T_boy
04-10-2009, 03:17 PM
JAMES RIVER
Castaway Sporting Goods (706-9100) reports the white perch catch is peaking, and the bass are picking up. Crappie are biting on small and medium minnows, but bloodworms are the bait of choice for white perch. Shad and herring are hitting.
Notable catches: Joe Hodges (Powhatan) bluecat, 46 pounds, 3 ounces; Henry Wood (Chesterfield) bluecat, 42-6; Kate Hockett (Chester) bluecat, 39; James Stables (Chester) largemouth bass, 8-4; Chris Wray (Chester) largemouth bass, 8-2; Nemo Adkins (Chester) white perch, 1-6.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE/RIVER
Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen's Boats and Bait reports afternoon water temperatures in the lowto mid60s and lake level 6 inches above full pool. Crappie and bluegill were scattered in the creeks. Small spawning clusters of crappie were present. Wright Bait Co. 1and 2-inch curly tail grubs, Kalin crappie scrubs, tubes, stingers and live minnows were the most effective baits. Bruce King and Hollis Pruitt caught 15 crappie, 10 bluegill, a yellow perch, a pickerel, a bluecat and two bass.
Chickahominy Anglers at Lake Chesdin tournament results: 1. Carl Knight Jr.-Ron Phillips (Hopewell-DeWitt) 3 fish, 11.82 pounds; 2. Craig Fagan-Torrey Aiken (Williamsburg-Newport News) 3, 6.29; 3. Stephen McMillan-Bucky Wickham (Sandston) 1, 5.99, big fish.
Team bass tournament at Eagles Landing results: 1. Jeff Harberts-Richard Harberts (Yorktown-Newport News) 5 fish, 15.06 pounds, big fish, 7.57; 2. Danny Grattan-Ryan Grattan (Mechanicsville) 5, 12.28; 3. Ron Graves-Pete Cheeseman (Newport News-Hampton) 5, 10.27; 4. Adam Lathan (West Point) 5, 7.35.
Notable catches: Don French , bass, 6 pounds, 2 ounces, crankbait; Paul Whitaker , bass, 4 pounds; Bob Cissel , bass, 3; Fred Cissel , bass, 3.
CHESAPEAKE BAY
Dr. Julie Ball reports the spring flounder run is in full swing. Anglers are hitting the usual flatfish hot spots with good success. Anglers are weeding through a few shorts to find limits of keepers. Dogfish are keeping their distance as long as the tide is moving. The best hauls are coming from the curve near the third island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Catches are improving along the Baltimore Channel. Farther inland, decent action is coming from around buoy 36A and Back River Reef. On the Eastern Shore, the backwaters and inlets are producing.
The tautog action is on fire. Tog anglers are scoring big using fiddler crabs, clams and blue crabs on lower-bay structures and wrecks. The rocks and tubes of the artificial islands of the CBB-T are providing the best results, with most fish weighing about 4 pounds. One boat reported a good day targeting tautog along the CBB-T, catching more than 30 fish, two pushing 11 pounds. The Concrete Ships, the Cape Henry wreck, the Big D wreck and the Yancy wreck are providing good action. Deeper water wrecks are a good bet, with fish to 15 pounds taking offered crab in 80-foot water.
Speckled trout continue to hit in the Elizabeth River, but the fish are moving out of the Cove and Hot Ditch areas. Anglers targeting specks from Bainbridge Boulevard to the I-64 High Rise Bridge are finding good results. Trolled lures are attracting the most strikes, with Mirrolures a top choice. Solomon Cheatham (Chesapeake) hooked an 8-pound, 3-ounce speck using a Mirrolure near the Bainbridge Boulevard area. Anglers are waiting for the arrival of the speckled trout at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Fish are taking baits within Rudee Inlet.
Puppy drum continue to reign in the lower-bay shallows and inlets, with fish up to 26 inches. Fresh bait or lure can provide excellent action, with the Elizabeth River and Rudee and Lynhaven inlets giving up fish.
Small croaker are providing some pullage in Willoughby, Ocean View and near Little Creek Jetties. The better hardhead hauls are coming from the lower-bay rivers.
The deep water off the Virginia coast is the place to be if you are in the mood to crank up lots of blueline tilefish, grouper and seabass. Be aware that dogfish are ready to compete for your bait right now. Seabass are beginning to move closer to shore. Chris Rode (Virginia Beach) caught a 6-pound seabass while presenting squid over an offshore wreck. Offshore anglers are eyeing some warmer water moving close to the Cigar area.
The seaside surf of the Eastern Shore and inside Magothy Bay are the normal areas of the first bull red catches. Croaker are being caught up in the rivers, and this bite will heat up quickly. Tuna are being caught on the troll, and when that is not effective, vertical jigging is producing.
OUTER BANKS
Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing is improving as the water continues to warm. There was a big drum blitz Sunday night at Cape Point when more than 50 citation drum up to 52 inches were caught and released. Anglers reported the drum were chasing bait out of the water The Point area reports dog sharks, skates, blues, puppy drum, black drum, sea mullet, blow toads and false albacore. Boaters fishing in the Pamlico Sound report sea mullet, speckled trout, gray trout and blues. Some flounder and black drum have been caught at the Buxton jetties. The Hatteras Village Beaches report one big drum along with blues, puppy drum, sea mullet, blow toads and black drum. Ocracoke Island reports blues, puppy drum, black drum, dog sharks, skates and flounder. William Decker (Chesapeake) released a 49-inch citation drum.
The northern beaches report blow toads, blues, puppy drum, croakers, sea mullet, spots and flounder. The southern beaches report blues, puppy drum, sea mullet, blow toads and black drum.
The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report tuna fishing is doing well with catches of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo, mako sharks, tile fish, amberjacks and grouper. Eric Hawkins (Stanardsville) caught a 140-pound citation bluefin tuna that was 68 inches long. A sailfish was released Wednesday.
The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report good tuna fishing with catches of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, sea bass, tile fish, wahoo, dolphin and mako sharks.
OTHER
Robert Eveland from Little Creek Reservoir Park reports fish continue to hang off points in deeper water. Several coves reached a temperature of 60 degrees.
Old Fella's Fishing Club tournament results: 1. Paul Linton (Lanexa) 3 bass, 10.15 pounds; 2. Tom Crittendon (Yorktown) 3, 7.20; 3. Bill Pasley , 3, 5.15.
Rule 9 Bass Club tournament results: 1. Dave Ellenbecker (Virginia Beach) 12.03 pounds; 2. Russ Hall-Sam North (Newport News-Hampton) 10.44; 3. Jesse Munden-Jesse Pearch (Chesapeake-Norfolk) 9.82.
Pamunkey River Mini Series tournament results: 1. Chris Harris-Walter Hill , 10.57 pounds; 2. Donnie Bell-Jeff Kerh , 9.79; 3. Dennis Hendricks-Jeff Davis , 8.90; 4. Dennis Whittaker , 8.86, big fish, 3.29; 5. Justin Cecil-Dustin Crisp , 8.66. Notable catches: Mike Lista (Staten Island, N.Y.) striper, 20 pounds, jerkbait; John Robertson (Richmond) striper, 24-12, 40 inches, jerkbait.
From Whippernock Marina in Lake Chesdin (804-265-5252), the following notable catches were reported: Buddy Workman , pike, 4 pounds, 2 ounces, 15 inches; Michael Hardin , 4 largemouth bass, 5-2, 4-8, 7-5, 5-7; Harold Fender , largemouth bass, 6-6, 22 inches; James Bugger , crappie, 2-4, 16.25; Robert Gibbs , crappie, 2-3; Hunter Reed , largemouth bass, 6 pounds, 22 inches; Jimmy Grant , crappie, 2-9, 16.25.
Castaway Sporting Goods (706-9100) reports the white perch catch is peaking, and the bass are picking up. Crappie are biting on small and medium minnows, but bloodworms are the bait of choice for white perch. Shad and herring are hitting.
Notable catches: Joe Hodges (Powhatan) bluecat, 46 pounds, 3 ounces; Henry Wood (Chesterfield) bluecat, 42-6; Kate Hockett (Chester) bluecat, 39; James Stables (Chester) largemouth bass, 8-4; Chris Wray (Chester) largemouth bass, 8-2; Nemo Adkins (Chester) white perch, 1-6.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE/RIVER
Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen's Boats and Bait reports afternoon water temperatures in the lowto mid60s and lake level 6 inches above full pool. Crappie and bluegill were scattered in the creeks. Small spawning clusters of crappie were present. Wright Bait Co. 1and 2-inch curly tail grubs, Kalin crappie scrubs, tubes, stingers and live minnows were the most effective baits. Bruce King and Hollis Pruitt caught 15 crappie, 10 bluegill, a yellow perch, a pickerel, a bluecat and two bass.
Chickahominy Anglers at Lake Chesdin tournament results: 1. Carl Knight Jr.-Ron Phillips (Hopewell-DeWitt) 3 fish, 11.82 pounds; 2. Craig Fagan-Torrey Aiken (Williamsburg-Newport News) 3, 6.29; 3. Stephen McMillan-Bucky Wickham (Sandston) 1, 5.99, big fish.
Team bass tournament at Eagles Landing results: 1. Jeff Harberts-Richard Harberts (Yorktown-Newport News) 5 fish, 15.06 pounds, big fish, 7.57; 2. Danny Grattan-Ryan Grattan (Mechanicsville) 5, 12.28; 3. Ron Graves-Pete Cheeseman (Newport News-Hampton) 5, 10.27; 4. Adam Lathan (West Point) 5, 7.35.
Notable catches: Don French , bass, 6 pounds, 2 ounces, crankbait; Paul Whitaker , bass, 4 pounds; Bob Cissel , bass, 3; Fred Cissel , bass, 3.
CHESAPEAKE BAY
Dr. Julie Ball reports the spring flounder run is in full swing. Anglers are hitting the usual flatfish hot spots with good success. Anglers are weeding through a few shorts to find limits of keepers. Dogfish are keeping their distance as long as the tide is moving. The best hauls are coming from the curve near the third island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Catches are improving along the Baltimore Channel. Farther inland, decent action is coming from around buoy 36A and Back River Reef. On the Eastern Shore, the backwaters and inlets are producing.
The tautog action is on fire. Tog anglers are scoring big using fiddler crabs, clams and blue crabs on lower-bay structures and wrecks. The rocks and tubes of the artificial islands of the CBB-T are providing the best results, with most fish weighing about 4 pounds. One boat reported a good day targeting tautog along the CBB-T, catching more than 30 fish, two pushing 11 pounds. The Concrete Ships, the Cape Henry wreck, the Big D wreck and the Yancy wreck are providing good action. Deeper water wrecks are a good bet, with fish to 15 pounds taking offered crab in 80-foot water.
Speckled trout continue to hit in the Elizabeth River, but the fish are moving out of the Cove and Hot Ditch areas. Anglers targeting specks from Bainbridge Boulevard to the I-64 High Rise Bridge are finding good results. Trolled lures are attracting the most strikes, with Mirrolures a top choice. Solomon Cheatham (Chesapeake) hooked an 8-pound, 3-ounce speck using a Mirrolure near the Bainbridge Boulevard area. Anglers are waiting for the arrival of the speckled trout at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Fish are taking baits within Rudee Inlet.
Puppy drum continue to reign in the lower-bay shallows and inlets, with fish up to 26 inches. Fresh bait or lure can provide excellent action, with the Elizabeth River and Rudee and Lynhaven inlets giving up fish.
Small croaker are providing some pullage in Willoughby, Ocean View and near Little Creek Jetties. The better hardhead hauls are coming from the lower-bay rivers.
The deep water off the Virginia coast is the place to be if you are in the mood to crank up lots of blueline tilefish, grouper and seabass. Be aware that dogfish are ready to compete for your bait right now. Seabass are beginning to move closer to shore. Chris Rode (Virginia Beach) caught a 6-pound seabass while presenting squid over an offshore wreck. Offshore anglers are eyeing some warmer water moving close to the Cigar area.
The seaside surf of the Eastern Shore and inside Magothy Bay are the normal areas of the first bull red catches. Croaker are being caught up in the rivers, and this bite will heat up quickly. Tuna are being caught on the troll, and when that is not effective, vertical jigging is producing.
OUTER BANKS
Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing is improving as the water continues to warm. There was a big drum blitz Sunday night at Cape Point when more than 50 citation drum up to 52 inches were caught and released. Anglers reported the drum were chasing bait out of the water The Point area reports dog sharks, skates, blues, puppy drum, black drum, sea mullet, blow toads and false albacore. Boaters fishing in the Pamlico Sound report sea mullet, speckled trout, gray trout and blues. Some flounder and black drum have been caught at the Buxton jetties. The Hatteras Village Beaches report one big drum along with blues, puppy drum, sea mullet, blow toads and black drum. Ocracoke Island reports blues, puppy drum, black drum, dog sharks, skates and flounder. William Decker (Chesapeake) released a 49-inch citation drum.
The northern beaches report blow toads, blues, puppy drum, croakers, sea mullet, spots and flounder. The southern beaches report blues, puppy drum, sea mullet, blow toads and black drum.
The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report tuna fishing is doing well with catches of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo, mako sharks, tile fish, amberjacks and grouper. Eric Hawkins (Stanardsville) caught a 140-pound citation bluefin tuna that was 68 inches long. A sailfish was released Wednesday.
The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report good tuna fishing with catches of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, sea bass, tile fish, wahoo, dolphin and mako sharks.
OTHER
Robert Eveland from Little Creek Reservoir Park reports fish continue to hang off points in deeper water. Several coves reached a temperature of 60 degrees.
Old Fella's Fishing Club tournament results: 1. Paul Linton (Lanexa) 3 bass, 10.15 pounds; 2. Tom Crittendon (Yorktown) 3, 7.20; 3. Bill Pasley , 3, 5.15.
Rule 9 Bass Club tournament results: 1. Dave Ellenbecker (Virginia Beach) 12.03 pounds; 2. Russ Hall-Sam North (Newport News-Hampton) 10.44; 3. Jesse Munden-Jesse Pearch (Chesapeake-Norfolk) 9.82.
Pamunkey River Mini Series tournament results: 1. Chris Harris-Walter Hill , 10.57 pounds; 2. Donnie Bell-Jeff Kerh , 9.79; 3. Dennis Hendricks-Jeff Davis , 8.90; 4. Dennis Whittaker , 8.86, big fish, 3.29; 5. Justin Cecil-Dustin Crisp , 8.66. Notable catches: Mike Lista (Staten Island, N.Y.) striper, 20 pounds, jerkbait; John Robertson (Richmond) striper, 24-12, 40 inches, jerkbait.
From Whippernock Marina in Lake Chesdin (804-265-5252), the following notable catches were reported: Buddy Workman , pike, 4 pounds, 2 ounces, 15 inches; Michael Hardin , 4 largemouth bass, 5-2, 4-8, 7-5, 5-7; Harold Fender , largemouth bass, 6-6, 22 inches; James Bugger , crappie, 2-4, 16.25; Robert Gibbs , crappie, 2-3; Hunter Reed , largemouth bass, 6 pounds, 22 inches; Jimmy Grant , crappie, 2-9, 16.25.