a mile or two of the beach! (Striped bass fishing beyond three nautical miles is illegal.) Much of the better striped bass action has been from Rudee Inlet north to 4A buoy. Inside Chesapeake Bay, anglers must immediately release all rockfish they catch. Bluefin tuna fishing has been most productive south of Rudee Inlet, particularly two to six miles off False Point. In addition to enjoying and marveling at the spectacular fishing that’s been available this winter, anglers and others are also trying to better understand what’s going on. Is it the mild weather and warm water, availability of bait, or other factors that have been attracting and holding epic numbers of super-sized stripers and tuna? Most of the striped bass have been hooked by anglers trolling deep with large lures.
Virginia freshwater anglers have been enjoying the mild, spring-like weather and they too have caught fish. Big blue catfish have been pulled from the James River, while lakes and reservoirs have provided largemouth bass and striped bass action. Panfishermen have had fun with crappie. The bite for all of these species has been inconsistent at times, but it is only February after all.
(Photo: New Tidal Fish poster John caught this beautiful 148.2-pound bluefin on Sunday, January 29 aboard the Sea-Duction with Captain Neal Taylor. “We left Lynnhaven at 7 a.m. heading south. Captain Taylor advised us that we will have a better chance to hunt for tuna than striped bass, and he was right. We fished with him a few times before and he has never let us down. We had four rods out. About 1 p.m. one of the rods started smoking. We all took turns fighting the fish. After a one-hour fight, we got the fish close to the boat, gaffed it, and the fish was in the box.”)
Fishing Shows, Fishing Seminars, and other Fishing Events.
Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association 3rd Annual Fishing Flea Market/Swap Meet
When: March 10
Where: Hickory Ruritan Club in Chesapeake
Details: For more information or to reserve tables,
call Butch Pierce at (757) 287-0330.
From IGFA Virginia Beach Representative Julie Ball:
Let’s go ahead and get this straight. Yes, it’s February. With 70-degree days, and coastal water temperatures still hovering around 48-degrees, it may be easy to forget sometimes. This has certainly been an epic winter season, with huge striped bass staging for the winter off the beach, and big bluefin tuna meandering along the shorelines in no hurry to leave. And why should they? The bait is thick, and they have plenty of company. Even whales are making news with colossal shows for the whale watcher’s delight.
Striped bass: Virginia’s favorite game fish. The last season that the weather stayed warm enough to host a rockfish population into the winter off Virginia Beach was 2009, so we were overdue for our turn. Now charter boats are booked out and local businesses are bustling. Although the ocean rockfish bite is not on fire as it was a week ago, nice fish are still around. It is suspected that some of the schools are wondering past the 3-mile line and just off limits within the bay. But for those who hit it right, anglers are still lucking into big fish, with some around 40 and 50 pounds. The latest reports indicate the rockfish are preferring deeper trolled lures such as Mojo-style rigs on the bottom, and parachute or shad-style trailers. Boats are encountering rockfish from the Eastern Shore down to Corolla. Remember, if you decide to travel to Carolina waters to target striped bass, you need a North Carolina fishing license. Big fish are available in the bay, where more anglers are opting for catch-and-release action lately.
The bluefin tuna craze is still exciting anglers just as much as it is perplexing marine biologists. These highly-migratory fish seem content to stay put, and this week there are even rumors of tuna caught within bay waters. No one can recall this type of phenomenon ever occurring to this degree in the past, and the speculation behind the rationale for this trend is all over the place. The Senior Fisheries Manager at VMRC, Joe Grist, surmises that “the tuna are clearly here following the masses of bait.” He recalls a similar event occurring back in 2004, but it was very brief. “We experienced a mild winter in 2004, but the tuna showing was nothing like this year’s. In 2004, the bluefin were holding at around 5 miles out instead of right up on the beach, and people didn’t talk about it much.” We may not know why, but the bluefin tuna are here now, and Virginia is more than happy to host their winter visit. On some days the tuna fishing is better than the striped bass fishing, with up to a dozen or so bluefin caught each day this week. Most tuna are ranging around 150 pounds, but a few are pushing to nearly 200 pounds. The top tuna lures are still rockfish rigs pulled on offshore combos, with white the best color. A few fish are also hitting trolled ballyhoo on Islanders.
Speckled trout and school-sized striped bass are still available in the popular spots along the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake. Although the action is off and on, nice specks are most active near the Hot Ditch and cove areas. Some of these fish are super-sized, with a few specks tipping the scales to over 11 pounds this week. Trout are mostly hitting lures, with the proven Mirrolure working well. Live baiters are struggling, while trollers are engaging a few strikes and hook-ups. School sized striped bass are also plentiful all over the river, offering a good fight on light tackle.
When anglers can pull themselves away from the oceanfront fishing scene, tautog are a good option. The bay water temperatures are still well within range for tog activity. The folks at Ocean’s East 2 report that some fish to over 13 pounds came from lower bay structures this week. Blue crabs work well, but they are very difficult to find right now. Some anglers are using alternative baits such as frozen crabs, clams, and mussels.
Boats venturing out to scour the deeper ocean floors will find limits of nice blueline tilefish up to around 17 pounds. Black sea bass will also hit your bait, but they are out of season. Although spiny dogfish are also in the same vicinities, persistent anglers are also finding barrel fish and blackbellied rosefish mixed in with the tilefish. Other species such as grouper and wreckfish can also provide some variety along the canyon walls. Other than deep-dropping trips, there is not much interest expressed by anglers to run offshore right now with the nearby bluefin tuna bite going on.
Ken Neill provides this report from tidal Virginia:
I tagged a tautog on the Westmoreland nearly eight years ago. It was just recaptured on the Cape Henry Wreck. This lucky fish was re-released with the tag still in place. If you can drag yourself away from the rockfish and bluefin tuna, anchor up on the wreck and see if you can catch this critter again. Tautog are active on structures near the mouth of the bay and along the coast. The farther you go offshore, the more sea bass you will have to weed through to get to the tautog. Rockfish are what most are fishing for. This mild winter has kept a large mass of fish up the coast and up in the bay. Catch-and-release fishing for striped bass inside the bay is legal (as opposed to outside the 3 nautical mile line where you are not supposed to target them at all, even for catch-and-release) and some anglers are enjoying this less crowded action in the bay. Most of the striped bass in open waters are being found from Rudee Inlet on north with most of the fleet finding fish from Cape Henry to the 4A buoy at the mouth of the bay. Bluefin tuna continue to be caught along the ocean front. Most recent action has been south of Rudee Inlet with False Cape being a good area from two to six miles off of the beach. Anywhere along the ocean front, especially where you find whales and bait, is a likely location to encounter a bluefin tuna this week. If you venture outside three nautical miles for tuna, make sure that you do not have any rockfish on board. Many specifically targeting these tuna will not keep any rockfish at all, even if they are fishing inside open waters as a bluefin hook-up two miles off of the beach may find you well outside the three nautical line by the time you finally subdue the beast. Speckled trout continue to be caught in the Elizabeth River in the Hot Ditch area though the bite is not as hot as it was last month. Boats running offshore are finding good blueline tilefish action along the 50-fathom curve, and mixed in have been sea bass and dogfish. Offshore boats out of the Outer Banks are finding some yellowfin tuna along with an occasional bluefin. There is some blackfin jigging action out of Hatteras.
Following are some specific reports provided by Ken Neill III:
Jan. 28-30, we fished for bluefin tuna each day. We caught and released about eight rockfish and hooked two bluefin tuna. We had another bite or two that did not come tight. Wes Blow fought one of the tuna and got it to the boat. It was about 130 pounds or so. That fish was on a white Mojo. Capt. JT Hale “fought” the second tuna. This one was full grown. He really just held onto the rod as he watched the line disappear from the Tiagra 80W with 30 pounds of drag. That fish broke off at the leader just as we had cleared lines and were stating to chase it. It was on a pink/white Ilander/ballyhoo combo off of the outrigger.
Jan. 29, Capt. Rick Wineman fished for bluefin tuna without a tuna bite. They did catch some rockfish that they released.
Jan 29, Capt. Herb Gordon fished south of Rudee Inlet for bluefin tuna. Fishing right along the beach, they managed to fight and land a nice bluefin tuna. This is their third bluefin landed this winter out of seven they have fought.
Jan. 28, David Brabrand fished along the oceanfront for tuna and rockfish. They did not catch any tuna and only caught one rockfish. That one fish was worth the trip as it weighed in at 49 pounds.
Virginia Freshwater Fishing Reports
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. – Bass are available along most drop-offs, and have been taken on plastic grubs, Silver Buddies and jig 'n pigs. Work the baits very slowly from shallow to deep water, paying particular attention to the lip of the drop-off. This is where the hits should come. Some better areas are Blue Plains, The Spoils, the rip-rap above Columbia Island Lagoon entrance, 14th Street Bridge pilings, Washington Sailing Marina and the War College Wall in Washington Channel. Some walleye activity is reported on the upstream point of Three Sisters Islands, as well as at the base of Great Falls and the mouth of Difficult Run, in Mather Gorge. Shore anglers may want to try Alexandria Power Plant for some big catfish, when the plant is operating. Cut shad or live minnows work very well in the warm-water discharge. Anglers working the discharge from Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary, at Gravelly Point, are catching occasional walleye on outgoing tides. Better baits are live minnows, silver buddies and plastic grubs. The bridges at the mouth of Four Mile Run are holding bass. Shore anglers are taking them on Rat-L-Traps, Silver Buddies and small crankbaits. Take plenty, as you will lose a bunch to the hardware cloth protecting the banks.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE – Drop-offs adjacent to shallow sand or gravel banks, are holding bass. These are available along the creek channels, as well as on the main river. Best baits are live minnows, plastic Power Grubs and Silver Buddies. Fish these baits from shallow to deep water, paying close attention to the lip of the drop-off.
OCCOQUAN RIVER – Yellow perch have not yet appeared in the river in force. Bass may be taken throughout the river on small plastic grubs, jig 'n pig and live minnows. These baits are best fished on drop-offs, adjacent to bank structure. This method should produce good numbers of bass as they cruise the drop-off, searching for food. The boat docks and rock wall on the northern shore of the river are also holding largemouth bass for boat anglers. Use an exposed hook where possible, as the strikes will be very light and hooking the fish will be difficult. Crappie fishing is fair on minnows, around brush piles and boat docks on the southern side of the river.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR – Some bass activity on the points, particularly on the upper end of the lake. Slow-roll large spinnerbaits or suspending crankbaits down the points, toward the channel. Plastic grubs and jig 'n pigs will also take the fish. Crappie are generally suspended over creek channels, at the 12 to 15 foot-level. Small minnows or jigs will take coolers of these tasty fish.
BURKE LAKE – Fishing has been slow, but fish are moving. Pay particular attention to drop-offs adjacent to brush, vegetation or points. Live minnows, small Hopkins spoons, plastic grubs and Silver Buddies are the better choice of baits. Yellow perch, catfish, crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass are the normal catch, although an occasional walleye or muskie is taken.
LAKE ANNA – Bass fishing is poor to fair, with fish in the 3- to 7-pound range taking jig 'n pigs and live minnows in 5-10 feet of water, near cover. Larger fish are being taken near the dam and in the upper end of the lake. Striper action has slowed considerably, but some are still being caught downstream of Sturgeon Creek, on Hopkins spoons and bucktails, and around Dike 3 on Cordell Redfins. Crappie and yellow perch may be found around the fish structures and in the creek channels. Small minnows, Hopkins spoons and plastic grubs are taking these fish.
JAMES RIVER – Large minnows, fished on the bottom of the river channel in the bends, are producing good numbers of large channel and blue catfish. Walleye are also hitting large minnows and brightly-colored jigs. Largemouth bass and crappie action is excellent in the barge pits. Brown/orange jig 'n pigs and smoke grubs are the better baits for bass, while crappie are hitting small minnows and jigs. Trophy smallmouth bass are holding in the deeper holes above Bosher's Dam and around Columbia. Live bait and jig 'n pigs are the best choices.
LAKE GASTON – Largemouth bass are hitting crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in 4 to 6 feet of water just inside the feeder creeks and shallow coves. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits are also taking some large bass, particularly in clearer water, like that in Pea Hill Creek. Crappie fishing is excellent. Striper activity is centered on the creek mouths, and below the dam, in Roanoke Rapids Reservoir. The big fish are feeding on the schools of shad. Follow the gulls for the best action.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE – Bass fishing is fair, with small fish being taken on jig 'n pigs and crankbaits in 6 to 12 feet of water on points. Larger fish are half-way back in the coves, feeding in late afternoons and evenings. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits are taking some good bass from rip-rap throughout the lake. Rat-L-Traps are also taking some fish. Crappie fishing is good, with the fish being taken from brushpiles and bridge pilings in 12 to15 feet of water. Some stripers are being caught, mainly on old river channel bends and in Rudds Creek.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE – Bass and striper fishing is fair with 2- to 7-pound bass caught on jig 'n pigs and live minnows in 7 to 12 feet of water off points. Striper fishing is also fair, with some medium-sized fish being taken in the Backwater arm of the lake. Most of the fish are being caught on bucktails and live shad, although Rebel and Bomber Long-A's are producing some stripers on top, as dawn breaks. Crappie anglers are pleased with the catches of these tasty fish. Live minnows and tiny jigs are taking the fish around brushpiles and boat docks.
That is all the Virginia fishing reports for this week. If you get out and catch some fish this week snap a few fishing pictures and post a report on Virginia Fishing Forum or the Northern Neck Virginia Fishing Forum. Until next week, tight lines!
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