were reported at Frisco Pier.
Offshore, a commercial boat found some yellowfin tuna out of Hatteras Harbor and had a Bluefin break off at the boat. Warmer weather is in the forecast, which should improve the tuna bite.
