Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore Fishing by Tidal Fish Correspondent Julie Ball
 The big news flash is that the really big rockfish moved into the lower bay this week. The influx of the big boys became evident with several catches topping 50-pounds this week. So now the chase is on! And with decent weather on the horizon for the Thanksgiving Holiday, anglers are flocking to local tackle shops to load up on eels and lures to target these popular game fish.
Anglers are hooking big fish while dunking live eels at various depths from the 4th island to the high rise section of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Many slobs are also coming from drifting eels along the channel edges and shoals off Plantation Light and the bayside of Cape Charles. Drifting with eels is the latest trend, and is an effective technique resulting in fewer, but a larger class of fish. One boat was trying this technique on Latimer Shoal this week, when a freight train of a rockfish took their live eel for a run. The beast tipped the scales at Chris’s Bait and Tackle at 54-pounds! This is one of the largest striped bass reported so far this season, but it certainly won’t be the last.
And the big fish are here just in time for the Kiptopeke Rockfish Riot hosted by Chris’ Bait and Tackle benefiting the Northampton County Toy Closet for children (757-331-3000). Anglers are also still scoring with striped bass of all sizes all over the lower bay. School-sized fish are available to casters working the lower bridge pilings, while boats using live bait over the tubes and casting near the islands of the CBBT, are finding a nice class of fish.
Speckled trout anglers continue to experience excellent fishing. Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven River, and Little Creek Inlet are giving up good numbers of decent fish, while the Elizabeth River is on fire with many catches of big specks reported lately. Either way, limits of nice trout with many pushing to over five pounds are hitting the dock. The first reports of speckled trout from the 1st island of the CBBT also came in this week. Jason Chebetar of Norfolk hooked a 7-pound, 6-ounce prize while jigging a Storm lure for stripers at the 1st island of the CBBT. But if speckled trout are not enough to draw you to protected waters, then maybe some hefty puppy drum in the same locations will change your mind. The puppy drum action is still on, with many fish taking the lures intended for trout.
Tautog are biting all over the lower bay and on most coastal wrecks. Any available structure along the CBBT is producing limits of quality fish. When the wind is blowing too hard for boating, anglers can hit the Seagull Fishing Pier where it is common to score with keeper fish. Surf anglers are also pulling tautog off of the Lesner Bridge pilings by casting their bait to the structure from land.
Wreck fishing is good right now. Nice seabass are hitting most anything, while respectable flounder, with many in the five pound range, are hitting drifted baits. Chopper bluefish are also still prowling around most local wrecks, with the Triangle Wrecks a favorite. These fish offer a great fight on light tackle.
The offshore scene has shifted to a more inshore interest with the first big bluefin tuna boated near the fish hook this week. Although evading most, some boats lucked into a few big tuna, with a few weighing in at over 100-pounds. Matt Carroll of Norfolk weighed in a 117-pound, 12-ounce brute at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center he boated aboard the No Vacancy captained by Wes Lane. The giants can pop up on most any inshore seamount right now, or even within the Chesapeake Light Tower vicinity. Finding them is the hardest part, since they are often on the move. If targeting these big fish, be prepared with the appropriate class of heavy gear and tackle.
Overnighters can still find some decent swordfish action in deeper water. Deep droppers are finding blueline tilefish and seabass, but a variety of pesky dogfish and sharks are beginning to move into the same areas.
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 - At Captain Zeds, there was a nice run of small flounder in the area before the poor weather set in. The Bull’s Head area (at day markers 133 through 137), Green Channel, and the Hummock were all productive for flounder. A few sporadic striped bass and grey trout have been reported as well.
Virginia's Middle Bay Fishing Report
by Jerry Thrash From Patriot Charters and Queens Creek Outfitters
Jerry writes: "Surface water temps are about 51 degrees. Last week’s showing of Specks was likely their farewell performance for this area. No Speckled Trout seen this week. Stripers to 36” are biting in the Rappahannock River in the area of Towles Point. Schooling stripers varying in size from 16-28” have been common this past week on moving tides in Fleets Bay above Windmill bar. Birds are working on small Menhaden but no sign of Gannets yet. These big-fish birds should arrive soon. Big fish in the 40-44” range have been caught but these fish are isolated. Most of the big fish have been caught in the usual areas along channel edges. Very few slot fish (28-34”) have been caught so far but the cold weather should bring them in soon. Large and small umbrella rigs are producing. Bucktails and parachute lures with grubs or shad and Storm-type lures fished on bottom bouncing rigs and up high are working well as are swimming plugs. Anglers using live eels are producing some early larger fish near the Concrete Ships and Cape Charles. We should have a stock of bait eels this week." | 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
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* 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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