Article by Julie Ball
Summer officially began last week, and the escalating summer fishing trend should continue once the wind subsides. When boats can get back out, expect some excellent inshore and offshore trips.
Many anglers will resume their chase for the latest big inshore attraction, cobia. Last week the cobia bite picked up on all fronts. Although many of these fish are on the smaller side, a few larger fish are weighing in at over 60 lbs. Both chummers and top water casters are experiencing good luck. Bottom anglers are finding action off of Back River, Grand View and Buckroe, as well as the Latimer Shoal and the Inner Middle Grounds areas. Sight casters are pulling fish from the pilings of the Bay Bridge Tunnel and from open waters near the 3rd and 4th Islands. Ed Davidson of Chesapeake scored with his first cobia last week. The 72-pounder inhaled cut bunker presented on the bottom near the 4th Island.
Flounder action is off and on depending on the weather, and it was definitely “on” before the wind set in again last week. Anglers are taking good hauls of nice flatfish, with some pushing to over 8 lbs., from the CBBT area while working jigs and drifting with strip bait. The best luck is occurring at the High Rise area and around the islands and tubes of the CBBT. Folks are also catching keeper flatties along the channel edges, off Cape Henry, Ocean View, the Cell, Buoy 42 and Back River Reef. The lower Bay inlets are also productive, with a good ratio of keepers coming from both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Live baiters were lagging last week, but this method will catch on soon.
The red drum interest is mostly overshadowed by other species. The folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle state that the red drum are still available in the surf along Fisherman’s Island and near Buoys 8 and 10, but the weather is effecting the accessibility lately. Large schools of bulls are cruising on the surface along the coast off Virginia Beach, and near the 4th Island of the CBBT. Black drum have all but deserted the shoals off the Eastern Shore, where big sea mullet, flounder and cobia are available as a consolation prize.
Spadefish are still schooling around lower Bay structures, with the Chesapeake Light Tower a favorite location. This is also a favorite location for scuba divers however, which can make cooperation a challenge. Fish ranging to around 5 lbs. are still coming from the 3rd and 4th Islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on clams.
Sheepshead action is on the rise, with nice fish taking offerings all along the bridge structure and on several lower Bay wrecks.
Trigger fish are beginning to take residence on most any inshore structure or wreck.
Captain Steve Wray, skipper of the “Ocean Pearl” from Lynnhaven Inlet, reports that the Spanish mackerel bite along the Virginia Beach ocean front is hot right now, with most of the fish pushing to well over 20-inches. Small spoons trolled at 5 to 6 knots are enticing the best response from Sandbridge to Cape Henry. Tailor bluefish are always a by-catch for this activity. Pier anglers are also getting in on the excellent Spanish action using Gotcha jigs.
Sharks measuring up to 3 to 4-feet long are showing up along the shorelines of Virginia Beach, with black tips the most common variety. Be sure to check the regulations carefully before targeting sharks.
Nice-sized spot made a good showing last week inside Lynnhaven Inlet. Many of these fish are averaging up to around 10 oz. Medium to large croaker are also lurking around the James River Bridge, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel, off Ocean View, off Kiptopeke and along the CBBT.
The folks at Ocean’s East 2 report that boats and kayaks are scoring with snapper and chopper bluefish pushing to over 30-inches by tossing live bait along the jetties lining Little Creek Inlet lately.
Tarpon are quietly making their debut in the backwaters of Oyster, with several confirmed sightings over the last two weeks.
When deep droppers can get out, they are still going strong with limits of tilefish, grouper, rosefish and a good by-catch of sea bass. Decent sea bass action is also still available at many deeper wrecks, such as the Triangle Wrecks area.
The offshore scene is boiling with yellowfin tuna right now. When the weather is good, boats are hooking dozens of tuna, with many ranging from 40 to 60 lbs. Some nice dolphin are also in the mix, along with some scattered blue marlin and mako sharks. The action is happening from the Norfolk Canyon to the Triple 0’s in around 40 to 50 fathoms. A few bluefin tuna are also showing on the inshore lumps, with the “Hotdog” area showing the most promise recently.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A representative for Virginia Beach. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
