Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore, and Freshwater Fishing Reports
Dr. Julie Ball brings us these Saltwater Fishing Reports
 Although windy weather is not allowing much opportunity for fishing on the open water, few anglers are complaining since sheltered waters are providing remarkable speckled trout action. Plenty of fish averaging to around three pounds are keeping casters content, while the numbers of citation fish are also on the rise. The most consistent speck action is happening in Rudee Inlet, Little Creek, Lynnhaven River, Back River, the Eastern Shore shallows, the Poquoson flats, and the Elizabeth River. Jason Darca of Virginia Beach scored with a 9-pound, 3-ounce whopper he hooked while jigging in Little Creek Inlet. The best lures are chartreuse or red and white Mirrolures, with smoke-colored grubs and Gulp grubs also producing. Trolling with lures and grubs in the Elizabeth River is also effective lately.
Puppy drum are still generating a lot of interest within backwater areas, where anglers are scoring with nice pups up to 30-inches long in both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Surf anglers are also experiencing good puppy drum encounters on cut bait from Fort Story to Sandbridge.
The inshore and Bay tautog bite is generating a stir, with limits of keeper fish ranging from 5 to 7-pounds becoming the norm. Several nice keepers were boated from around the artificial islands of the CBBT this week on fiddlers and blue crab. Kaleb Hanna of Chesapeake enjoyed his first tog catch, with a 9-pound citation he enticed from the 3rd island tube to show for his efforts. Wreck action is also taking off nicely with ample numbers of respectable trigger fish still available in the same areas.
As water temperatures begin to cool, striped bass are becoming more active. Casters are scoring with schoolie-sized rockfish between 18 to 22-inches along the Monitor Merrimack, the James River Bridge, the HRBT, and the CBBT. The bite is especially good during the night time hours along the light lines. Wire liners are also boating fish ranging from 22 to 24-inches from the tubes of the CBBT this week. Lots of bluefish to around 5-pounds are rounding out most catches.
Spot reports are now scarce within the lower Bay, but surf and pier anglers are still catching good numbers of nice sized spot off of Sandbridge as the fish make their way south. Scattered pompano and speckled trout are also showing in the Sandbridge surf.
Although the bull red action off Sandbridge slowed up this week, red drum are still a possibility along the ocean front, along the Eastern Shore shoals, and near the 3rd island of the CBBT.
Even though anglers are finding a few cooperative fish, the flounder bite is sluggish due to the muddy water right now. Drifting strip baits along the Baltimore Channel, near buoy 36A, and along the small boat channel are good places to try when the wind breaks. Working bait and jigs around the CBBT structure can also prove effective for big flatties. These fish are plump right now as they fatten up in preparation for their migration offshore. Some of the deeper water wrecks are also giving up a few decent flatfish mixed in with many shorts.
Captain Jake Hiles, skipper of the Matador out of Rudee Inlet, reports that his crew caught nice amberjack at the Southern Towers during a break in the weather this week. Deep droppers are finding good sized tilefish and rosefish when they can get out. Captain Larry Regula of Windsor and his crew boated nice blueline tilefish up to 15-pounds while working the edges of the Canyon this week.
Offshore, it has been difficult to get out due to the weather. When boats could make it to the deep this week, the action was slow. Wahoo provided a little action, along with a few yellowfin tuna, and scattered bailer dolphin. Once overnight trips resume with more regularity, swordfish are a possibility.
Until next week, good luck fishing!
Julie
Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach
Charlie Taylor sends us these Virginia Saltwater Fishing Reports
Striped bass are ranging throughout the Bay and its' tributaries, with the best concentrations being found up the rivers. The middle bay is giving up large numbers of legal sized stripers to chummers on the Southwest Middlegrounds. The mouth of the Potomac and St. Mary's Rivers are experiencing a blitz, with huge schools of stripers, bluefish and some gray trout feeding on surface schools of baitfish. Some good catches of flounder are being made along the seaside inlets, as these fish prepare to move offshore to spawn. The Cape Charles area has good fishing for tautog, as well as the black drum, moving through the lower bay. The Western side of the middle bay region has grey trout in the 4-8 pound range for trollers along the Mud Leads and some fine speckled trout on the Tangier Target Ships for jiggers. Fair numbers of tautog are reported from the Cell, while taylor blues remain plentiful throughout the region. In the lower bay, anglers are catching grey trout, speckled trout, bluefish, flounder, sea bass and tautog all along the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Big bull red drum are actively feeding in the surf off Sandbridge. Cut bait, soaked in the wash, is taking the big fish. Offshore, when the wind allows, Virginia Beach boats are catching large yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin, along with good numbers of false albacore and chopper bluefish to 20 pounds around the Chesapeake Light/Artificial Reef area. Inshore wrecks are giving up good numbers of tautog. North Carolina anglers are experiencing a decent run of channel bass and chopper bluefish. Offshore boats are loading up on king mackerel, yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and a few billfish. Inshore activity is good for smaller king mackerel and false albacore. Inlet anglers may expect taylor blues, speckled trout, flounder and puppy drum.
Ken Neil brings us these Saltwater Fishing Reports
The wind is finally giving us a little break this week and everyone who can sneak out of work is getting out there. The bay water temperature has dropped which has heated up the tautog bite at the CBBT and over other structures in the bay. An already good speckled trout bite has gotten better. There are tremendous numbers of small speckled trout around and plenty of larger trout are being found. They are being caught in the shallows almost everywhere. The Elizabeth River is particularly good right now. Large numbers of puppy drum are also being found in the shallows. The Elizabeth River and Lynnhaven Inlet are really good. The latest blow seems to be the end of the spot run. Striped bass, mostly small, are being caught at all of the area crossings. Fish will become more numerous and of larger sizes as the season progresses. Large flounder should be available around some of the ocean wrecks like those at the Triangle Reef, the Tower Reef, and at the Brass Spike. Trigger fish will still be active on the coastal wrecks but any sea bass you catch must be released. When anglers have been able to get offshore, tuna catches have been fantastic in the area of The Point. There will be plenty of boats out after them this week.
Research by Dr. John Graves, of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, showed a tremendous difference in hook-and-release mortality of white marlin with different hook types used. J-hooks resulted in a 35% mortality while circle hooks caused almost no mortality. These results led to changes in regulations to protect these fish. These regulations also caused popular blue marlin, natural bait/lure/J-hook combinations to be illegal during billfish tournaments. Dr. Graves has been doing another study where large numbers of blue marlin were fitted with pop-up satellite tags after being caught with either these combination baits with J-hooks or natural baits rigged with circle hooks. There is still a lot of data to look at but the early results are in: blue marlin are not white marlin. Very low mortality was found with both bait classes showing that there is no reason baits like the Ilander/horse ballyhoo combination should not be used during marlin tournaments. We will see what the fishery managers do with this new information. For more information on Dr. Graves and his research, visit: http://www.vims.edu/about/directory/faculty/graves_je.php .
From now until springtime, we will hear reports of large speckled trout being caught at the area’s hot-water discharges. Especially at the one in the Elizabeth River. This is truly a tremendous trophy fishery. Steps are being considered to protect this fishery. Anything from making these areas no gill net zones during the cold months to greatly reducing individual bag limits during this time of year. If you have any thoughts on what, if anything, should be done, discuss it among your fishing club and let your representatives on VMRC’s Finfish Management Advisory Committee know what you think: http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/fmac/fmac.shtm .
The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Committee will be meeting early next month. This is the organization which runs the citation and state record programs. Now is the time to let the members of this committee know of any suggested changes to the program. Changes like adding or removing species eligible for citation or state record consideration or raising or lowering minimum qualifying weights for certain species. The members of this committee can be found at: http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/swftac.shtm .
Jerry Thrash brings us these reports from the middle of the bay:
Big Spot have been biting well for much of the past week. They are available in the Rappahannock near Urbanna, at Butlers Hole and at the Spike (3R). The waters off Gwynn Island 23-28' deep have also produced well. The fish are biting on bloodworms and Fish Bites. There are still some big croaker moving down the Rappahannock. Opening day striper fishermen did best if they chummed to structure where schoolie stripers were available on eels, small spot and on cut menhaden. Schoolie bluefish are mixed in the chum line and are being caught by trollers targeting schoolie stripers. Stripers are also being caught by light tackle fishermen along shore structure in creeks and along river banks.
Charlie Taylor also brings us these freshwater fishing reports: POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Smallmouth bass action is excellent around Fletchers' Boat House on live crayfish. From Chain Bridge to 14th Street Bridge, along the Virginia shoreline, crankbaits are taking most of the fish. The Kennedy Center seawall is holding a good number of quality fish for anglers fishing
crankbaits and plastics. Bridge pilings, wood cover and dropoffs are holding most of the largemouth throughout the city. Crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms are the better choice of baits. Crappie are available throughout the river, orienting to submerged brush in 10-15 feet of water. Small minnows and tiny jigs are the preferred bait. Catfish action has slowed considerably, with little success reported. Stripers are available around Fletcher's Boathouse, National Airport, 14th Street
Bridge pilings and the National War College Wall. Bucktails, Kastmaster Spoons and Rat-L-Traps are the more productive baits.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Bass are holding on dropoffs and around submerged wood structure on the main river. Crankbaits, plastic worms, and jigs are taking these fish. In the creeks, most of the fish are found from the mouth to the secondary points and along the creek channels. Grass beds which still have green grass, are holding largemouth bass and pickerel. These fish are taking topwater frogs, Senkos and floating worms.hallow gravel banks are also holding fish. Tiny Tubes in 1/16 ounce size, small crankbaits and small spinnerbaits will take these fish. Small crankbaits, retrieved parallel to the lily pad edges, will take some bass. The most consistent pattern for bass is to fish 3" black or smoke/metalflake plastic grubs or Carolina-rigged plastic worms in 8-15 feet of water on points or dropoffs.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW ROUTE 301 - School Stripers are marauding baitfish on the shoals below Monroe Bay and around the grassy islands and points throughout the lower Potomac River. Sassy Shads, Rat-L-Traps and topwater baits are producing well. Flyrodders are doing well with Lefty's Deceivers and Clouser Minnows in red and white. Lower tributary creeks are off and on, with best action coming on swift running tides at sunrise and sunset. Fish bridge pilings, points and dropoffs with Rebel Fastrak Minnows, Rat-L-Traps, bucktails and Sassy Shads.
OCCOQUAN RIVER - The grass bed at the mouth of the river is still holding lots of fish. Topwater baits, Senkos and spinnerbaits are the better choice. Some bass are available around the wood pilings below the Route One Bridge. Crankbaiting or flippin' small plastic worms will take these fish. Bass are
also being taken on main river points, adjacent to dropoffs, along the rock wall and around wood blowdowns. Better choices of baits include small crankbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic lures. Crappie are schooled around submerged brush and boat docks. Small minnows are the ticket. Small yellow
perch are schooling on the flat below the Route One Bridge. Jigging small Silver Buddies in gold colors will take these fish.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Fishing is good. Largemouth bass to five pounds are being caught by anglers using jig 'n pig and slow-rolled spinnerbaits in the upper reaches of the lake, particularly in the Bull Run arm. The fish are concentrated around blowdowns in 2-10 feet of water. Downlake, the fish are
located on secondary points in 15-20 feet of water. Most successful anglers are using jig 'n pig. Water temperatures are ranging around 60-65 degrees. Crappie fishing is fair with lots of small fish being taken from the fishing pier.
BURKE LAKE - Few reports of anglers on the lake. Those who are out report catching bass, crappie, walleye and yellow perch. Most of the fish are being taken on live minnows. Some bass are taking jig 'n pig baits, fished on dropoffs in 8-12 feet of water.
POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Lots of smallmouth activity on small jigs, tiny crankbaits and slowly retrieved spinners, with the deeper pools holding the larger fish. Some better areas are just below Point of Rocks, just above White's Ferry and around Edward's Ferry. Crappie are schooled, off and on, at the mouths of Goose Creek and Broad Run. Catfish action is very slow.
LAKE BRITTLE - Bass fishing has been good. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits and live minnows are taking bass to 4.5 pounds. Bluegills are biting well, along with a few catfish.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking live bait and tiny crankbaits in the deeper pools. Water levels are stable and leaves are abundant. In the tidal sections, crappie are schooled and biting well. Bass anglers are catching good fish below the Route 301 Bridge. Plastic worms
and jig 'n pig are the better baits. Blue catfish, to 26 pounds, are biting on cut bait in the river channel. Stripers are biting, but most are small, at both the Port Royal and the Tappahannock Bridges.
MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Catfish and crappie are the main fare on the Mattaponi, although some smallmouth bass are taking Rat-L-Traps in the extreme upper end of the river. Pamunkey anglers report catfish and white perch on peeler crab baits at Lester Manor, bass to three pounds on Teeny Craws, plastic worms and spinnerbaits near Williams Landing, and catfish, white perch and some pickerel around the Route 360 Bridge. Stripers are spread throughout the river, from Aylett to below West Point, but no concentrations or good catches are reported.
SHENANDOAH RIVER - Water temperature is in the mid to high 50's. Excellent smallmouth bass fishing for those who can put up with the annoyance of floating leaves. Small crankbaits and plastic grubs are the hot baits and Bixler Ferry Bridge is the hot area.
LAKE ANNA - Bass are holding on main lake and secondary points in 4-12 feet of water, around boat docks and some bridges. Better baits are large crankbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic grubs. Stripers are active, particularly at the Splits, Jetts Island, Stubbs Bridge, Dike Three and Rose Valley. Live
shad, Sassy Shads, Storm Swim-Baits, Cordell Redfins and Hopkins jigging spoons are the better choices of baits. Fishing is good for crappie, and walleye are cooperative, but they are holding in deeper water. Best bet for the novice is to fish live jumbo minnows on main lake points. Lots of big fish are being caught in this manner.
JAMES RIVER - Smallmouth bass are hitting well above the city, with a good many trophy fish being taken. Anglers should expect stained water and lots of leaves. Despite this, lots of fish are being caught. Plastic grubs and live bait are the preferred baits. Tidal sections of the river are producing good sized blue and flathead catfish on cut bait and live minnows in the main river channel, and bass on plastic worms, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits in the creeks and around main river wood structure. Crappie are biting well in the barge pits around Dutch Gap. Live minnows and tiny jigs are taking the fish. Stripers are on the move throughout the river, taking almost any large bait thrown into the water. Check almost any large wood structure, with current swirling around it. Better areas are the Benjamin Harrison Bridge and wood
pilings around the power lines at Sturgeon Point.
LAKE CHESDIN - Bass and crappie are cooperating nicely, with bass, 5-7 pounds, being caught on spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms, while crappie are taking small minnows. Some nice sized stripers and an occasional pickerel are also being caught.
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Lots of bass, to five pounds, are being taken on small crankbaits and plastic worms, fished around wood structure, adjacent to dying lily pads. Live minnows are accounting for some large bass, as well as crappie, yellow perch, bream and catfish. Stripers are being caught on Rat-L-Traps and topwater lures, particularly near the dam.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Lots of action for largemouth bass, pickerel and bowfin on live minnows. Most of the bass range 2-6 pounds, while the pickerel run to over four pounds and bowfin tip the scales at over ten pounds. Large, slow-trolled spinnerbaits are also accounting for some large bass. Yellow perch and
crappie are also being seen in the catches. Most of the fish are being caught on live minnows, fished on points and over grassbeds.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Bass, 1-5 pounds, and pickerel to four pounds, are the main fare. Deep running crankbaits and live minnows are the preferred baits. Crappie are also biting well, on live minnows and tiny jigs. One report says nice bluegills were caught on fly rod poppers.
BACK BAY - Very few fishermen out on the Bay. Those who are fishing are catching small bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. Crappie fishing has improved in West Neck Creek. Fishing the North Landing River and Currituck Sound is producing some good bass for those anglers who dare to brave the wakes from cruisers on the Intercoastal Waterway.
SUFFOLK LAKES - Western Branch reports shellcrackers, crappie and yellow perch providing most of the action on worms and small minnows. Stripers are coming on, with Sassy Shads, bucktails and live bait taking fish to 11 pounds, with the majority in the 5-7 pound class. Burnt Mills is reporting the same, with some larger bass being taken. Lake Prince is giving up some stripers, to 16 pounds, along with the shellcrackers and bass. Crappie and pickerel action is good at Meade and Cohoon, while anglers at Lake Meade are also catching some large bass. Lakes Smith and Whitehurst are reporting good fishing. Walleye, white and yellow perch, bass, pickerel and crappie are all taking baits aggressively. Most of the walleye and crappie are taking live minnows, while small to medium bass are taking spinnerbaits and plastic worms.
BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Most of the bass are in the slot, with an occasional five pounder being taken. Crappie, topping one pound, are seen daily, but bluegill catches are down. Live minnows are the better choice of bait.
LAKE GASTON - Best action is down lake. Poe's, Pretty and Lee's Creeks are good areas to fish. Bass can be caught by crankbaiting main channel points and fishing jig 'n pig around rocks and stumps in 4-10 feet of water. Best crankbait colors are shad and silver. Uplake, Pop-R's and twitch worms are taking bass in the dying hydrilla beds, while crankbaits and Carolina-rigged worms are taking them on the outside edges of the grass. Early and late in the day, some large bass are being taken on topwater baits, fished in the back ends of coves, where there are leaves on the water. Stripers are being taken, trolling bucktails and Cordell Hot Spots in the main river channel. The fish are suspended in 16-20 feet of water. Crappie anglers are having good success fishing small minnows over brushpiles and solid structures.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Bass may be caught shallow in 2-3 feet of water, medium in 5-6 feet of water or by fishing deep in 11-12 feet of water. Shallow fish are holding in backs of pockets on rockpiles. Use shallow running or rattling crankbaits with a high speed retrieve. Medium depth fish are taking spider
jigs and grubs on points or wood structure. The deep fish are relating to normal cover such as humps, road beds and ledges near dropoffs. Crappie anglers are loading coolers, using small minnows over brushpiles and around bridge pilings. Schools of breaking stripers are being found between Buoy 16
and the Clarksville Bridge, and at the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Trolling Cordell Redfins and Rebel FasTrak minnows along the river channel is producing some good catches of stripers, but don't be surprised if you end up with a 30 pound flathead catfish. White bass to four pounds, are taking trolled Rooster Tails and pearl color Short A's around the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Most main lake coves also have a few white bass in them. These fish are suckers for tiny white crankbaits and in-line spinners.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Anglers are catching a few fish. Live shad, bucktails and Cordell Redfins are the best striper baits. Impressive stringers of crappie are also being caught, along with a few largemouth bass. Striper anglers should fish points and dropoffs. Bass are in shallow water, cruising the banks and points. Live shad and deep diving crankbaits are good bets, although some good bass are taking topwater baits on the points. Smallmouth bass are still located in 30-50 feet of water, taking tube baits and plastic worms. There are lots of bait fish on the lake and schools of bass and stripers are feeding under the bait fish.
LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Weather fronts have affected the fish. Fishing is improving, with largemouth and white bass being taken on live minnows and jigs. Crappie are still biting, along with lots of redeyed bass. Stripers have quit feeding.
LAKE MOOMAW - Action is limited to crappie, 1-2 pounds, bass and a few brown trout. Bass anglers are catching fish on points and around the standing timber. Live bait and jig 'n pig are the most productive baits, although topwater lures are taking fish at night. The brown trout are beginning their spawn, evidently near the Fortney Ramp, as a few keepers have been caught there.
PHILPOTT LAKE - Fair largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye fishing, with a few limits of fish. Most of the fish are holding at 15-20 feet and are taking live minnows and crayfish. Crappie anglers are bringing in good numbers of fish, caught on live minnows. Best areas are Fairstone Cove and above the Union Bridge. The Smith River is receiving heavy fishing pressure, with resultant catches improving in quantity, if not size.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Good fishing. Crappie and bass are available on live minnows, on points and at creek mouths.
FLANNAGAN RESERVOIR - Shad schools are located in the middle of the lake, where schools of smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish and trout are chasing them. Lots of large bass are being caught. Early mornings and late evenings see the better catches.
CLAYTOR LAKE - Striper action in the Peak Creek area is good on live minnows and alewives. Patient anglers are taking limits. White bass are schooled and taking small jigs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie action is good on live minnows. Catfish action is steady for 10-14 pound fish. Bass anglers are taking a few
good fish each.
NEW RIVER - Few anglers are out, but those who do venture forth are catching bass and catfish on live minnows. Some small muskie are being caught.
CLINCH RIVER - Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good, with minnows producing the better catches. Catfish are mixed in the catches.
TROUT STREAMS - The best trout areas are Big Stoney in Shenandoah County; Cedar Creek, West of Strasburg; and the Bull Pasture River, close to Williamsville. Small streams in the George Washington National Forest are producing good trout fishing. Hares ear nymphs and Mr. Rapidan flies are some of the better flies to use. Dardevle spoons and #0 Mepps spinners are good for spin fishermen. In the Hot Springs area, there are some late hatches of blue wing olives, midges and black caddis flies. Bluewing olive in size #16 and #18, cream and olive midges and black caddis flies will be the best to use.
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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
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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
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