The weather is great, its summer time, and the fish are here. So what could be better?  The debut of the much anticipated and prized Virginia king mackerel. The arrival of these toothy hunters kicks off the pier angler’s big scene. These fish are one of the most desirable species within range of the fishing piers. And a big scene it is, since once again the first reported king landing of the year is coming from the Little Island fishing pier this week. Two kings, with one smoker exceeding 50-pounds, were hooked from the pier using live bait on a pin rig, while another king was also landed from the Virginia Beach fishing pier using similar techniques.

Although king mackerel will dominate much of the interest along the beaches, nice Spanish mackerel continue to hit small spoons trolled at 6 to 8 knots along the beach in about 25 feet of water. Use small planers or 4 to 6 oz in line sinkers to place the spoons within range.

Flounder seem to be on everyone’s mind as folks find good luck with limits of nice fish, with several weighing in at over 10-pounds. Most of the larger fish are hitting live bait along lower bay structure, but drifters are also scoring with respectable fish. The hottest spots for dragging baits for flounder are the Baltimore Channel, the eastern section of the Thimble Shoal Channel, and the Cell and Buoy 36A areas. For live baiters, the Cell, the CBBT, and inshore wrecks are still providing very good results. Be mindful of the flounder closure from July 21st to the 30th.

Cobia are starting to show signs of their late summer pattern as they begin grouping in the lower bay and along coastal waters. More cobia are cruising the top waters, but most of the fish within the bay are only ranging to around 30-pounds. A few larger fish to over 70-pounds are coming from the CBBT structure and from the oceanfront buoy lines and wrecks.

Big red drum also continue to provide good top water action as they school around lower bay shoals and structure. Ben Shepherd and Rudy Levasseur, both of Chesapeake, had a good day when they released six bull reds hooked from a school they spotted while flounder fishing this week. Although not drawing much interest lately, black drum are also still hitting for casters around the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBBT on Storm lures and grubs.

Grey trout averaging around 16-inches are mixed in with nice sea mullet and croaker near the Concrete Ships and the Kiptopeke pier right now, while greys are also available around the high rise section of the CBBT. Respectable croaker are also making their usual run within the back waters of Oyster. Puppy drum are hitting within lower bay inlets, along with ½-pound spot, and some keeper-sized flounder.

Spadefish are schooled around ocean wrecks and buoys, the Chesapeake Light Tower, the CBBT, and the Cell. Although some larger fish are noted within the schools, most spadefish are raging to about 5-pounds. Triggerfish are also out in full force in these same locations, basically becoming a nuisance. Sheepshead catches are still very scattered, but the biggest fish are coming from the Seagull fishing pier located at the 1st island of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, where a sheepshead over 12-pounds was landed this week.

Another highly esteemed species is also stirring a subdued rumbling among Eastern Shore anglers. Reports of hookups and landings of tarpon are circulating throughout the community this week.

Amberjack are taking live bait and jigs at the Southern Towers, as well as several offshore wrecks, which offer a great fight for those ready for a brawl.

Offshore, the billfish are gaining more consideration with white and blue marlin catches on the rise. This should be a good weekend for marlin, with an easterly wind complimented by a full moon. A few large yellowfin tuna are now showing up at the docks, but the main catch is still revolving around nice bluefin tuna ranging to over 100-pounds. Most boats are also encountering dolphin, king mackerel, as well as some big Wahoo.
Until next week, good luck fishing!

Julie
Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative,

Luckily we have some reports from the Virginia Saltwater Review covering this region.

Chincoteague - Staff at Captain Bob’s report that fishing continues to be successful around Chincoteague. Flounder and kingfish are still keeping anglers busy with the best catches coming in from Buoy 15 and the waters in front of Captain Bob’s. Offshore action has remained productive as well—a 96-pound bluefin tuna was recently recorded.

Wachapreague - Loads of bluefin tuna were reported from the Wachapreague Marina. Most are in the 80- to 90- pound range, although some are bigger. The yellowfin tuna bite has started, and anglers are also finding dolphin, wahoo, tilefish, and grouper. Inshore, flounder fishing continues—a 7.5 pound flounder was weighed in last week. 

According to staff at Captain Zeds, offshore action has been fantastic. Bluefin tuna were plentiful at the Lumpy Bottom; there were 3 citations, and the biggest was 226 pounds. Dolphin citations came in from the 30 Fathom Line. Overall, the catch was a mix of wahoo, dolphin, bluefin tuna, and yellowfin tuna. There were also rumors of white marlin. Inshore, bottom fishing was still doing well with flounder catches by Cedar Island and the Coast Guard Station. Numerous kingfish were found inside and outside of the
Wachapreague Inlet. Wreck fishing produced catches of black sea bass.Virginia’s Middle Bay Fishing Report
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes: “Spot are biting well and the catch includes a few #1 sized fish.  Best places are  the Spike and at Butlers Hole.   Large Croaker were available east of Buoy 42 including some  fish to 16″.
Blues and Spanish are available along Windmill Bar.   Seven citation Flounder were weighed  this week.  Flounder fishing at Buoy 42 and in the Cell area again improved dramatically during the week.  Several limits of good fish were caught. Small to medium Spadefish continue to bite at the Cell and at Wolftrap.  Speckled Trout fishing improved this week in local waters.  We registered two weight citations and one release citation.  Fish are being caught in the Piankatank, at Cherry Point and at the Hole-in-the- Wall. Small Red Drum are available in the creeks and along shorelines mixed in with croaker, spot and small stripers. No reports of Cobia in this area yet.

Citations:
Speckled Trout
26″, 5 lbs, 1 oz caught 7/8 at Cherry Point by Tony Hudgins of North on a mirrolure.
26″, 5 lbs, 8 oz caught 7/12 in the Mobjack on a live mullet by Dean Bray of Gloucester.
26″, caught and released 7/12 in the Piankatank by  12 year old Noah Adams of Charlottesville while fishing with Capt. Chris Newsome. The fish hit a live bunker.

Flounder:
28″, 8 lbs, 13 oz  caught 7/13 at the Cell area on cut bait by Jerry Morgan of New Point.
28″, 7 lbs, 5 oz caught 7/11  at Buoy 42 on cut bait by E.W. Inge of Moon.
26″, 7 lbs, 9 oz caught 7/11  at the Cell on live spot by Jay Penick of Richmond.
27″, 9 lbs, 9 oz caught 7/12 at Cape Charles on croaker belly by Grady E. Baker, Jr. of Hayes.
27″, 7 lbs, 10 oz caught 7/12  at Buoy 42 on cut bait by Tanner Hurst of Gloucester.
29″, 8 lbs, 8 oz caught 7/12  at Buoy 42 on a minnow by Brian K. Copal of Chesterfield.
27 1/2″, 7 lbs, 10 oz caught 7/13  at Buoy 42 on cut bait by Darryle W. Ashmore of Disputanta.

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