Dr. Julie Ball dropped us a line and reported that the action is so good in the Virginia Beach area that you don’t know what to fish for. She said that it’s difficult to decide what to fish for now, since so many species are available.
Inshore, she said that it’s still worthwhile to fish for summer flounder, but finding keepers is more difficult. The best action is still coming from live bait offerings and jigs tipped with strips near the high rise section of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the usual places near the 3rd and 4th islands.
Drifters are faring a little better near the Cell, Buoy 42, and Back River Reef, but the inlets are tougher this week. She said that that the best bite is coming an hour before high tide lately.
Anglers are catching 1 to 3-pound spadefish along the high rise and islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Cell, and Plantation Light, but the action is slow. The Chesapeake Light Tower spade show slowed up with the jelly fish moving through right now.
Sheepshead are faring well according to Julie, with most of these structure-oriented fish coming from the Bay Bridge Tunnel proper, but many of these fish are on the smaller side. Clams and fiddler crabs are working well. A few sheepshead hovering around the 9-pound mark were landed this week at the Seagull Fishing Pier at the 1st island of the CBBT.
Tautog are also available in these same areas, along with lots of aggressive triggerfish. Many anglers are also finding puppy drum to over 30-inches around the islands of the Bridge Tunnel.
The cobia are still around in lower Bay waters, but more fish are hanging around the Ocean Front and the mouth of the Bay this week. Chummers are finding decent action on the Latimer and the Nine-Foot Shoal areas.
Anglers are also hooking red drum in these same areas, as well as off Fisherman’s Island. Harry Hindmarsh of Norfolk released four reds measuring over 46-inches while fishing with crab near Fisherman’s Island this week. Black drum are continuing to offer results to casters targeting these massive fish around all four islands of the CBBT, but this bite has slowed.
Croaker are biting around the CBBT, the HRBT, the Hampton Bar, and the Cell. The croaker bite out of Oyster was picking up, but it slowed this week. Nice spot finally made a showing in local waters. These popular fish are hitting well off lower Bay piers, the oceanfront piers, the Small Boat Channel near the 1st island, as well as Rudee Inlet.
<h3>Tarpon Caught on Eastern Shore</h3>
Virginia tarpon made another showing this week on the Eastern Shore, with reports indicating that several fish were jumped off, and a few released.
Deep droppers are still pulling in tilefish, rosefish and grouper, along with a smattering of seabass and hake. Amberjack are ready for action on the local wrecks and at the South Tower. Jigs and live bait work well for these powerful fighters.
<h3>Bluefin Dominate Offshore Scene</h3>
Offshore, Julie said that the bite remains good. A few large yellowfin tuna to 70-pounds are now showing up at the docks, but the main catch is still revolving around nice bluefin tuna ranging to close to 100-pounds. Most boats are also encountering big gaffer dolphin, king mackerel, as well as some Wahoo. Action is scattered from the Norfolk Canyon to the Cigar in anywhere from 100 to 500 fathoms. A few billfish are also available.
