Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore Fishing by Tidal Fish Correspondent Julie Ball
 The cooler weather is almost here, and so are the cool-water fish. The fall offshore bite is on, while the inshore action is picking up. With the opening of striper season this weekend, expect anglers out in force casting for schoolies. Hoards of striped bass in the 18-24-inch range are stacked along light-lines, drop-offs, and the structure of the bay bridge tunnels. Beginning on the 4th, in Bay waters you can keep two fish per person measuring between 18 and 28-inches, with one of the two fish allowed to measure 34-inches or longer.
Puppy drum are active most everywhere within the shallow waters at the southern end of the Bay. The entire southern Bay and oceanfront surf line, as well as Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are on fire with pup action right now. Many pups hooked within the Lynnhaven Basin and Broad Bay areas are so large that they are actually spooling angler’s reels. A few of these juvenile reds are ranging in upwards of 34 to 38-inches. The best natural bait is cut mullet, and a good top performing lure the “Red Fish Magic.”
Speckled trout action is also on the upswing, with decent catches coming from all the Eastern Shore Bayside Creeks. Chris Wilson of Eastville received honors for a 6lb, 3oz beauty he hooked on a Mirrolure while fishing off “Hoffler’s Point” in Cherry Stone Creek this week. On the south side, casters are also finding good numbers of fish on the Poquoson Flats, and within Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Rich at Ocean’s East 2 reports that he caught 10 specks while casting for two hours with 4-inch dark green Gulp Minnows within Rudee Inlet lately. The Hot Ditch is also starting to show promise, with a 5lb fish coming from the Ditch on top water “Super Spook.”
To surf caster’s delight, the big red drum run off the ocean front is heating up. Multiple bulls up to 50-inches are coming from the Little Island Fishing Pier on cut spot. Boats anchored close to shore can also get in on the action, with cobia and sharks also a possibility. The Eastern shore barrier islands are also still producing good numbers of big reds. One angler trolling near the 4th island also released two big reds this week.
The spot action slowed a little this week, but the largest fish of the season are still expected to show soon in the usual haunts. Little Creek Inlet, the HRBT, and Rudee Inlet have been the most productive spot areas lately, with bloodworms the top bait.
Horse croaker are still hanging on the Hampton Bar, the deeper holes around the CBBT, as well Rudee and Lynnhaven. Bill Wild of Virginia Beach scored with a hefty 4-pound, 14-ounce hardhead while fishing squid near the Lesner Bridge.
Flounder action is still slow, but expect it to resume once the water settles out. The Baltimore and Thimble Shoal Channels, and the Hampton Bar are productive areas for drifting for big flatfish this time of year. Although the bite was slow, a few citation fish came from the Kiptopeke area this week, where fish ranging up to 7.5 pounds fell for squid and minnow combos. Offshore and inshore wrecks are also covered with decent flounder, along with some big seabass and lots of aggressive triggerfish. The Rudee Angler out of the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, captained by Captain Mark Sterling, had a great catch of jumbo seabass and triggers to over 4-pounds while fishing choice inshore wrecks this week.
King mackerel are a good possibility trolling around the Chesapeake Light tower and down to False Cape, but the water needs to clear a little. A few Spanish are also still lingering in the same areas, with false albacore starting to show closer to shore and around the tower.
Fall offshore action is heating up, with a few decent class yellowfin tuna on the prowl. Wahoo are making a stir with big fish taking trolled baits North of the Canyon. Billfish are still providing plenty of opportunities for releases of white and blue marlin, while nice gaffer dolphin are most everywhere. Decent catches of swordfish are also coming from boats staying overnight in the deep.
Until next week, good luck fishing!
Julie
Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach
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
Kevin must be into some good fishing right now. 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.
Luckily we have some reports from the Virginia Saltwater Review covering this region.
Chincoteague - According to Donna at Captain Bob’s, flounder have started biting again. Several keepers were caught in the Chincoteague Channel between markers 23 and 25. The bridges were hot with striped bass at night (probably because of the full moon). A red drum was reportedly caught off of Assateague Island in the surf, and a 6- pound flounder was caught there last week, as well. Several striped bass have been reported from under the drawbridge as well. Snapper bluefish were around, and a few kingfish were landed from in the ocean. Northeast winds will probably keep most anglers home during the weekend. Captain Bob’s will switch to its fall hours this week.
Wachapreague - According to staff at the Wachapreague Marina, numerous dolphin were found at the Norfolk Canyon along with a whopping 272-pound blue marlin. The dolphin ranged from 5 to 20 pounds. Most offshore fishing has been better past 40 fathoms. Inshore, staff reports that flounder fishing is fair.
At Captain Zed’s, anglers continued to catch flounder and croaker near Paramour and Cedar islands, which were hot spots for the season. A few spot and grey trout were landed, and there were reports of small red drum sightings. Offshore action in the canyons has been productive with dolphin and wahoo, and wreck fishing was doing really well with black sea bass. Virginia's Middle Bay Fishing Report
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes: "Winds and rain again kept the fishing effort minimal this week. We did register one speckled trout citation. Spot are being caught in the Rappahannock up near the Norris Bridge. This week's better weather should result in spot catches improving dramatically. Pan-sized grey trout have started biting in the Piankatank with some fish reaching 16". Good catches of greys have also been reported in the Rappahannock on jigs.There are a lot of Bluefish along the bars in the bay. Many are in the 2-4 lbs. range. Speckled trout are becoming more active as the fall run appears near. Mobjack Bay is producing number of fish but few large fish so far. Striper season starts on October 4th. Rules are the same as last year but the VMRC meets late October and is expected to address a proposal to allow 2 fish limits throughout December rather than reduce to one fish on December 10th as the rules now call for.
CITATION:
Speckled Trout; 24.5", 5 lbs, 4 oz, caught 9/22 in the Mobjack on a Mirrolure by Wilson Nobles, Jr of Montpelier." | Sponsored by Lateral Line
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Dr. Julie Ball Extreme Sportfishing
Dr. Julie Ball writes TidalFish.com's weekly Virginia fishing reports and is known as one of the best woman anglers on the east coast. --------------------------------------- Virginia Fishing Charters and Fishing Guides Lyn B Sportfishing
a 34ft custom sport fisherman Captained by Bill Bowen. They offer inshore, wreck and offshore fishing adventures. Fishing from the Wachapreague Town Marina, Wachapreague VA . Call 757-787-1074 to book a trip! Cory Ruthless Routh Kayak Charter Fishing- Tidal Fish Sponsor
If you love Kayak fishing and catching fish, visit Cory Ruthless Routh's Kayak Charter Service. You'll fish some of the most productive waters on the east coast and Cory will put you on fish. Depending on the season you can catch Puppy Drum (Redfish), Striped Bass, Blue Fish, Flounder, Trout, or Croaker --------------------------------------- Crisfield Fishing Shirt by Lateral Line
 
Useful Related Links Past Virginia Fishing Reports
Check out past Virginia Fishing Reports covering the Virginia Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore Atlantic Ocean, and Offshore Atlantic Ocean. Virginia Tidal Fish Message Board
Daily reports, fishing talk on how to, rigging, techniques etc.. covering the CBBT, Virginia Beach and Virginia Ocean Coastal Fishing areas
Virginia's Northern Neck Message Board
Daily reports, fishing talk on how to, rigging, techniques etc.. covering the Northern Neck of Virginia Virginia Tide Information
NOAA Tide Information for Virginia Tidal Waters Virginia Fishing Regulations
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Virginia Fishing Fish Citations Page
Check out Virginia Fish Citations and if you catch one find information here on how to register it NOAA Real Time Marine Forecasts and Buoy Reports
Real time Buoy data and Marine Forecasts for different locations in the Chesapeake Bay Rutgers University's Sea Surface Temperature of Chesapeake Bay Region and Offshore Waters
Great site to check out sea surface temperatures which are vital to know for fishing Daily Fisheries News
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