VIRGINIA FISHING REPORTS Chesapeake Bay, Inshore, Offshore & Freshwater Virginia Fishing Report Updated October 5, 2012

New Record Swordfish! On September 1^st, Joseph Harris of Virginia Beach set the new Virginia State Record with his 446 pound catch. Harris’ catch surpassed the existing record of 381 ½ pounds which was set 30 years ago by James Alexander, also from Virginia Beach. Harris made his record-setting catch off Virginia Beach and south of the Norfolk Canyon, while fishing with Captain Justin Wilson aboard the Lynnhaven Inlet based 34-foot charter vessel Just Right. According to a press release “the huge swordfish hit a drifted whole squid. Harris was using a custom built 50-pound class stand-up rod mated to a Shimano TLD 50 reel and loaded with 50-pound test Ande monofilament line. Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament State Record Committee member Ken Neill, III, of Seaford, verified weight, length, and girth measurements and positively identified the swordfish, in accordance with the Tournament’s State Record procedures, and completed the State Record Application.”

(Photo: pictured on the right with his rod and reel is Joseph Harris of Virginia Beach with his record 446 pound swordfish.)

Tournaments:

Pamunkey MiniSeries
Dates: Oct, 7 2012 to Oct, 7 2012
Location: Pamukey River, Williams Landing Virginia
Website: http://www.pamunkeyminiseries.com




From IGFA Virginia Beach Representative Julie Ball:
It’s hard not to notice the red drum bite thriving in the lower Bay and along ocean shorelines. Anglers are intercepting huge reds near the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th islands, and the Nine Foot Shoals as schools of reds patrol the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Surf and pier anglers are excited about the showing of the much anticipated reds in the surf off Sand Bridge last week, where more than a dozen fish were landed in a day. Anglers are catching bulls from both the Little Island Fishing Pier and the adjacent beaches on fresh filets of mullet and spot. Eastern Shore surf anglers are also experiencing good drum action in the surf along the barrier islands.

Cobia action is winding down as the fish make their last hurrah along the ocean front. Anglers getting in on this action are finding respectable fish as they locate pods and pairs of fish meandering southward. King Mackerel activity is showing promise, with some decent fish up to 30-pounds boated this week off of Sandbridge.

Speckled trout activity is spot-on as anglers enjoy some nice catches in the lower Bay shallows. Lynnhaven Inlet is giving up fish pushing up to 23-inches, and Rudee Inlet is also seeing a rise in larger fish lately. The Elizabeth River is hosting the biggest fish, with some specks stretching to over 25-inches. The folks at Ocean’s East 2 recommend trying darker colored plastics, such as Bass Assassins and curly tail or paddle tail grubs on ¼-ounce head. Puppy drum backed off some this week, but nice keepers are still hitting in the shallows and surf lines from Little Creek down to Sandbridge.

The Bay striped bass season kicked off this week. Anglers can expect to find plenty of schoolies around the islands, tubes, and pilings of the lower Bay Bridge Tunnels, especially at night. Anglers can keep two fish per person ranging from 18-inches to 28-inches. One of the two fish may exceed 28-inches.

The lower Bay is still hosting decent-sized spot, with the bite heating up with each northerly blow. Lower Bay and ocean front piers, Lynnhaven, Little Creek, and Rudee Inlets, the HRBT, and the CBBT are providing catches for anglers using bloodworms and Fishbites. Big croaker are still available in the lower Bay, with some fish weighing to around 2.5-pounds coming from Lynnhaven Inlet, the HRBT, the CBBT, and off Fort Story.

Flounder reports are hard to come by, but folks are still finding nice sized fish in all the usual hot spots. As the flatfish group up to transit out of the Bay for the season, anglers are scoring by dragging strip baits along the edges of deeper channels, drop-offs, and structures. Some keeper fish are active near the Thimble Shoals Channel and Bay Bridge Tunnel, especially near the first island. A good run of flatties to around 5-pounds was also reported at the High Rise section of the CBBT this week. Coastal and deeper wrecks are still a main stay for nice flounder, along with seabass, triggerfish and tautog.

Inshore bottom bouncers are experiencing a boost in tautog activity along the CBBT and inshore structures, while the sheepshead action is beginning to slow, but they are still available for a few more weeks. Triggers are also an occasional by-catch in the same areas.

Anglers can still find some big amberjack at the Southern Towers as well as The Chesapeake Light Tower and Reef area, where some Jack Crevelle are also around. Offshore bottom bouncers are experiencing the usual mixed bag of blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish, and barrelfish. The ‘Captain Cheryl’, guided by Captain Joe DelCampo running out of The Virginia Beach Fishing Center, cleaned up with a good catch of variety of deep water bottom fish this week.

Runs to the blue water are still providing opportunities for releases of white and blue marlin. A few spearfish are still around, and swordfish continue to respond for overnighters. Captain Steve Richardson, skipper of the ‘Backlash’ out of The Virginia Beach Fishing Center, earned his eighth Grand Slam of the season, with 8 white marlin, a blue marlin, and a swordfish on a recent overnight trip. The trip also yielded a huge 65-pound wahoo, and some bailer dolphin. Wahoo are on the upswing, bailer and gaffer dolphin are still a sure bet, and a few yellowfin tuna are available, but scattered. But, who knows what will happen after the blow this weekend. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.

Virginia Saltwater Reports:
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.


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, night crawlers 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 grass beds 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 grassed 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 grass beds during the early morning hours. Larger baits will take larger fish. Small catfish are still taking night crawlers, 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 night crawlers. 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 1/2 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.