May 30 2008
Virginia Fishing Reports: Chesapeake Bay, Inshore and Offshore Reports Updated May 30, 2008
Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore Fishing by Correspondent Julie Ball
The prelude to the summer fishing pattern is right on target with the arrival of one of the most anticipated warm water residents, the cobia. Scattered hookups and confirmed sightings around the lower bay are just the beginning as these covert hunters quietly glide into local waters. Sheepshead are also making a low-key debut, as occasional reports trickle in of incidental hook-ups by drum anglers, which is common for this time of year.
Although not off the charts as it was mid-month, the drum action has returned to a more normal pattern, which is still very good. Regardless of the state of the bite, anglers are out in droves hoping for a chance to tangle with a big drum. Black drum are still showing along the shoals near buoys 10, 13, and 16 where chowder clams and sea clams are the top baits. (Pictured: nofishingenough’s daughter with a nice flounder caught while daughter and dad were out fishing this past week around buoy 42 in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Read the full report with pictures here ) Although we are on the downward trend for these brutes from the shoals, they are still available in these areas for those willing to put in the time. Huge red drum are still scavenging the shoals off Fisherman’s Island and Nautilus Shoal, but more fish are now showing on the nine foot shoal near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Blue crab has worked well all season.
Spadefish are appearing on inshore wrecks, as well inside the bay at York Spit Light, Wolftrap Light and the Cell, but we still need to inch up a few more degrees for the action to really take off. Some spades are also available at the Chesapeake Light Tower, but the fish are holding tight to the tower legs. A few boats worked hard to catch some respectable fish, but most are small, with the best yet to come with the spadefish.
Flounder action is still frustrating anglers, with muddy conditions keeping the water less than optimal for
these aggressive sight feeders. Most angers who are catching decent fish are finding their keepers in protected waters such as the back waters of Wachapreague and Oyster, and within both Rudee and Lynnaven inlets. One angler found a 6-pound, 4-ounce flattie laying in waiting while casting from the shore within Long Creek recently. The best flounder bite is occurring on the flood tide this week.
Striped bass are making up for the flounder shortage, with catches of rockfish to 36-inches coming from the HRBT and the small boat channel and islands of the CBBT. Live baiting over the tubes is providing the best striper hauls, with both croaker and eels working well. Snapper bluefish are everywhere in local waters, which often makes catching anything else a challenge.
(Pictured: Drew with a nice dolphin while out fishing over last Memorial Day weekend in the bluewater off the Virginia Coast. yes folks, Drew is 10 and a fishing catching machine. See “the Drew Report below)
The deep dropping scene is on fire if you want to fit the fuel bill to make the long run out to 50 fathoms or more. Those boats making a go are rewarded with excellent catches of blueline and golden tilefish, grouper, blackbelly rosefish, and jumbo seabass. Sean Doran and Darren Foster expertly guided their crew to the deep aboard the Crystal Clear, and loaded up with super-sized grouper, blueline tilefish, and golden tiles weighing up to nearly 50-pounds! A nice18-pound, 12-ounce blueline tilefish landed by Dr. Julie Ball while fishing squid near the Norfolk Canyon took the state lead this week.
The offshore trolling scene is just getting rolling, with gaffer-sized dolphin and nice yellowfin tuna stealing the glory. Boats are also finding a smattering of mako sharks and wahoo in the mix. This trend will only improve, as long as the warm water stays around.
The Drew Report
Sorry this is late, but my Dad wouldn’t let me write a report until my book report was finished.
On Memorial Day we went out on the Blind Date with Capt Stan, Capt Rick, Doc, my Dad and me. We were going to try for Sea Bass and Tile fish. We stopped at the Triangles first but didn’t get anything. Capt Stan decided to run to the deep. On the way to the Norfolk Canyon, Capt Stan decided to try one more place for Sea Bass. On my first drop I caught a four pounder and the action never stopped. We didn’t get any citations, but all the fish were really nice, 3-4 lb fish. After awhile, CAPT Stan wanted to try to drop real deep for Golden Tile fish. We ran out to the canyon and stopped in 850 feet of water. We used 24oz of weight to get to the bottom. That didn’t look like a lot of fun to me so I watched all the adults drop their rigs. At the same time a bunch of mahi mahi showed up at the boat. They looked like a lot more fun to me. Capt Rick showed me how to rig a piece of squid and drift it back to the fish. They were little, but a lot of fun on light tackle. While I was playing with the mahi’s Capt Stan hooked up, it took a long time, but he got his first Golden Tile it weighed 20 lbs. They are a very pretty fish with a floppy fin on the top of their head. As soon as Capt Stan got his in my Dad hooked up. My Dad’s Golden Tile was smaller than Capt Stan’s, but still looked cool. Capt Rick caught a Black Fin Tuna while we were fishing for tiles. The wind started to pick up so we headed back to the Sea bass spot and caught a few more before we headed home.
I caught most of my sea bass on a Bass Pro Shops Offshore Angler Free Style jig in the mackerel color. I was using a Cabo 50 reel on a JB custom rod and power pro. My Dad caught most of his on the same jig but he was using his Calcutta 400 on his Nickolite rod. The rest of the guys were using bait rigs and jigs. I like using the jigs because the rig is lighter and the fish fight good.
Capt Stan went out last night with CAPT Brad and they got a bunch of citation Red Drum. I still haven’t gotten a red yet this year.
Your friend Drew
Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative,
Virginia’s Eastern Shore Fishing Report
Covering Inshore and Offshore Fishing out of Wachapreague, Chincoteague and Assateague
by Kevin of Lyn B Sportfishing - TidalFish.com Correspondent
No report his week, fishing must be very good or very windy
Kevin of Lyn B Sportfishing, a 34ft custom sport fisherman Captained by Bill Bowen. They offer inshore, wreck and offshore fishing adventures. Fishing from the Wachapreague, Wachapreague . Call 757-787-1074 to book a trip.
However we did get these reports from the Virginia Saltwater Review:
Chincoteague
Fish were biting at Captain Bob’s this week. Those brave enough to face the wind at the Four Mouths area, near buoy 50, and the Wallops Island Bridge were bringing in nice flounder up to 24 inches. On May 24th, Robert Biggs landed a 7-pound, 10-ounce flounder (27.5 inches), and on the 25th, Juanita Bradshaw brought in a 7-pound, 2-ounce flounder (26.5 inches). In the surf, a few flounder and striped bass have been landed—the rough, cool water attracting striped bass. When the wind dies down, there are nice black sea bass to be had along the wrecks, and some tautog have been sighted in the area as well. Kingfish are beginning to show at marker 15 near the inlet, and skate and shark have been seen at the north side of Queen’s Sound. The majority of the fish have been caught using a minnow and squid sandwich, but according to Donna, everyone needs a plan B—she suggests silversides. Staff at Captain Bob’s believes that once the winds calm, the fishing will really pick up.
Wachapreague
Flounder were hooked near Wachapreague Marina this week. Several flounder in the 4 to 5-pound range have been landed, as well as one flounder weighing over 7 pounds. A few anglers are bringing in nice trout with their flounder catches.
At Captain Zed’s, anglers are catching flounder, but they are generally hooking 20 undersized flounder for every keeper (19 inches or greater). Staff has seen a 4-pound grey trout this week.
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes, Spadefish have been seen on the Cell and at Wolftrap all week but have been refusing baits. This is normal, and usually they start biting about a week after first being sited. We should see big Spades this week!
Speckled Trout fishing continues to be hot! We registered seven more citation specks this week, all from the North and East Rivers.
Croaker are available at Butlers Hole in the Rappahannock, in the mouth of the Piankatank and in surrounding creeks. Croaker are also showing in fair numbers across the Bay in the Buoy 40A area where many of the charter boats are fishing when winds permit.
One 9-pound citation flounder was weighed this week near Buoy 42 but there were very few boats on the water Saturday and Sunday.
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