T_boy
05-09-2009, 03:52 AM
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 mid-70s and lake level a little above full pool. Crappies, yellow perch, white perch and bluegill were scattered on the flats and along the creek channels in the main lake. Wright Bait Co. one and two inch curly tail grubs, Kalin crappie scrubs, tubes, stingers and live minnows were the most effective baits. Hollis Pruitt and Malcolm Turnbull caught 22 crappie, 26 bluegill, 9 yellow perch, 5 white perch, a flier, 9 pickerel and 2 bass.
Jill O'Brien-Jones of Eagle's Landing reports water level is normal and water temperature is in the upper 60s. Conditions are fairly clear. Pan fish continue to be active, and pike to three pounds are expected to be caught.
Team Bass Eagle's Landing Tournament results: 1. Craig Fagan (Williamsburg)/ Torrey Aiken (Newport News) 5 fish, 11.40 pounds; 2. Javier Smith (Charles City)/ Richard Sweeney (Providence Forge) 5, 10.61; 3. Adam Lathan (West Point)/ Robert Lathan (West Point) 5, 9.45; Mike Sweeney (Charles City) big fish, 4.58.
CHESAPEAKE BAY
Dr. Julie Ball reportsthe biggest interest is in the the emerging drum scene, which is motivating many anglers to gather peelers and crabs and head for the Eastern Shore shoals.
Red drum are providing decent action among the breakers and sloughs near Smith and Fisherman's Island, especially at night. The best action is among the breakers, and kayak anglers are taking advantage of this trend right now. John Fauci (Norfolk) released a 58-inch bull from his kayak in the white water off Fisherman's Island. Bill Knapp (Virginia Beach) found drum action while his crew braved the storms and rain, releasing a 51-inch red while bottom fishing at night with crab off Fisherman's Island.
Chris at Chris' Bait and Tackle reports small black drum to 35 pounds becoming more active along the Eastern Shore seaside inlets, surf and near buoys 13 and 16 on the bayside. The larger fish are coming from the Quinby areas further north. This trend will continue to heat up over the next few weeks, and larger fish will become more common.
The flounder scene is slow within Bay waters and around the CBBT. The best numbers of keeper fish are coming from the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and back waters of Oyster. Keeper flatfish are coming from within both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.
Healthy puppy drum to 33 inches are hitting inside Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets, where anglers are finding bluefish to five pounds and scattered speckled trout. Specks are available within the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and the back waters of Oyster. Peeler crabs, live bait and Mirrolures are a good choice for the specks right now.
Striped bass are providing a good alternative for those looking for some solid action right now. Anglers working top water lures along the rocks at the islands of the CBBT are content with steady hits from fish exceeding the minimum size requirement of 32 inches. Storm lures cast around the pilings of the CBBT are working well. Reports of school-sized fish are coming from around the HRBT, and larger fish are hitting cut bunker near the mouths of the lower Bay Rivers.
Tautog are lurking on lower bay and inshore structures, but these fish are only available for catch and release until late June.
The lower Bay Rivers are holding the larger croaker, and the Little Creek jetties and Ocean View are hosting medium-sized hardheads, which are hitting squid. Ocean View Fishing Pier reports the best croaker action is at night. Nice-sized spot debuted this week off the pier. Sea mullet to one pound are providing variety, and blood worms are working best for both spot and sea mullet.
The black seabass are beginning to migrate closer to shore, where the Triangle Wrecks will provide good numbers right now. Remember that seabass must now stretch to 12.5 inches to keep them. Blueline tilefish, grouper and other deep water species are available in water over 50 fathoms when the weather allows boats to reach them.
OUTER BANKS
Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing keeps getting better as the water continues to warm. Big drum are being caught at the Point area for the few that are able to get there by boat or kayak. Ramp 44 is now closed, and the Ramp 43 area reports catches of blues to 33 inches, along with sea mullet, flounder, puppy drum, blow toads, black drum and pompano. Speckled trout and puppy drum are being caught in the Pamlico Sound from boats and kayaks. The Buxton jetties report black drum, flounder, blues, sea mullet and sheepshead.
The Hatteras Village Beaches report blues, puppy drum, flounder, sea mullet and big drum. Ocracoke Island reports big drum, flounder, blues, sea mullet, puppy drum, black drum and Spanish mackerel. Chris Mercer released a 51.5-inch citation drum from the surf and Bert Clark caught a 44-pound cobia from his boat.
The northern beaches report sea mullet, blow toads, croakers, spots, black drum, blues and puppy drum, and the southern beaches report sheepshead, pompano, blues, sea mullet, black drum and flounder to 19 inches on Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive Bait Fish and Chartreuse Swimming Mullet. Jimmy Johnson (Palmyra) caught a 3.19-pound citation pompano.
The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report dolphin, blackfin tuna, amberjacks, tile fish, sea bass, bluefin tuna, wahoo, groupers, yellowfin tuna and king mackerel, along with releases of sailfish, blue marlin and a spear fish. The inshore boats report big drum, flounder, sand perch, puppy drum, blues and cobia.
The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report dolphin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, king mackerel, blackfin tuna and big eye tuna. Charles Spangler (Lynchburg) caught a 175-pound big eye tuna. There were releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin to 500 pounds. The inshore boats report blues, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, puppy drum and flounder.
OTHER
Robert Eveland from Little Creek Reservoir Park reports fish continue to move in the shallows for the spawn. Crappie and yellow perch catches continue to increase.
Old Fella's Fishing Club Tournament results: 1. Buddy Chandler (Richmond) 9.15 pounds, big fish, 3.9; 2. Paul Linton (Toano) 7.12; 3. Orece Robinson (Richmond) 5.6.
Notable catch: William Reese (Hopewell) crappie, 15 inches, minnow.
Jeff Carney from Richmond reports shad are leaving and white perch are thick. Bluecats of the following weights have been caught: 38, 40, 43, 46 and 55 pounds.
Pamunkey River Minseries Tournament results: 1. Bo Boltz / Mickey Anderson , 10.79; 2. George Petrohovavich / Glen Baily , 9.65; 3. Tripp Mistr / Brent Mistr , 9.34, big fish, 4; 4. Chris Roberts / Paul Lubin , 9.31; 5. Robbie Brightwell Sr. / Robbie Brightwell Jr. , 8.33.
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 mid-70s and lake level a little above full pool. Crappies, yellow perch, white perch and bluegill were scattered on the flats and along the creek channels in the main lake. Wright Bait Co. one and two inch curly tail grubs, Kalin crappie scrubs, tubes, stingers and live minnows were the most effective baits. Hollis Pruitt and Malcolm Turnbull caught 22 crappie, 26 bluegill, 9 yellow perch, 5 white perch, a flier, 9 pickerel and 2 bass.
Jill O'Brien-Jones of Eagle's Landing reports water level is normal and water temperature is in the upper 60s. Conditions are fairly clear. Pan fish continue to be active, and pike to three pounds are expected to be caught.
Team Bass Eagle's Landing Tournament results: 1. Craig Fagan (Williamsburg)/ Torrey Aiken (Newport News) 5 fish, 11.40 pounds; 2. Javier Smith (Charles City)/ Richard Sweeney (Providence Forge) 5, 10.61; 3. Adam Lathan (West Point)/ Robert Lathan (West Point) 5, 9.45; Mike Sweeney (Charles City) big fish, 4.58.
CHESAPEAKE BAY
Dr. Julie Ball reportsthe biggest interest is in the the emerging drum scene, which is motivating many anglers to gather peelers and crabs and head for the Eastern Shore shoals.
Red drum are providing decent action among the breakers and sloughs near Smith and Fisherman's Island, especially at night. The best action is among the breakers, and kayak anglers are taking advantage of this trend right now. John Fauci (Norfolk) released a 58-inch bull from his kayak in the white water off Fisherman's Island. Bill Knapp (Virginia Beach) found drum action while his crew braved the storms and rain, releasing a 51-inch red while bottom fishing at night with crab off Fisherman's Island.
Chris at Chris' Bait and Tackle reports small black drum to 35 pounds becoming more active along the Eastern Shore seaside inlets, surf and near buoys 13 and 16 on the bayside. The larger fish are coming from the Quinby areas further north. This trend will continue to heat up over the next few weeks, and larger fish will become more common.
The flounder scene is slow within Bay waters and around the CBBT. The best numbers of keeper fish are coming from the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and back waters of Oyster. Keeper flatfish are coming from within both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.
Healthy puppy drum to 33 inches are hitting inside Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets, where anglers are finding bluefish to five pounds and scattered speckled trout. Specks are available within the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and the back waters of Oyster. Peeler crabs, live bait and Mirrolures are a good choice for the specks right now.
Striped bass are providing a good alternative for those looking for some solid action right now. Anglers working top water lures along the rocks at the islands of the CBBT are content with steady hits from fish exceeding the minimum size requirement of 32 inches. Storm lures cast around the pilings of the CBBT are working well. Reports of school-sized fish are coming from around the HRBT, and larger fish are hitting cut bunker near the mouths of the lower Bay Rivers.
Tautog are lurking on lower bay and inshore structures, but these fish are only available for catch and release until late June.
The lower Bay Rivers are holding the larger croaker, and the Little Creek jetties and Ocean View are hosting medium-sized hardheads, which are hitting squid. Ocean View Fishing Pier reports the best croaker action is at night. Nice-sized spot debuted this week off the pier. Sea mullet to one pound are providing variety, and blood worms are working best for both spot and sea mullet.
The black seabass are beginning to migrate closer to shore, where the Triangle Wrecks will provide good numbers right now. Remember that seabass must now stretch to 12.5 inches to keep them. Blueline tilefish, grouper and other deep water species are available in water over 50 fathoms when the weather allows boats to reach them.
OUTER BANKS
Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing keeps getting better as the water continues to warm. Big drum are being caught at the Point area for the few that are able to get there by boat or kayak. Ramp 44 is now closed, and the Ramp 43 area reports catches of blues to 33 inches, along with sea mullet, flounder, puppy drum, blow toads, black drum and pompano. Speckled trout and puppy drum are being caught in the Pamlico Sound from boats and kayaks. The Buxton jetties report black drum, flounder, blues, sea mullet and sheepshead.
The Hatteras Village Beaches report blues, puppy drum, flounder, sea mullet and big drum. Ocracoke Island reports big drum, flounder, blues, sea mullet, puppy drum, black drum and Spanish mackerel. Chris Mercer released a 51.5-inch citation drum from the surf and Bert Clark caught a 44-pound cobia from his boat.
The northern beaches report sea mullet, blow toads, croakers, spots, black drum, blues and puppy drum, and the southern beaches report sheepshead, pompano, blues, sea mullet, black drum and flounder to 19 inches on Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive Bait Fish and Chartreuse Swimming Mullet. Jimmy Johnson (Palmyra) caught a 3.19-pound citation pompano.
The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report dolphin, blackfin tuna, amberjacks, tile fish, sea bass, bluefin tuna, wahoo, groupers, yellowfin tuna and king mackerel, along with releases of sailfish, blue marlin and a spear fish. The inshore boats report big drum, flounder, sand perch, puppy drum, blues and cobia.
The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report dolphin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, king mackerel, blackfin tuna and big eye tuna. Charles Spangler (Lynchburg) caught a 175-pound big eye tuna. There were releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin to 500 pounds. The inshore boats report blues, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, puppy drum and flounder.
OTHER
Robert Eveland from Little Creek Reservoir Park reports fish continue to move in the shallows for the spawn. Crappie and yellow perch catches continue to increase.
Old Fella's Fishing Club Tournament results: 1. Buddy Chandler (Richmond) 9.15 pounds, big fish, 3.9; 2. Paul Linton (Toano) 7.12; 3. Orece Robinson (Richmond) 5.6.
Notable catch: William Reese (Hopewell) crappie, 15 inches, minnow.
Jeff Carney from Richmond reports shad are leaving and white perch are thick. Bluecats of the following weights have been caught: 38, 40, 43, 46 and 55 pounds.
Pamunkey River Minseries Tournament results: 1. Bo Boltz / Mickey Anderson , 10.79; 2. George Petrohovavich / Glen Baily , 9.65; 3. Tripp Mistr / Brent Mistr , 9.34, big fish, 4; 4. Chris Roberts / Paul Lubin , 9.31; 5. Robbie Brightwell Sr. / Robbie Brightwell Jr. , 8.33.