Virginia Saltwater Fishing News New State Record Snowy Grouper
Jere Humphrey of Norfolk, Virginia has established a new state record for snowy grouper with a 68-pound fish caught August 17, 2008.  The record-setting grouper bested the existing state record, set by Chris Boyce of Hampton, Virginia on December 9, 2007, by two full pounds.    Humphrey is filing an application with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for acceptance of his catch as the IGFA All-Tackle Record for snowy grouper.  Boyce’s 66-pound snowy grouper currently holds the IGFA All-Tackle record.

Humphrey caught his grouper “deep-dropping” near the Norfolk Canyon in over 50 fathoms of water while fishing aboard the private boat Bone Daddy, skippered by James Collier.  The fish had a length of 46-1/2 inches and a girth of 37 inches.  The record fish was caught on a custom made rod, mated with a Penn 340 GTI reel and spooled with 80-pound test braided line. The record-setting grouper hit a simple bottom rig baited with Boston mackerel.

Snowy grouper was added to the list of species eligible for state record recognition by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Committee at their fall meeting in 2006 and carried an initial qualifying weight of 38 pounds.  Roger Burnley of Virginia Beach registered Virginia’s first qualifying snowy grouper, at 49 pounds, 9 ounces, on April 29, 2007.  Burnley’s record was eclipsed on June 10, 2007 by Bob Manus of Ark, Virginia with a 65-pound, 8-ounce grouper.  Manus’ record status held until Boyce landed his 66-pounder in December 2007.  All three prior record snowy grouper were caught in the general vicinity of the Norfolk Canyon “deep-dropping” in over 50 fathoms of water and using either whole or cut fish for bait.

Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore Fishing by Tidal Fish Correspondent Julie Ball
Tropical storm conditions from Hanna are sure to shut down most saltwater activities for a least a few days. But once the waters settle, expect the prelude to the fall fishing trend to be back on track. Most anglers will pursue cobia and flounder. The cobia bite is taking on its typical early fall pattern, with many fish schooling on the surface in lower bay waters and along the formation of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Both chumming and casting are proving effective for nice fish, with several fish between 60 to 90-pounds hitting the dock. Kayakers are also getting in on the cobia fun as they take nice fish from inshore waters along Sandbridge.

Late season flounder are not disappointing anglers, as fat fish stage in the lower bay for their exit to deeper water. Both drifters and live baiters are finding good success along lower bay channels and over structure. Inshore and offshore wrecks are also providing excellent flatfish action, with fresh strip baits working well.

Sea bass are becoming more active on inshore wrecks from the Light Tower Reef to the Triangle wrecks, along with hoards of aggressive trigger fish. Spadefish are also a possibility on the inshore structures.

Croaker are biting all over the lower bay. Many boats are also sitting on decent schools right off Cape Henry. The concrete ships, the 4th island, and the High Rise section of the CBBT are giving up nice hardheads, with some fish pushing 2-pounds. The croaker action off Oyster is decent this week, but the blow this weekend may finish that trend for good. Spot are gaining more attention with good hauls coming from the lower bay inlets, Willoughby Bay, and the lower bay fishing piers. One angler caught 168 keeper spot this week from the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier. Bloodworms and Fishbites are the top bait.

The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reports spot, a few speckled trout, and keeper flounder within Rudee Inlet. Specks are also making a showing within Lynnhaven River. In addition, Chris’ Bait and Tackle weighed in a nice six pound, 14-ounce speck from Hungar’s Creek for James Moncries of Machipongo this week. Tarpon are still at bay on the Eastern Shore due to muddy waters from the Easterly winds for the last two weeks. The upcoming blow is not encouraging.

According to Ocean’s East 2, puppy drum are taking bait in most skinny waters and inlets, as well as the fishing piers. Pups ranging around 16-inches are active from the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier to the Little Island Fishing Pier. The Sandbridge pier crowd anxiously awaits the fall red drum bite off the pier. In the meantime, red drum action is still going strong along the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore, as well as the lower bay shoals and along inshore coastal waters. Black drum are tapering off at the four islands as they scatter to head south.
Sheepshead hunters are still crying the blues as these fish continue to elude most anglers, while trigger fish are still active in all the same locations, presenting an easy target.

The king mackerel action slowed this week, while the Spanish mackerel game is still on. Kings are a possibility from Cape Henry to False Cape, and around coastal wrecks while nice Spanish in the 20-inch range are swarming around the Chesapeake Light Tower, the CB line, and along inshore waters. Small Clark and Drone spoons trolled at a fast clip will provide great Spanish action, especially for kids. False albacore are also showing themselves in these same areas under working birds, while bailer mahi are also presenting in cleaner inshore and offshore waters, especially near the wrecks.

The Chesapeake Light Tower can offer a chance at an amberjack, jack cravelle, and a big barracuda. The southern towers and coastal wrecks are also still holding schools of amberjack.

Billfish action is at its peak right now, with some boats releasing a dozen or more whites in a day. The Sea Wolf out of Rudee Inlet flew 20 flags this week. The best marlin bite lately is north of the Canyon. Wahoo are prowling mostly inshore of the Canyon and near the Cigar. Dolphin are scattered about, with several citation fish in the mix. Yellowfin tuna are scarce, but some fish are raging up to 80-pounds if you can find them.
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 -  Donna at Captain Bob’s is seeing slow action on the inside, due to winds that will keep increasing as tropical systems plague the Atlantic coast. Flounder, baby black sea bass, and some croaker are being caught by anglers braving the winds. Chris Whiteman landed a 19.5-inch flounder at Marker Red 20 using silversides. Large flounder are being caught on the seaside, outside the inlet at the wrecks, as well as in the Assateague Channel. Mel Cosner of Chincoteague reeled in a 26.75-inch, 9.8-pound flounder using finger mullet at the Blackfish Banks. Offshore, black sea bass are biting, but the dolphin action is hot. Jimmy McDonnell landed a 47-pound dolphin using ballyhoo. Jimmy also brought in a 57.5-inch wahoo. Captain Glen has gone out and had luck with flounder, landing a 7-pound, 6-ounce fish. The Captain also has had catches of dolphin, jacks, false albacore, and skipjack tuna. Anglers are having luck with nice size catches of spadefish in the wrecks.

Wachapreague - The staff at Wachapreague Marina is seeing some great white marlin catches, especially in the Norfolk Canyon. Up to twenty catches a day have been seen throughout the week. Croaker fishing is also picking up, with catches ranging from 15 to 19 inches. A few spot and trout are showing up, as well as flounder. Dolphin continues to bring in some good catches, most near citation size.

At Captain Zeds, the week has been slow with area schools starting back up. Flounder and croaker are still biting, with the flounder hanging out at Paramore Island and the croaker at the Green Channel. Offshore, the tuna action has slowed down, but anglers continue to bring in good catches of dolphin and white marlin.

Virginia’s Middle Bay Fishing Report
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes: “Spanish  are still available  along the drop off at Windmill Bar, near R2 and off the Milford Haven #3 day marker. This has been a good year for large spanish with most boated measuring about 20″ or larger.  Lots of blues are in the same areas.  Although many are small, some of the blues are 2-3 lbs.  Good size Spot continue to be caught at Cherry Point, off Gwynn Island in 25-30 feet of water and at  the Spike (#3 Rappahannock marker) and at Butlers Hole.  White perch, a few gray trout and small croaker are mixed in.  Puppy drum can be caught in the creeks and from docks. Try to fish grassy areas or shoreline where there is a shell bottom.  Manmade oyster reefs will also produce now as will 2-3′ deep water at the base of rip-rap.  I caught a couple of 14″ croaker from my dock this weekend casting squid on a jig in shallow water for specks and puppy drum. Speckled trout are being caught on peelers and on lures. No citations this week but fair action as the fall run approaches. Flounder fishing has been slow this week.

Citations:
Croaker:
18″, 3 lbs., 1 oz caught oncut bait 8/25 at the Cell  by 9 year old Hayden Bell of Hopewell.”

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