T_boy
08-14-2009, 03:51 PM
JAMES RIVER
Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the action isn't slowing, but the people are. Saltwater fishing has really turned on. Spot action is hot, and bloodworms are the bait of choice. Different types of jigs and live bait work well for flounder. The freshwater bite is slow, partially because of the hot weather. The people who are going are catching fish. The river is producing a lot of bass. The last qualifier for the year is Aug. 22 at Osborne Landing, and The Classic will be held Sept. 19.
Notable catches: Jacob Via (Chester), largemouth bass, 6 pounds, 1 ounce; Thomas Hickman (Richmond), bluecat, 32-2.
CHESAPEAKE BAY/OCEAN
Dr. Julie Ball reports the ongoing flounder explosion is the main attraction inshore. Huge doormats are striking at jigs and live bait presented along varying bottom structures in the lower part of the Bay. The Cell, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel structure and lower Bay wrecks are just a few of the best flounder hot-spots. Drifters are having good luck with strip baits and minnows near buoy 36A and the Thimble Shoal Channel near Cape Henry.
Cobia are transitioning to their usual late summer trend of top-water rendezvous with structure. This movement is providing a new approach for many cobia hunters. More fish are beginning to cruise on the surface. Chummers are enjoying a nice selection of big fish taken on cut bait and eels. John Wandrick (Townsend) caught a 68-pound cobia while deploying chum near Buoy 16.
Red drum are roaming most of the lower Bay, especially near shoals and the third and fourth islands of the CBB-T. Black drum are meandering around the artificial islands of the Bridge-Tunnel where folks are hooking and releasing fish on artificial lures. Expect the black drum to begin moving off the islands soon.
King mackerel are beginning to show promise. Sighting of schools of kings along with landings of snake-sized fish is bringing hope that the fishery will light up soon. A good easterly blow could jumpstart the king bite. According to local charter captains, the Spanish mackerel fishing along the coastal Virginia Beach is hit-and-miss right now. Plenty of Taylor bluefish are taking up the slack.
Sharks are becoming a targeted species. Several varieties of sharks such as sand tigers, tigers, hammerheads, black tips and spinners are sniffing out chum slicks all over coastal and lower Bay waters.
Puppy drum action is continuing within most any skinny water location in Tidewater, with steady action in Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. These young reds will hit a variety of baits, with fresh cut mullet and Gulp mullets the top choices.
Interest in spadefish is waning, but decent-sized fish are available along the northern span of the CBB-T, the four artificial islands and many inshore structures. Sheepshead are cooperating. Crab, clam and fiddlers presented along the pilings and tubes of the CBB-T can entice a sheepshead bite. Chong Chae (Virginia Beach) caught a 14-pound sheepshead near the second island using a fiddler crab. Triggerfish are everywhere on lower bay structures and inshore wrecks. These little fish will take most any offering. Michael Phelps caught a 4-pound, 4-ounce trigger while fishing near the second island of the CBB-T with clam.
Croaker are everywhere, and the bigger hardheads are moving into lower Bay waters. The larger fish are coming from the deeper areas north of the third island of the CBB-T, the Monitor Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, Back River Reef and the Cell. Spot are hitting within Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets on bloodworms, with good numbers of fish coming from off the concrete ships. Amberjack are providing good opportunities on offshore wrecks and at the Southern Towers. Tuna are scarce, and there are a few dolphin. Scattered white marlin are available farther south.
Captain Percy Blackburn of the Virginia Charter Boat Association (http://www.fishva.org) reports Spanish mackerel are generating all the excitement and plenty of activity in the middle bay. Anglers fishing out of Fish On Bait and Tackle (804-776-0820) in Deltaville are catching Spanish from Buoy #MH1 all the way to Smith Point Light. Lots of action is available at the mouth of the Rappahannock River. They can be caught on the bars off Windmill Point and String Ray Point, as well as in the area between the Lights. Clark and Drone spoons of all combinations trolled behind planers (both No.1 and No.2) at 7 kts are the baits of choice, and the late afternoons are providing the best results.
If spot are the target, try fishing Windmill Point in 25-35 feet of water on the south side of the bar. This area is producing good catches of No.1 and No.2 spot, along with nice mullet and the occasional keeper gray trout.
The flounder are biting at The Pickle Factory, Mosquito Point, and Towles Point in the Rappahannock River. The Cell/Buoy No.42 area has produced some good catches. Trolling fresh bluefish strips on Gillie Rigs has yielded good results. When jigging, bucktails tipped with Gulp baits (chartreuse or nuclear chicken) have been the favored bait.
There are reports of 14to 17-inch croaker being caught in the Rappahannock. Some of the best locations are the mouths of creeks, especially Robinson Creek and Lagrange Creek, as well as the Red Barns. Farther down river, the grass beds on Windmill Point are holding nice croakers. These fish are being caught with shrimp and/or squid while fishing in 7-9 feet of water. The best action has been in the late afternoon and early evening.
Captain Jerry Thrash (804-725-3889) reports surface temperatures are above 80 degrees. Cobia are biting well at York Spit and have been active just south of Newpoint Light. Menhaden chum combined with live eels are the baits of choice.
Notable catches: James Dean (Sandston) flounder, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 26 inches, cut bait; Bruce Throckmorton (Richmond) flounder, 7, 13, 26, minnow; Matthew Thayer (Gloucester) flounder, 9, 9, 27, live spot.
OTHER
Fish Tales Bait & Tackle reports flounder are being caught on Berkley Gulp Alive 7-inch jerk shad in the bay area. Spot are being caught on bloodworms.
Tuesday evening tournament at Hopewell Marina results: 1. Jason Chaplin-Bryan Holland , 9.16 pounds, big fish, 4.29; 2. Jeff Hamilton-Trey Goodman , 8.49; 3. Tim Bell-Ricky Faulkner , 7.94; 4. Chris Myers-Nathan Thernton , 7.73; 5. Brad Hurt-Ethan Hurt , 5.91.
Chris Eberwein from Eberwein's Catfishing (804 449-6134) reports the following catch and releases of blue catfish in the Dutch Cap Area: Elliott Hughes , 42 pounds; Henry Hunt , 44; Melvin Charter , 30; Harold Campbell , 34, 35; Doug Nichols , 50; Jim Yates , 31, 44, 43; Richard Denicooner , 48, 55; Kenny Agces , 34, 54, 56; Scott Denicooner , 38, 36, 45; Jerry Bilsaver , 47, 45, 44; Barry Cook Sr. , 31.
Fin and Skin Bait Shop in Varina (804 795-5917) reports the following catch and releases of blue catfish: Jimmy Henry (Gordonsfield) 57 pounds, 43, 40, 33; Tina Henry (Gordonsfield) 41; Jeff Cherry (Gordonsfield) 30.
More notable catches: Phil Davis (Troy) red drum, 50 inches; Robert Davis (Charlottesville) black drum, 46.5 inches.
Surfside Bait and Tackle (804 730-2238) in Mechanicsville reports the following catches: Justin Lindsay , 38 pounds, 6 ounces, cut bait; Timothy Argentine , cobia, 65 pounds, 59 inches.
OUTER BANKS
Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing has been getting too much SW wind, slowing down the fishing. The Cape Point area reports blues, spots, sea mullet, pompano, flounder, big rays, puppy drum and Spanish mackerel. The yellow/pink/green Glass Minnow lure has been working well for Spanish mackerel whenever they show up, and puppy drum have been caught with the natural Glass Minnow lure by anglers wading to the end of the Point. The Pamlico Sound is producing blues, puppy drum, flounder and puppy drum with Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive Pearl White Pogy Bait fish.
The Hatteras Village Beaches report blues, flounder, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel, spots, croakers, puppy drum and sand perch. Ocracoke Island reports catches of sheepshead, spots, black drum, flounder, blues, croakers, sea mullet, puppy drum, cobia and Spanish mackerel. Sean Moran (Centreville) caught a 3.3-pound Spanish mackerel on his first cast.
The northern beaches report pompano, croakers, spots, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel and cobia. The southern beaches report spots, sea mullet, flounder, croakers, blues, pompano and Spanish mackerel. Kevin Shirey (Round Hill) caught a 59-pound citation cobia.
The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report dolphin, wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjacks, king mackerel and yellowfin tuna, along with releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin. The inshore boats report speckled trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, gray trout and flounder. Jamie Wayland (Standardsville) caught a 6-pound, 11-ounce, 27-inch citation speckled trout.
The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report big eye tuna, yellowfin tuna, dolphin, tile fish, wahoo and blackfin tuna, along with releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin. The inshore boats report Spanish mackerel, blues, trigger fish, cobia, amberjacks, croakers, flounder, puppy drum and speckled trout.
Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the action isn't slowing, but the people are. Saltwater fishing has really turned on. Spot action is hot, and bloodworms are the bait of choice. Different types of jigs and live bait work well for flounder. The freshwater bite is slow, partially because of the hot weather. The people who are going are catching fish. The river is producing a lot of bass. The last qualifier for the year is Aug. 22 at Osborne Landing, and The Classic will be held Sept. 19.
Notable catches: Jacob Via (Chester), largemouth bass, 6 pounds, 1 ounce; Thomas Hickman (Richmond), bluecat, 32-2.
CHESAPEAKE BAY/OCEAN
Dr. Julie Ball reports the ongoing flounder explosion is the main attraction inshore. Huge doormats are striking at jigs and live bait presented along varying bottom structures in the lower part of the Bay. The Cell, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel structure and lower Bay wrecks are just a few of the best flounder hot-spots. Drifters are having good luck with strip baits and minnows near buoy 36A and the Thimble Shoal Channel near Cape Henry.
Cobia are transitioning to their usual late summer trend of top-water rendezvous with structure. This movement is providing a new approach for many cobia hunters. More fish are beginning to cruise on the surface. Chummers are enjoying a nice selection of big fish taken on cut bait and eels. John Wandrick (Townsend) caught a 68-pound cobia while deploying chum near Buoy 16.
Red drum are roaming most of the lower Bay, especially near shoals and the third and fourth islands of the CBB-T. Black drum are meandering around the artificial islands of the Bridge-Tunnel where folks are hooking and releasing fish on artificial lures. Expect the black drum to begin moving off the islands soon.
King mackerel are beginning to show promise. Sighting of schools of kings along with landings of snake-sized fish is bringing hope that the fishery will light up soon. A good easterly blow could jumpstart the king bite. According to local charter captains, the Spanish mackerel fishing along the coastal Virginia Beach is hit-and-miss right now. Plenty of Taylor bluefish are taking up the slack.
Sharks are becoming a targeted species. Several varieties of sharks such as sand tigers, tigers, hammerheads, black tips and spinners are sniffing out chum slicks all over coastal and lower Bay waters.
Puppy drum action is continuing within most any skinny water location in Tidewater, with steady action in Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. These young reds will hit a variety of baits, with fresh cut mullet and Gulp mullets the top choices.
Interest in spadefish is waning, but decent-sized fish are available along the northern span of the CBB-T, the four artificial islands and many inshore structures. Sheepshead are cooperating. Crab, clam and fiddlers presented along the pilings and tubes of the CBB-T can entice a sheepshead bite. Chong Chae (Virginia Beach) caught a 14-pound sheepshead near the second island using a fiddler crab. Triggerfish are everywhere on lower bay structures and inshore wrecks. These little fish will take most any offering. Michael Phelps caught a 4-pound, 4-ounce trigger while fishing near the second island of the CBB-T with clam.
Croaker are everywhere, and the bigger hardheads are moving into lower Bay waters. The larger fish are coming from the deeper areas north of the third island of the CBB-T, the Monitor Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, Back River Reef and the Cell. Spot are hitting within Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets on bloodworms, with good numbers of fish coming from off the concrete ships. Amberjack are providing good opportunities on offshore wrecks and at the Southern Towers. Tuna are scarce, and there are a few dolphin. Scattered white marlin are available farther south.
Captain Percy Blackburn of the Virginia Charter Boat Association (http://www.fishva.org) reports Spanish mackerel are generating all the excitement and plenty of activity in the middle bay. Anglers fishing out of Fish On Bait and Tackle (804-776-0820) in Deltaville are catching Spanish from Buoy #MH1 all the way to Smith Point Light. Lots of action is available at the mouth of the Rappahannock River. They can be caught on the bars off Windmill Point and String Ray Point, as well as in the area between the Lights. Clark and Drone spoons of all combinations trolled behind planers (both No.1 and No.2) at 7 kts are the baits of choice, and the late afternoons are providing the best results.
If spot are the target, try fishing Windmill Point in 25-35 feet of water on the south side of the bar. This area is producing good catches of No.1 and No.2 spot, along with nice mullet and the occasional keeper gray trout.
The flounder are biting at The Pickle Factory, Mosquito Point, and Towles Point in the Rappahannock River. The Cell/Buoy No.42 area has produced some good catches. Trolling fresh bluefish strips on Gillie Rigs has yielded good results. When jigging, bucktails tipped with Gulp baits (chartreuse or nuclear chicken) have been the favored bait.
There are reports of 14to 17-inch croaker being caught in the Rappahannock. Some of the best locations are the mouths of creeks, especially Robinson Creek and Lagrange Creek, as well as the Red Barns. Farther down river, the grass beds on Windmill Point are holding nice croakers. These fish are being caught with shrimp and/or squid while fishing in 7-9 feet of water. The best action has been in the late afternoon and early evening.
Captain Jerry Thrash (804-725-3889) reports surface temperatures are above 80 degrees. Cobia are biting well at York Spit and have been active just south of Newpoint Light. Menhaden chum combined with live eels are the baits of choice.
Notable catches: James Dean (Sandston) flounder, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 26 inches, cut bait; Bruce Throckmorton (Richmond) flounder, 7, 13, 26, minnow; Matthew Thayer (Gloucester) flounder, 9, 9, 27, live spot.
OTHER
Fish Tales Bait & Tackle reports flounder are being caught on Berkley Gulp Alive 7-inch jerk shad in the bay area. Spot are being caught on bloodworms.
Tuesday evening tournament at Hopewell Marina results: 1. Jason Chaplin-Bryan Holland , 9.16 pounds, big fish, 4.29; 2. Jeff Hamilton-Trey Goodman , 8.49; 3. Tim Bell-Ricky Faulkner , 7.94; 4. Chris Myers-Nathan Thernton , 7.73; 5. Brad Hurt-Ethan Hurt , 5.91.
Chris Eberwein from Eberwein's Catfishing (804 449-6134) reports the following catch and releases of blue catfish in the Dutch Cap Area: Elliott Hughes , 42 pounds; Henry Hunt , 44; Melvin Charter , 30; Harold Campbell , 34, 35; Doug Nichols , 50; Jim Yates , 31, 44, 43; Richard Denicooner , 48, 55; Kenny Agces , 34, 54, 56; Scott Denicooner , 38, 36, 45; Jerry Bilsaver , 47, 45, 44; Barry Cook Sr. , 31.
Fin and Skin Bait Shop in Varina (804 795-5917) reports the following catch and releases of blue catfish: Jimmy Henry (Gordonsfield) 57 pounds, 43, 40, 33; Tina Henry (Gordonsfield) 41; Jeff Cherry (Gordonsfield) 30.
More notable catches: Phil Davis (Troy) red drum, 50 inches; Robert Davis (Charlottesville) black drum, 46.5 inches.
Surfside Bait and Tackle (804 730-2238) in Mechanicsville reports the following catches: Justin Lindsay , 38 pounds, 6 ounces, cut bait; Timothy Argentine , cobia, 65 pounds, 59 inches.
OUTER BANKS
Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing has been getting too much SW wind, slowing down the fishing. The Cape Point area reports blues, spots, sea mullet, pompano, flounder, big rays, puppy drum and Spanish mackerel. The yellow/pink/green Glass Minnow lure has been working well for Spanish mackerel whenever they show up, and puppy drum have been caught with the natural Glass Minnow lure by anglers wading to the end of the Point. The Pamlico Sound is producing blues, puppy drum, flounder and puppy drum with Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive Pearl White Pogy Bait fish.
The Hatteras Village Beaches report blues, flounder, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel, spots, croakers, puppy drum and sand perch. Ocracoke Island reports catches of sheepshead, spots, black drum, flounder, blues, croakers, sea mullet, puppy drum, cobia and Spanish mackerel. Sean Moran (Centreville) caught a 3.3-pound Spanish mackerel on his first cast.
The northern beaches report pompano, croakers, spots, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel and cobia. The southern beaches report spots, sea mullet, flounder, croakers, blues, pompano and Spanish mackerel. Kevin Shirey (Round Hill) caught a 59-pound citation cobia.
The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report dolphin, wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjacks, king mackerel and yellowfin tuna, along with releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin. The inshore boats report speckled trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, gray trout and flounder. Jamie Wayland (Standardsville) caught a 6-pound, 11-ounce, 27-inch citation speckled trout.
The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report big eye tuna, yellowfin tuna, dolphin, tile fish, wahoo and blackfin tuna, along with releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin. The inshore boats report Spanish mackerel, blues, trigger fish, cobia, amberjacks, croakers, flounder, puppy drum and speckled trout.