Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore Fishing by Tidal Fish Correspondent Julie Ball
 The inshore water temperatures are still cooling, encouraging a larger class of stripers to move into lower Bay waters. And although the hogs are still yet to arrive, fish to around 45-inches are keeping anglers content in the meantime. These larger fish are not biting in a frenzy, but the outgoing tide is providing the best luck with rockfish of all sizes. School-sized fish are available to casters working the pilings of the lower Bay structures, while boats using live bait and wire-lining over the tubes and near the 4th island of the CBBT are finding bigger fish. The folks at Ocean’s East 2 report that the HRBT is holding plenty of school-sized fish, while the JRB and the M&M are giving up fish averaging up to around 32-inches. For those using eels at the high rise, the best bite is usually at night. Ben Sheppard and Rudy Levasseur of Chesapeake put their crew on several nice fish to 44-inches on a recent overnight eeling trip the high rise of the CBBT. Some folks are also finding good luck fishing the open Bay waters trolling and casting under working birds. Todd at Bayside Bait and Tackle reports that folks targeting trout and stripers in Willoughby are also catching plenty of croaker near all three of the jetties.
The first big striped bass tournament of the season is coming up on November 28th. The Kiptopeke Rockfish Riot is hosted by Chris’ Bait and Tackle, and benefits the Northhampton County Toy Closet for children. For more information, call 757-331-3000.
Tautog action is still on the rise on lower bay structures and on coastal wrecks. Even
with somewhat muddy water this week, crab, clam, and black mussels offered along the pilings and the tubes of the CBBT are rewarding anglers with limits of fish averaging to more than 6-pounds. Folks targeting the concrete ships off Kiptopeke are also having good luck with keeper fish.
Although speckled trout action slowed a little this week within Lynnhaven Inlet, anglers fishing Rudee Inlet, the Elizabeth River, and Ocean View are still finding good numbers of fish. The larger specks are coming from Rudee Inlet and the Elizabeth River, where several citations hit the scales from both locations recently. Greg Campbell of Virginia Beach weighed in a nice five pound speck he hooked while casting a Mirrolure in Rudee Inlet this week. The best luck in the Hot Ditch area of the Elizabeth River is coming from floating minnows on bobbers. Puppy drum are still a big hit in most all shallow backwater areas, with both live finger mullet and cut mullet working well.
Flounder reports from Bay waters are hard to come by, but good hauls of flatfish are coming from coastal and offshore structures. The Triangle Wrecks area is a favorite hot spot for flounder lately, where Captain Fred Feller put his crew aboard the Rudee Mariner on more than 20 keeper flatfish up to 6.5-pounds recently. Nice seabass are also available on these offshore structures, but the trick is finding a wreck that has not been fished lately. Huge chopper bluefish pushing to over 20-pounds, continue to lure folks to the Triangle Wreck area. These fish are easy to catch and offer a great battle, especially on light tackle. Both trolling and jigging is working well lately for these toothy fish. Very good triggerfish action is also occurring on many offshore structures.
Reports of bluefin tuna sightings are beginning to trickle in. Although no schools of giants have been reported as of yet, Captain Jake Hiles aboard the Matador reports that schools of smallish bluefins are making a showing at the Triangle Wrecks and the Hot Dog area, along with scores of small false albacore. The offshore winter yellowfin tuna bite is not materializing. The hit and miss bite of a few weeks ago fizzled, with no promise of returning. Swordfish are still a possibility for overnighters when a weather window presents itself.
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 - No report this week.
Wachapreague - No report this week.
Virginia's Middle Bay Fishing Report
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes: "Schooling stripers varying in size from 16-24” have been common this past week on moving tides at the Hole-in the Wall, Windmill Bar and in Fleets Bay above the bar. Activity dies with the tide. A few scattered big fish in the 40” range have been caught but these fish are isolated, not in schools yet. Chilly nights should bring great striper fishing in the next week or so with big fish to come by Thanksgiving. Storm-type lures fished on bottom bouncing rigs and up high are working as are bucktails with grubs or shad." | 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 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
Make sure to check these before you head out Buy your Virginia Fishing License Online
Click above to get your Virginia Fishing License Online Virginia Public Boat Ramps Locations and Map
Please read the information about each ramp to understand if you need a permit.
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
Get daily Fishing News and Info
* If you have a link that you would like to suggest that would be helpful to anglers please email me 1) the name of the site, 2) the exact URL, and 3) a short description of the information the site provides. |
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