Although fall marks the end of the saltwater fishing season, fishing certainly isn’t over for the year. With some great weather on the horizon, anglers will surely be on the go. And with the sizzling billfish bite offshore and excellent inshore prospects, anglers will have no problem finding some action.
(Photo: Tidal Fish Subscriber xpuha reports catching this nice 50 1/2 inch red drum.)http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...y-Sept-24-2012
Tournaments:
| Warren County Bass Club Adam Richardson 252-213-5678 |
Kerr/Buggs Island Lake County Line |
September 29, 2012 Open ... Team/Individual... $40/boat if Team $20/boat if Individual 5 fish limit... lake size limit applies (max 2 under 14") MUST HAVE one MEMBER per BOAT***$40 membership fee... 10 Regular Season Tournaments plus CLASSIC... More info email adam.richardson@ncfbins.com |
| Bass Catchers Dennis Bradley 252-532-5782 |
Lake Gaston Summit Ramp |
September 29, 2012 Open ... We are hosting a number of Bass Fishing Tournaments that will conclude with a Classic Tournament starting in March and going through September. -Entry Fee will be $100 per boat (INCLUDES Big Fish) -90% Payback -80% to paid at each tournament (10% will be held for the CLASSIC Tournament) -**MUST fish at least five of the listed tournaments to be entered into the Classic Tournament** -Late entry will be accepted until 10 minutes before Safe Light the morning of the tournament. *NOTE: A $10 LATE FEE WILL BE APPLIED!!! -ALL blast offs WILL be held at SAFE LIGHT  !NOTE: The order of take off will be determined by the order in which entry is submitted. |
From IGFA Virginia Beach Representative Julie Ball:
As cobia continue to move out of the Bay, sight casters are finding decent action using eels and jigs. Anglers are also finding nice fish hanging around lower Bay and inshore buoys. Small pods of cobia are also surfacing along the ocean front. Chummers are having some good luck with keeper-sized fish along the lower Bay shoals and off False Cape lately.
King mackerel are not evolving, but they are still a possibility trolling around the Chesapeake Light tower and down to False Cape in clean water. A few nice Spanish are still lingering in the same areas, and false albacore are available closer to shore and around the tower, while nice sharks are still a favorite off the ocean front.
Flounder action is steady in the lower Bay recently. This is the best time of year for drifters, who are catching nice flatfish while sweeping the edges of shoals and channels with strip baits. The Baltimore and Thimble Shoal Channels, and the Hampton Bar are productive areas lately. Those working lower Bay structure with jigs are also scoring with some decent fish, especially from the 3rd island area. Some decent flounder are covering some inshore and offshore wrecks. Nice sea bass are also available on these wrecks, along with trigger fish and some tautog. Tog are also beginning to bite inside the Chesapeake Bay, where fish averaging around 3 to 6-pounds are falling for fiddlers along the CBBT tubes and structure. Good sheepshead action continues in these same areas, where fish up to 10-pounds are mixed in, along with triggerfish.
Big red drum bite continues to spread throughout the lower Bay and coastal waters. Reds ranging up to over 54-inches are still providing action along the breakers of the Eastern Shore barrier islands and inlets, as well as along the span of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, especially near the artificial islands. Intermittent catches of bulls are also beginning to occur in the surf off Sandbridge, and off the Beach.
Speckled trout are still making a good showing within the Eastern Shore Bayside creeks, with Hungar’s Creek and Nassawadax Creek giving up consistent catches of bigger fish.
The action in Lynnhaven Inlet is improving with scattered fish pushing to 22-inches, while Rudee Inlet has some decent fish taking grubs and Gulp mullets. The Elizabeth River speck scene is still on the rise, with plenty of keepers available to about 21-inches. Puppy drum are a reliable target, with pups providing good action within any area inlet and along the ocean front shorelines. Some nice 30-inchers are also hitting in the Elizabeth River this week.
The newest fall species will be back in business when the Bay striped bass season opens on the 4th of October. Schoolies will take top water plugs at all the bridge tunnel complexes, especially at night in the light lines. Anglers will be able to keep two fish per person ranging from 18 to 28-inches. One of the two fish can be 28-inches or larger.
The lower Bay is experiencing some decent spot action, with plenty of good sized fish in the mix. Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, the HRBT, and Ocean View are productive right now. Reports of bigger fish are coming from the Monitor Merrimack Memorial Bridge tunnel. Horse croaker are hanging on the Hampton Bar, and in the deeper holes around the HRBT and the CBBT. The lower Bay inlets are also holding some nice hardheads, where fish raging to around two-pounds were hooked near the Lesner Bridge this week.
Deep dropping will pick up when more interest stirs. Blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, and a variety of grouper and other deep bottom dwellers are available along the edges of the Norfolk Canyon. Chopper bluefish will become active on offshore wrecks soon, with the Triangle wrecks a favorite. Amberjack will continue to circle the South Tower for awhile longer.
Fall offshore billfish action is still wide open, with lots of opportunity for multiple marlin releases. Some boats are releasing anywhere from 10 to 25 fish. White marlin are the main event, with a few blue marlin and scattered sailfish and spearfish in the mix. Swordfish action is on the upswing, and will continue to improve through the cooler months. Good numbers of nice dolphin and wahoo are also on the prowl. Scattered catches of yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and blackfin tuna are also still possibilities.
Virginia Saltwater Reports by Charlie Taylor:
CHINCOTEAGUE - Sea trout, taylor blues, sea mullet and flounder are still available inside the inlet. The surf off Assateague Island still holds sea mullet, sea trout, striped bass, small sharks, taylor blues and a few spot. Pan trout are available near the 2TL Buoy, for anglers drifting squid strips. Offshore boats are still finding yellowfin tuna from 30 fathoms out to the Canyons, while inshore waters are harboring lots of false albacore.
WACHAPREAGUE - Good catches of pan trout to two pounds, just 1-2 miles off Metomkin Inlet. Offshore boats are still catching dolphin and yellowfin tuna. Inside the inlet, bottom fishermen are taking sea mullet, taylor blues, sea trout, spot and flounder. Most of the croaker have moved outside the Inlet.
The fall run of Flounder has yet to materialize. Some red drum were taken from the Parramore Island surf this past week.
ONANCOCK - Fair numbers of small flounder and grey trout to five pounds. The fish are scattered and drift fishing is proving more effective than anchoring. Peeler crab is the preferred bait for the trout, but most anglers are fishing cut spot, due to availability. The early morning and late evening tide change has provided the best catches. Lots of medium spot and croaker, bluefish to 21 inches and flounder to 24 inches still linger, along with stripers, puppy drum and plenty of porgy, straight out of Onancock in 35 feet of water. Speckled trout remain scarce.
QUINBY - Good fishing for grey trout, sea mullet, sea bass and a few flounder. The area from Eggen Marsh to Rebel Island has been the favorite spot. Anglers fishing just off the beach are taking 40-50 pound red drum on cut baits, cast toward the beach.
CAPE CHARLES - Good catches of tautog were made on the nearby mussel beds and at the Artificial Reef site. Bottom fishermen are also picking up grey trout, striped bass and puppy drum, along with a few spot, croaker and porgy. Catches are reported at the mouth of the harbor, along the deeper channel edges and at the Artificial Reef site. Speckled and grey trout are hitting at the mouths of the Bayside Creeks. Occohannock, Nassawadox and Hungars Creeks are all producing some nice stringers of fish. Flounder have diminished around the Concrete Ships.
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Good spot action just outside the Lesner Bridge, while flounder and speckled trout action has been fair to good, inside the inlet, with best results coming on the incoming tide. Good spot action is also available at the M&M Crossing, Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and Twin Stakes. Along the Bay Bridge Tunnel, nighttime anglers are finding increasing numbers of grey trout, while daytime anglers report good catches of tautog. Anglers fishing topwater baits around the Fourth Island are taking good numbers of school stripers, and bluefish to five pounds. Spanish mackerel are again showing off Cape Henry. Speckled trout and puppy drum are "just about everywhere" inside Lynnhaven Inlet, with some of the best action coming along the "Ditch". Nighttime anglers are finding speckled trout in front of the Duck-In Restaurant, around high tide. Around the Chesapeake Light Tower/Artificial Reef area, chopper blues to 15 pounds, and large Spanish mackerel are hitting deeply trolled spoons. A few amberjack continue to linger around this structure also. Bottom fishing with peeler crab is producing some of the best fishing of the year in the Severn River, lower York River and Mobjack Bay. Grey trout, spot and flounder are providing excellent action.
VIRGINIA BEACH - Offshore boats are returning with limits of yellowfin tuna in the 20-50 pound class, dolphin and wahoo. Amberjack are still found around the towers. Most of the fish are being caught between the Cigar and the Fingers. Inshore boats are fishing the Artificial Reef and inshore wrecks, returning with lots of sea bass, chopper blues and large Spanish mackerel. Head boats are catching mostly sea bass and some flounder.
PIERS - Call before planning a trip to fishing piers, as they are changing their hours during this season.
LYNNHAVEN - Medium to jumbo spot, stripers and puppy drum are providing steady action, with some speckled trout also being taken.
VIRGINIA BEACH - Medium spot, puppy drum, stripers, bluefish and speckled trout are the fare here, along with a few large red drum.
SANDBRIDGE - Spot are providing the bulk of the action. A few puppy drum and speckled trout are caught on the early morning incoming tide. Anglers fishing big chunks of fresh cut bait are taking 32-60 pound channel bass daily.
Potomac River reports from Captain Ken Penrod:
On the tidal Potomac, the upper Potomac rose a little more than three feet that will push the salt wedge downriver some.
WASHINGTON DC VICINITY: the Washington Channel rarely becomes muddy and there are stripers and largemouth along the Fort McNair drop-off best caught with Rapala Thugs, Mizmo tubes and Penrod Special spinnerbaits. The bridge foundations are holding nice smallmouth bass and Blue Plains Treatment Plant is offering rockfish and largemouth bass. Fox Ferry Point structure is in DC water—and it is producing also.
WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE/BELLE HAVEN MARINA VICINITY: this sector has improved with the best fishing places being Penrod Cove, Smoot Bay and Belle Haven coves. Use Rapala DT crankbaits in the deeper water and Mizmo tubes or Case Magic Stiks in the shallow areas.
MATTAWOMAN CREEK VICINITY: this area is stained but during lower water tides you can get some bass on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. The wood cover in the marshland cove is s good bet with Mizmo tubes and Big Mouth spinnerbaits. Grass beds in Chickamuxen Creek and on the VA shore above the power plant holds bass and a rockfish every now and then.
DEEP CREEK LAKE: The speed boats are gone and the skiers are too, so serious bass fishermen now have this lake to themselves. The top water bite is still strong and the grass bass are cooperating much more now.
Virginia Freshwater Fishing Reports:
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Above Key Bridge, fish the Virginia shoreline for good numbers of smallmouth and largemouth bass, and the coves for schools of crappie. The upstream point of Three Sisters Island normally holds a nice school of walleye. These fish bite well on bottom-drifted minnows, nightcrawlers and plastic grubs. Washington Channel is producing good stringers of bass on the drop-off, along the War College Wall and around the boat docks and pilings. Small stripers are also roaming the drop-off along the wall. These fish are taking trolled Shad Raps and Rebel FasTrac minnows. Most of the fish are undersized. Some bass are present around the submerged wood structure at the mouths of Oxon Cove and the Spoils. Crankbaits and plastic worms are the preferred baits here. Although the fish have been deep, they should come up in the rejuvenated waters.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Most of the bass action is centered around main river drop-offs and submerged wood structure along the channel edges. Best method seem to be casting small crankbaits or plastic baits onto the flats and fishing them slowly to the edge of the drop-off. Allowing the baits to fall off the edge of the drop-off will normally trigger the strike. The fish are aggressive and strikes will be easily felt. Some main river grassbeds with well defined edges are attracting cruising bass. Crankbaits, particularly Rat-L-Traps, are taking the fish. Make sure that the
grass is still green. When the grass turns color, the fish move out. The creeks are holding large numbers of fish, primarily oriented to grass beds, lily pads and steeply-dropping banks. Topwater lures, such as the Zoom Horny Toad, are taking lots of fish. Crappie are schooled and biting well. Striper action is great in the main river, all the way to Colonial Beach and beyond. Local anglers would be well advised to try the humps at the mouth of Nanjemoy Creek. These humps come up from 50+ feet of water to less than 10 feet. The stripers are holding on the edges of the humps and should be there throughout the balance of the striper season. Casting Sassy Shads and bucktails or trolling with Mann's Stretch 25+ baits or umbrella rigs with Sassy Shads, are producing well.
OCCOQUAN RIVER - Bass action is good, with largemouth hitting crankbaits and plastic baits, fished on drop-offs throughout the river. Best bass action is in the grassbed at the mouth of the river, on topwater frogs and white spinnerbaits. Lots of small stripers are in the river. Rat-l-traps are taking them around the footbridge in the back end and on white spinnerbaits around the grass bed at the mouth of the river. Crappie are schooled around the boat docks and other submerged wood. Small minnows and tiny jigs are the ticket. Yellow perch are reported in large numbers throughout the river.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Bass fishing is poor to good, depending on the day. Most fish are being caught on main lake points, rock walls and the mouths of coves, particularly around Fountainhead Marina, where bass are regularly released by tournament anglers. Best lures appear to be spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jig 'n pig and plastics. Lots of crappie are being taken from the creek channels, around brush and standing timber, on live minnows and tiny jigs. The fish are located 10-12 feet down and biting well.
BURKE LAKE - Fishing pressure is very light. Most of the fish are still holding in deep water, adjacent to the grass beds. Plastic worms and jig 'n pig baits should take the bass. Some walleye and a few crappie have been seen.
POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Smallmouth bass are taking buzzbaits, crankbaits and plastic lures. Zoom Super Flukes and Yamamoto Senkos in pearl white are taking some trophy smallmouth. Do not hesitate to use large buzzbaits around blowdowns and grassbeds during the early morning hours. Larger baits will take larger fish. Small catfish are still taking nightcrawlers, shrimp and clam snouts, fished on the bottom, in the channel.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Anglers are scarce, but smallmouth bass are hungry and active. Below the city, tidal sections are producing fair action for bass anglers. Shad colored crankbaits and plastic worms, fished along the south shoreline are taking good numbers of bass. Around Port Royal, slow-rolled spinnerbaits are taking some good bass from creek and cove mouths, on outgoing tides. Striper anglers are taking good catches of fish around Port Royal. Trolling river humps during daylight hours and casting to tidal rips in low light conditions provide the best action. Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Redfins and Rebel FasTrac minnows are the better choice of baits. Cut eel baits are producing a few catfish to 30 pounds, both above and below the Route 301 Bridge.
SHENANDOAH RIVER - Most anglers are concentrating on getting ready for hunting season, so pressure is light. Smallmouth bass and large sunfish are taking live minnows, small crankbaits and in-line spinners with gusto. Fish the pools below the riffles. Some anglers are taking 25+ smallmouth bass.
MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Striped bass are dominating the fishing on these rivers. Live bait, including bloodworms and peeler crab, are top choices in the upper ends of both rivers. Below Lester Manor and Walkerton, Rat-L-Traps, Sassy Shads, Red Fins, Rebel Minnows, spoons and bucktails are the favored baits. Most of the stripers are holding on bridge abutments, humps and points. Check for tidal rips and schools of minnows. Also, watch for diving gulls. Bass fishing is slow, but some anglers are taking limits on crankbaits. Catfishermen are doing well, bottom fishing with cut eel.
LAKE ANNA - Striper anglers are catching fish by trolling Sassy Shads, bucktails and Cordell Redfins, particularly around Jett's Island. Hopkins spoons, jigged near structure or over the main river channel, are also taking some fish. Largemouth bass, 3-5 pounds, are being taken by anglers fishing main lake points with deep diving crankbaits, live minnows and plastic lures, in 8-14 feet of water. The creeks are also producing some bass, on Carolina-rigged plastic worms, in 8-17 feet of water, around boat docks. Crappie anglers are doing well on live minnows, small Beetlespins and tiny jigs. Catfishing has dropped off.
JAMES RIVER - Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking plastic grubs in smoke and pumpkinseed colors, in the deeper holes. Tidal sections of the river are still producing a few large blue catfish, to 45 pounds. Stripers are active in the river, primarily taking crankbaits around tidal rips on pilings and other structure. Crappie, to two pounds, are taking live minnows and tiny jigs around brushpiles and other cover in the Dutch Gap area of the river. The barge pits are an excellent starting point. Bass anglers are taking some nice fish from steep dropping banks, lily pads and marsh grass banks in the creeks. Small crankbaits and plastic worms and grubs are the predominant baits.
LAKE CHESDIN - Fair fishing overall, with lots of crappie and largemouth bass, as well as a few walleye. The crappie are being taken on live minnows, fished around bridge pilings and in the grass, while bass, 4-7 pounds, and walleye are being caught on crankbaits and plastic worms. Some stripers are also being caught by bass anglers.
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Lots of striper action on Cordell Redfins, Rat-L-Traps, peelers and bloodworms. Most of the fish are running 2-5 pounds, with an occasional 9-10 pounder. Bass action is good upriver, with lots of bass, 2-3 pounds, being caught on 1/8 oz. spinnerbaits and plastic worms, at the mouths of creeks, and drop-offs with wood cover. Crappie and bream are taking live minnows and nightcrawlers. Yellow perch and catfish are taking live minnows, grass shrimp and cut bait.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Bass, 2-7 pounds, and pickerel are taking live jumbo minnows, crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Flyrodders are doing very well on Pecks Poppers, with bass to 5 ½ pounds being weighed in this past week. Yellow perch and catfish action is also good, with best baits being live minnows and chicken livers. Excellent crappie action, with the fish being larger than usual. Gar, to 10+ pounds, are being taken on live jumbo minnows.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Stripers are the main quarry on this lake, although some large bass are being taken by striper anglers. More successful baits are Sassy Shads, Road Runners, live blue back herring and stick baits. The fish are not that aggressive, so make sure you are fishing s l o w. As the water temperature falls, the fish will become more aggressive. Shellcrackers and yellow perch are also being caught. Most of the fish are being taken at the 10-12 foot level on points.
BACK BAY - Fishing action is slow. Some excellent action is to be had on large catfish in the Hellespoint-Tabernacle Creek area. Cut bait fishermen are catching a few speckled trout in the grass beds. More and more aquatic vegetation is being noted in both Back Bay and Currituck Sound, especially in the coves. Some nice bass are coming from these coves. Some nice crappie and small bass are biting well in the North Landing River, along with lots of white perch.
SUFFOLK LAKES - Shellcracker, crappie and yellow perch fishing is excellent. Lake Prince reports good striper action. Bass and crappie action is excellent, with the bass running 2-7 pounds. Lake Cohoon is producing a few pickerel for anglers using spinnerbaits and jumbo minnows. Crappie and small bass are also being taken in quantity. At Lake Smith, crappie and walleye are providing excellent action. Bass and walleye are the fare at Lake Whitehurst, as anglers are noting excellent catches of both species. All lakes are reporting big bass catches with 4-6 pounders not unusual and some over eight pounds being weighed in.
LAKE GASTON - Crankbaits and plastic worms are the baits of choice for the active largemouth bass. Most of the fish are found around concentrations of shad. Downlake, plastic worms seem to work best, while spinnerbaits are the bait of choice in the dingy water uplake. Slowly work plastic worms or grubs in 4-8 feet of water wherever you find shad. Best areas seem to be around creek channels that drop to 7-8 feet. The grass beds uplake, both in the main river and in the creek channels, are producing good bass on topwater baits. Baby Chug Bugs and Zoom Horny Toads are particularly good. Live bait is
particularly good for stripers. Lots of crappie are available to anglers fishing live minnows around submerged brushpiles. Look for these brushpiles around boat docks in Pea Hill Creek.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Water level is at 295 feet and rising. Striper fishing is good to fair, with most fish being caught in the area from Buoy 10 to Clarksville. Live bait is the preferred method. Anglers are also taking stripers between dusk and midnight on live or cut shad, fishing from the points at the mouth of Nutbush Creek. Below the dam, stripers and catfish are being caught. Bass fishing is good with most fish taken in the back of creeks and coves on Rat-L-Traps, small spinnerbaits and plastic grubs. Some bass are also moving from deeper water off main channel points and creek channel points into 5-6 feet of water. Grubs and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are the most productive methods for catching these fish. Crappie action is also good with minnows fished on wood structures in 6-10 feet of water or submerged brushpiles in 9-10 feet of water.
BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Small bass, crappie and bluegills comprise the catch of most anglers.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Water level is three feet below full pool. Bass are hitting shad-colored crankbaits and small spinnerbaits around the baitfish schools in the creeks and coves. Best patterns involve rip-rap, boat docks and drop-offs into 30 feet of water. Small topwater lures are taking fish in the lower end of the lake, around the islands. Jig 'n pig baits, fished in 20-30 feet of water, in creek channels, particularly at creek mouths, are also doing well. Stripers are starting to move upriver, with good numbers being caught on live shad suspended at 15-20 feet. Bucktails, fished off deep mud banks on the outside bends of the river channel, are also taking fish.
LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Largemouth bass, walleye and striper action is good, but information on catch methods is sketchy. Below the dam, crappie and white bass are being taken after dark on Doll Flies and Tiny Traps.
LAKE MOOMAW - Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, yellow perch and crappie. Trout to 15 inches are being caught.
PHILPOTT LAKE - Crappie fishing continues to improve. Live minnows and tiny jigs, fished around wood cover in 8-14 feet of water are taking the fish. Bass throughout the lake are responding to spinnerbaits, fished early and late in the day, along steeply dropping banks. Night action is excellent. Catfish action is holding up well.
NEW RIVER - A few catfish and some smallmouth bass have been caught. Small topwaters and plastic grubs are the ticket.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Very few fishermen out this week, although the water is clear and the weather was beautiful. Lots of crappie and bass were taken by those who did venture out. Best lures were crankbaits. A few catfish are being taken and white bass are beginning to show in the creels.
CLAYTOR LAKE - Some crappie are taking live minnows. Bass are taking crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Striper anglers are reporting fish to 14 pounds on alewives and shad, primarily around the lighthouse.
TROUT STREAMS - Southwestern streams should be running high and swift. Spinfishermen should score on small spoons and spinners. Only the largest of this area's trout waters are likely to yield any trout this week. In the Northwest and Central parts of the state, trout have been caught on most of the streams on terrestrials and streamers.
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