A definite downturn in the bluefin tuna bite last week, but big striped bass continue to be caught in the ocean and Chesapeake Bay. pounder, were weighed in. While bluefin were scarce, whales remain in abundance along the Virginia coast, delighting those who have ventured out on whale-watching boats. When striped bass are biting, many fish are typically caught from Sandbridge to Cape Henry, and from
Fisherman Island to False Cape. Chesapeake Bay continues to hold stripers to 48 inches, with fish caught at Plantation and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Wrecks, rocks and other structure in the lower bay and ocean continue to yield tog. Some speckled trout have been pulled from the Elizabeth River. Offshore deep droppers have hooked tilefish. On the freshwater fishing front, largemouth bass are on the move in Lake Anna, where walleye and crappie have also been caught. In the James River, anglers have enjoyed heavyweight action with immense 40-pound blue cats.
(Photo: Tidal Fish Super Subscriber Jet Ski Brian titled his post on the Virginia Forum “I Don’t Mind Getting Crapped On,” but he did offer this condition: “only when I am reeling in big striped bass with thousands of birds diving all around me.” During a recent trip out of Rudee Inlet, Brian trolled near Cape Henry yet while he marked fish, he did not have any bites. “The whole time I was trolling there was a steady flow of gannets heading south with determined looks in their eyes. I finally gave in and picked up and ran south. I ended up off of Sandbridge in a flock of thousands of gannets diving all around me. As soon as I put in it was ‘Fish On!’” Brian trolled up eight hefty stripers in 40 minutes. “Twice, I had two on at the same time on a Tomic Mojo combo.” Brian said the birds were so thick that “It was raining poop but I did not care because I was having a blast.”)
Fishing Shows, Fishing Seminars, and other Fishing Events
March 3
Northern Virginia CCA Chapter 12th Annual Dinner and Auction
Shriner’s Kena Temple in Fairfax, VA, 6 p.m.
$50, includes one-year CCA membership or renewal (VA and MD CCA)
March 10
Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association 3rd Annual Flea Market
Hickory Ruritan Club, Chesapeake, VA
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Vendors are sought
Call (757) 287-0330
March 10
Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association 3rd Annual Fishing Flea Market/Swap Meet
Hickory Ruritan Club in Chesapeake
For more information or to reserve tables, call Butch Pierce at (757) 287-0330.
Ken Neill reports in from tidal Virginia:
Virginia’s bluefin bite might be over. I have not heard of any catches since our fish last week. Previously, every time that I have thought it was over, more tuna are caught. More bluefin are being found off Oregon Inlet and Hatteras so the fish may have moved south. Still, I would not be surprised if they start crashing our striped bass baits again (or any more surprised than we have been all winter). The striped bass bite has been hit-or-miss. It is fantastic if you can time it right. In open waters, Cape Henry to Sandbridge remains the area to be when the action turns on. The bay is full of rockfish that are providing some very good catch-and-release action. Fish are being caught along the CBBT, the Plantation area, along the Baltimore Channel and up in the rivers like the York and James. Tautog remain active in the lower bay and on the coastal wrecks. More anglers will start to target tautog now that the striped bass action has become more sporadic. Speckled trout are available in the Elizabeth River in the Hot Ditch area though the bite is not on fire. Tilefish are being caught around the 50-fathom curve when a boat makes it out there to try. Boats running offshore out of the Outer Banks are catching some bluefin and yellowfin tuna depending on the day. Hatteras boats are also catching some dolphin, wahoo, blackfin tuna and the occasional blue marlin.
From IGFA Virginia Beach Representative Julie Ball:
The El Niño effect of 2012 continues to grace the Mid-Atlantic region with moderate weather. The push of cold air recently barely made a dent in the coastal water temperature, which is still holding above 45 degrees along the shores of Virginia Beach. But it did seem to scatter the fish a bit. Yet with thick schools of bait still adorning the oceanfront, the fish are likely to congregate again soon. The exceptional whale activity off the beach is still earning a lot of attention from whale watchers. Whale watching boats are packed with folks crowding along railings to watch their graceful displays.
Although the striped bass bite is sporadic this week, anglers are still locating some nice fish on the troll. Beehives of birds are leading boats to feeding fish spread out from Fisherman Island to False Cape in anywhere from 20 to 45 feet of water. Most of these rockfish are ranging from 25 to 40 pounds. Remember to stay within the 3-mile demarcation while chasing the schools, as it is illegal to possess or target striped bass outside of this zone. Within bay waters, striper hunters are partaking in some good catch-and-release action with big fish coming from Plantation Light to Cape Charles. Anglers are trolling and jigging, with many fish pushing to around 46 to 48 inches this week. For light-tackle topwater casters, schoolies are active under working birds in bay waters and around lower bay structure, and at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Bluefin tuna are still around. One tuna hit the scales at nearly 130 pounds this week. The local conditions are still good for bluefin, so the bite could rebound. Speckled trout is always a favorite this time of year. Captain David Hester of Fishy Business Charters reported that anglers are finding slower action in the Elizabeth River, but most are nice fish. Speckled trout are very scattered in the river right now, and it’s a new game each day. With the warm-water discharge not forthcoming lately, the Hot Ditch action is very slow. David also claims there are no big fish in the cove. Most anglers are sitting in the cove babysitting their live baits, with a few 20 to 25 inchers to show. Anglers putting in their time to look for fish and working the right areas are catching specks averaging around 7 pounds using twitch-style lures with a slow retrieve. A few gators pushing to around 10 pounds are also coming from the same areas. David and his partner Mark Spencer are on the verge of releasing a new lure they developed called the “Super Mullet 95” that they believe will trump all other trout lures. Although there is not a lot of interest as of yet, tautog are available along the CBBT and on lower bay structure. Tog are also becoming more active on inshore and offshore wrecks, but the stricter regulations this year may deter boats from venturing out to deeper water. The limit is now three fish per person at 16 inches or more. Crabs work well for bait, but with crabs scarce, folks are using alternative baits such as clams and mussels. Some keeper flounder are also scattered about some of these deeper wrecks.
When weather is stable enough to get to deeper water, those who venture out can expect excellent blueline tile fishing with fish to over 13 pounds hitting the docks lately. Big sea bass are also in these areas, but they are illegal to keep. Closer to the canyon’s edge, other deepwater species are active such as golden tilefish, blackbellied rosefish, and a variety of big grouper.
Virginia Freshwater Fishing Reports
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. – This past weekend saw very few anglers on the river, and reported catches were not heavy. White perch are starting to move up the river. Largemouth bass are moving into the pre-spawn stage. This means that they are holding in 15 to 20 feet of water and moving up on shallow banks or flats to feed. Jig 'n pigs, small plastic grubs and Silver Buddies are the more successful baits. Some of the more productive areas are Blue Plains, the Spoils, main river bridge pilings, Washington Sailing Marina docks and Columbia Island Lagoon. Crappie are schooled and moving into shallow water. Live minnows and tiny jigs are the preferred baits. Yellow perch are being caught on live minnows and plastic grubs on the flat behind Roosevelt Island. Outflows from the Alexandria power plant and Blue Plains are attracting schools of gizzard shad, followed by channel catfish and largemouth bass.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE – Bass are being caught on main river points on jig 'n pig baits cast into the shallows and worked down the drop-offs. Plastic grubs, retrieved in a swimming motion, are taking smaller fish. Larger creeks are not producing as well as the main river; however jig 'n pig baits, retrieved down drop-offs on outgoing tides, are accounting for some bass. Crappie are schooled tight and holding in 8 to 12 feet of water, adjacent to shallow gravel banks, with good cover. Live minnows and plastic grubs are the ticket.
OCCOQUAN RIVER – Yellow perch are not in evidence in the river, despite the commercial hoop nets put there to catch them. At least one angler is working to get VDGIF to classify yellow perch as a game fish, allowing them to place limits on both commercial and recreational catches. The boat docks and rock wall on the northern shore of the river are holding largemouth bass. Fishing the drop-offs here will produce some bass. The key is patience. A jig 'n pig, plastic grub or live minnow cast into the shallow water and moved very slowly into the deeper water, will entice the bass into striking. Use an exposed hook where possible, as the strikes will be very light and hooking fish will be difficult.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR – Most bass anglers will be concentrating on main lake points and humps, while crappie anglers will be looking for brushpiles in creek channels.
BURKE LAKE – Although the marina does not open until May, ramps are open to anglers with boats. This weekend should see a few anglers and a couple of good fish. Muskie are on the prowl, with live jumbo minnows and large trolled baits being the keys. Panfish are taking small minnows and nightcrawlers.
LAKE ANNA – Big fish are on the move and are beginning to feed. Live bait is at its best now for trophy bass. Lots of fish are being graphed in 3 to 20 feet of water. They are making their way into the shallows. The water temperature throughout the lake is in the low to mid 40's. Shad-imitating crankbaits, jigs and grubs are taking good numbers of bass, but live jumbo shiners are producing best. Walleye action is good throughout the lake. Gitzit grubs and live shiners are the best baits for the walleye. Crappie are schooled up and taking small shiners and jigs. Best action is found under the bridges and suspended over creek channels. Yellow and white perch are found on drop-offs adjacent to deep points. These fish are taking small minnows, jigs, and Hopkins spoons. Striper action is fair to good for those chasing the shad schools around the 208 bridge and Dike Three.
JAMES RIVER – Lots of reports of catfish to 40 pounds around the Dutch Gap power plant and a few large smallmouth bass in the upper stretches of the river. Yellow perch and crappie are being caught with consistency around Dutch Gap. In the lower tidal sections, Upper Chippokes Creek is giving up some good largemouth bass.
LAKE GASTON – Bass fishing is picking up, with a number of fish in the 5- to 9-pound class being taken in the northern coves of the lake. Best lures are spinnerbaits with large blades, rattling lipless crankbaits, and shad-colored crankbaits. The main lake water temperature is in the 40s, but some northern coves are posting temperatures in the low 50s. These are the areas that are giving up the larger fish. Crappie are aggressive once found, but finding them is the trick. Check main creek channels and bends for suspended schools. Stripers are being caught at the lower end of the lake on live shad and bucktails.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE – Crappie fishing is excellent, with tasty fish being found in 3 to 8 feet of water. Bass anglers are finding some fish along the banks with crankbaits. Shallow humps in the lake, adjacent to deep water, are producing good catches of bass, mostly on Silver Buddies and deep-diving crankbaits. Carolina-rigged baits are also taking some bass.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE – Fishing success is off and on, but some nice stripers are being caught in the larger coves on live shad and trolled Mann's Stretch 25s. Musky are taking bucktails, while smallmouth bass are being caught on spinnerbaits. Crappie fishing is good on small minnows and jigs in 2 to 10 feet of water. Largemouth bass are taking jig 'n pig and jigged Hopkins Spoons.
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