The weather might be hot, but so is the fishing in Virginia. Cobia fishing has picked up with some very nice catches being landed this past week. Flounder fishing is just about as good, some really niched doormats were reported and posted on the Tidal Fish Virginia fishing forum this past week. Croaker, Spanish Mackerel, and black drum have also shown up in the reports over the last week in good numbers. Tarpon make the news as they normally do this time of year, while offshore the tuna and billfish bite is heating up. Check the full report below for all the details.
(pictured above this week is Tidal Fisher Gone Coastal whose 8 yr. old had to wake him up at 5am to remind him it was time to go fishing, holy smokes Dad!. He said he thought it was too hot to go fishing, but you're not going to say no to an 8yr old who wakes up on her own at 5am, wakes you up and says let's go. He managed to land this nice cobia with his daughter on light tackle, a fine work of angling skill. Pretty work man! Check out his full cobia fishing report with all the details here.)
Virginia Saltwater Fishing Reports
Jerry Thrash from Queens Creek Outfitters brings us this tidewater fishing report from around the York River area: Flounder fishing was hit or miss this week in the Buoy 42/Cell area. Again, while we weighed no citations this week several boats had limits of fish, some of which approached citation size. There were citations registered at neighboring weigh stations.
Cobia seem to be staying put around York Spit and from there south. They are being taken on live eels fished in menhaden chum.
Croaker and spot continue to bite around Gwynn Island, on the Spike and in the Rappahannock River mouth. Bloodworms, squid and FishBites are effective. White perch have also made a showing.
Spanish mackeral have been caught trolling off Gwynn Island and along Windmill Bar. Troll small Clark spoons and small Drone spoons at 6-8 kts gps speed behind #1 planers and varying weights of in-line sinkers. The Clarks simulate bay anchovies which are abundant and favorite food for spanish and bluefish. If you are catching bluefish, you are trolling too slow for spanish.
Still no citation spadefish weighed in here. The citations state-wide are at only 3 as of July 20th. Fish in the 6 lbs range have been boated at both the Cell and Wolftrap.
Speckled trout continue to bite in the Mobjack Bay area. Captain Chris Newsome, of Gloucester, witnessed the release citation awarded to Chad Lesley of Norfolf for a 5 lbs, 24.25" speck caught on a live bunker along the Green Plains dock on the North River 7/22/11.
Julie Ball gives us this fishing report synopsis for the tide water region of Virginia Beach:
With the great weather this week, the mid-summer fishing is still going strong. Inshore, the main interest still centers around cobia and the old standby, flounder.
Cobia hunters are finally finding a significant upswing in the action this week. More sightings and more responsive fish are translating into more cobia in the boat for sight casters. Several of these fish are pushing from 60 to 80-pounds lately. Captain Justin Wilson and his crew aboard the Just Right out of Lynnhaven spotted 15 cobia, and hooked 5-fish up to 45-pounds while sight casting this week. Latimer shoal and the Nine foot shoal are still good places to dump chum and bottom fish both cut, where smaller fish are still the norm this week. Huge schools of red drum are still meandering about the lower Bay and along the ocean front, providing great sight casting opportunities. Schools of jack crevelle are making their yearly stop in Lower Bay waters, briefly flashing anglers along lower Bay cuts before disappearing into the depths.
Flounder pounders are reporting good catches of quality fish this week. Although the number of trophy doormats is still down, decent fish ranging from 3 to 6-pounds are making the trip worthwhile. The best results are coming for those offering live bait or jigging near bridge pilings and along the tubes of the CBBT, lower Bay wrecks, Back River Reef, and near the Cell in about 40-feet of water. The outgoing tide is providing the best action. Both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are still giving up good numbers of keeper flatfish for drifters.
Anglers are heading to Oyster to partake in the excellent croaker run, with the “chimney” and buoy 7 areas providing good action. Within lower Bay waters, croaker are everywhere from the HRBT to Cape Henry. The area off Kiptopeke State Park is also a favorite location lately, while the folks at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle report that nicer croaker are coming from the Inlets. Big spot weighing to around ¾-pound are also still hitting within the Inlets, with Fish Bites working well this week.
Spadefish ranging to about seven pounds are available at the Chesapeake Light Tower and the Tower Reef, while smaller fish to around five-pounds are hovering near the CBBT and the Cell. Sheepshead are still going strong along the CBBT structure, and triggerfish are also swiping baits in many of these same areas. Tog action is still down, and will likely not rekindle until the fall.
Spanish mackerel are still dominating the trolling scene along the ocean front. The bigger fish are coming from shallower water on small Drone or Clark spoons trolled at a quick clip. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reports that most of the fish are ranging from 14 to 20-inches, with Taylor bluefish rounding out catches. King mackerel have been sighted skying along the Virginia Beach shorelines this week, with only rumors of a few hook-ups.
Virgina Tarpon are still drawing hard core anglers to the backwaters of Oyster, with reports of sightings and hook-ups still trickling in. Be prepared to also tangle with big Southern rays and sharks in the hot sun in these same areas.
Deep dropping is still a good choice, with quality blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, blackbellied rosefish, and nice grouper on the menu. Black seabass are also available mixed in with the tilefish. Amberjack are still taking jigs and live bait offered on offshore wrecks and at the South Tower.
The offshore bite is still very good, with the billfish scene improving daily. Boats are raising up to a dozen billfish in spreads this week, with white marlin, a smattering of blues, and a few sailfish exciting bluewater trollers. This week, the best action is occurring from the Triple 0’s area to East of the Cigar in 50 to 100 fathoms. Nice yellowfin tuna are still hitting in the Canyon, along with nice big eyes, and scattered school-sized Bluefin tuna. Wahoo are becoming more common, with some big gaffer dolphin showing here and there, along with a few surprise mako sharks.
Ken Neill reports in from the Tidal Virginia Beach:
Flounder fishing really picked up this week. Limits of large flatfish are coming from the CBBT and from the buoy 42 area. Flounder are being caught pretty much everywhere but those two locations are producing the largest fish. Sight fishing for cobia also picked up this week. Large red drum and schools of jack crevalle are also being encountered by the cobia stalkers. Some nice speckled trout are being caught in the Mobjack Bay area. Spanish mackerel are available along the ocean front and in the bay up to Windmill Point. Sheepshead fishing is good at the CBBT. Amberjack are thick at the south towers but they have been finicky. Take live bait if you make the run. Offshore action remains good, especially the billfish bite. There are enough yellowfin tuna and dolphin around to keep the meat fishermen happy. It is a good time to be fishing in Virginia.
A new award was started this year called “Making A Difference”. These awards are designed to honor those that are making a positive difference in recreational sport fishing. Five individuals were chosen for the inaugural class. One of these was Dr. John Graves. “Few have achieved as decorated a resume as John Graves, Ph.D., longtime chair of the U.S. Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and head of the fisheries department at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Graves’ genetics research on billfish allowed federal fisheries officials to distinguish Pacific blue marlin from illegally sold Atlantic blue marlin, and his early work with pop-up satellite tags led directly to the use of circle hooks for billfish. An international figurehead in fisheries management, Graves is one of the most important advocates for recreational sport fishing on the planet.” To see all of the award winners and to learn more about this prestegeous award, visit: www.sportfishingmag.com/makingadifference
Virginia Eastern Shore Fishing Reports
CHINCOTEAGUE - Fair to good catches of keeper flounder are being made at Queens Sound, Cockle Creek and in the vicinity of the 2TL Buoy. The inlet mouth has lots of smaller flounder, while bottom fishermen are taking croaker, with a few spot, puffers, snapper blues and sea mullet mixed in the catches. Squid is the better choice of bait. Sea bass are plentiful around the bridge pilings and on the old oyster beds. Surf anglers are taking spot on bloodworms. Offshore, bluefin tuna action is picking up at at the Parking Lot. Chunking butterfish and trolling cedar plugs are producing bluefins to 100+ pounds. Mixed in the catches are yellowfin tuna to 100+ pounds, Bigeye tuna to 100+ pounds, king mackerel, large bluefish and an occasional dolphin.
WACHAPREAGUE - Flounder fishing is holding up well, although croaker are pouncing on the baits before the flounder get a shot at it. The old Coast Guard Channel is producing triggerfish. Offshore, anglers fishing the inshore hills are taking bluefin tuna, wahoo, false albacore and lots of dolphin. Yellowfin tuna and white marlin are off and on in the canyons. Amberjack are showing at the #10 buoy. Tarpon are being caught on live spot inside Hog Island.
ONANCOCK - Excellent bottom fishing for croaker inside Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds. Bloodworms, peeler crab and squid are the top baits. Best catches are made in 18-25 feet of water on the early morning moving tide. Flounder fishing is good, with more small fish being taken daily. Best catches are made in 18-40 feet of water along a dropoff. Mixed in the catches are taylor blues,Spanish mackerel, porgy, pigfish, blowfish, sea mullet and dusky shark.
QUINBY - Flounder fishing is fair for those who hit the tide and time of day exactly right. Others fish long and hard for a strike. Croaker, to two pounds, may be taken almost anywhere, with the mouth of Rebel Island Creek being especially productive. Lots of small trout are being caught, but the fish remain scattered.
CAPE CHARLES - Good bottom fishing for trout and croaker is available in the vicinity of C-10. More flounder are showing on the bayside, with lots of citation fish, to seven pounds, being caught. Lots of large cobia, to 50+ pounds, are being caught on Latimer Shoals. Speckled trout are available inside Hungars Creek. Spadefish are taking clam bits at Old Plantation Light. Tarpon are rolling inside the Barrier Islands, but few are caught. Spanish mackerel are everywhere.
Freshwater Virginia fishing Reports
We've got a new weekly fishing report provider from inland Virginia coming on board this week, Andy at Headhunters Headquarters located in Little Creek Park on a 1000 acre lake. They have boat, motor, battery, kayak, canoe rental. boat launch and a free fishing pier. Play ground, pavilions and clean restrooms. Andy reports:
The water temp. at L.C,R. is at 88 degrees with a visibility of 15 ft. It may be hot on the creek but the fishing is just as hot.Sunday morning two boats had landed 16 Stripers by 11:30 AM. Live Hearing was the bait of choice. A couple fell to long lipped crank baits. Eyes showed up 4 that I saw and one taged fish of 17 in. all accidental while trolling for Stripers in 20 to 30 ft. of water. Bass were active to but most were on off shore points.15 to 20 ft. Carolina rigs and finesse worms worked well. Live bait fishermen did well also using small gills 10 to 15 ft. under floats drifting over and along points. One boat with two fishermen caught 13 Bass with Salt&pepper and Black/Blue worms.All the Bass were les then 4 lbs. but lots of fun. I landed my largest L.C.R. Bass at 51/4 lbs. on a 6 oz. gill while fishing for cats.
Pan fish were caught by those that wanted to. Try jigs, tubes, beetle-spins, and of coarse Wigglers. The larger ones are in 8 to 10 ft. of water near shore. If you can find some shade with that much water you may be reworded well. Some small Crappie were caught most on tubes but you must go 16 + ft.
Cats have slowed down some this week but some fish were taking try crawlers or large gills.
OCCOQUAN RIVER - Good catfishing in the mouth of the river, around the
islands. Best bait is clam snouts. Most of the whiskered fish are in the 6-13
pound class. Bass, crappie and bream are available for anglers dropping
plastic and live baits adjacent to wood cover and over submerged grass. Boat
docks are the prevalent cover in the river, producing good numbers of fish.
The grass bed at the mouth of the river is giving up some good bass to patient
anglers fishing Mann's Baby One Minus, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, Super Flukes,
floating worms and frog baits.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Bass are being taken from main lake points and creek
mouths. Most of the fish are caught on plastic worms and deep-diving
crankbaits, although some anglers are taking fish on topwater baits, early and
late in the day. Crappie are biting well, with a few good fish being caught.
Channel catfish are taking jumbo minnows and clam snouts, fished on the bottom
in the main river channel.
BURKE LAKE - Bass are taking crankbaits and plastic baits on dropoffs adjacent
to weedbeds. Brushpiles are also producing some bass, along with lots of
crappie. Muskie action is picking up, with successful anglers trolling jointed
Believers.
LAKE BRITTLE - Bass action is good on small plastic worms. Small walleye are
taking live minnows on points early and late in the day. Bluegill and
shellcracker action is excellent, with the fish taking small jigs and live
minnows. Catfishing is holding up well with the fish weighing in at 1-5
pounds. Pier anglers are taking carp, to 15 pounds, on doughballs.
FARM PONDS - Lily pad fields in shallow water, are producing bragging size
sunfish on nightcrawlers. Live minnows and tiny jigs will take crappie, while
plastic worms, worked in deeper water around the dams, will take the bass.
Topwater baits, fished early and late in the day or at night will generally
take larger bass.
POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Smallmouth bass action is very good. Better baits are
small crankbaits, plastic grubs and Yamamoto Baby Senkos. The deeper holes and
riffles will hold the better fish, while smaller fish will take small plastic
baits in white and chartreuse. Don't neglect buzzbaits along the shoreline
early and late in the day. Bream are also aggressive, taking small spinners,
Tiny Torpedos and tiny crankbaits. Carp are taking doughballs and cut corn,
while catfish are still taking nightcrawlers, clam snouts and cut bait.
MOTTS RESERVOIR - Bass are very active early and late, and may be caught on
Pop-Rs and buzzbaits, retrieved parallel to the shoreline grass. As the sun
rises, many of the fish position themselves on deeper banks and weedlines, in
8-15 feet of water. Worms and jig 'n pig will take the fish. Concentrations of
fish can be found on points and around the downlake island. Carolina-rigs,
texas rigged worms, and jigs are taking these fish. Crappie are still relating
to deeper wood and grass (10-20 feet), and may be caught on crappie jigs,
countdown rapalas, and minnows. Schools of crappie can usually be found in
mouths of bigger coves and on steep points. Channel catfish, 1-3 pounds, are
taking clam snouts, chicken livers, minnows and a variety of other baits.
Sunfish are cruising the weedlines, hitting small topwaters, crickets, tiny
jigs, inline spinners, and most any small fly.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Smallmouth action has picked up a little this week. Lots
of smallmouth bass are being taken on noisy topwater lures, early and late in
the day. Bream are active. The tidal sections of the river are giving up a few
largemouth bass to anglers fishing firetiger colored crankbaits and 4-5 inch
plastic worms along the Southern shoreline, in downed timber and undercut
banks. Bass action is consistently good in the Green Bay to Leedstown area.
Large blue catfish are taking cut bait and live white perch in the outside
bends of the main river channel. Crappie action is slow.
SHENANDOAH RIVER - Smallmouth bass are cooperating nicely. Small crankbaits,
spinners and plastic grubs are taking good numbers of bass, along with lots of
nice bream. Catfishermen are also successful on chicken livers, cut bait and
live shiners. Deeper water is producing the better catches.
MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Catfish are the chief catch these days, with
chicken livers, clam snouts and cut shad being the best choices of baits. Some
bass are available to anglers using spinnerbaits and plastic worms in the lily
pads and creek mouths. Buzzbaits and Jitterbugs are also effective early and
late in the day. Bream anglers are doing well with live crickets.
LAKE ANNA - Largemouth bass have moved deeper with the summer heat. The fish
are taking crankbaits in 12-27 feet of water, on ridges and points. Riprap
along the bridge approaches are also producing some bass on deep diving
crankbaits. Walleye continue to be caught on rocky points, bridge pilings and
around Dike Three. Lots of crappie action, with bridge pilings in 25-40 feet
of water holding the better fish. Tiny Beetlespins, Hopkins spoons and live
minnows are working best. Stripers are taking live shad around the 208 Bridge
area. Best results are to be had by free-lining the shad. Trollers, using the
Mann's Stretch 25, are taking stripers in the upper end of the lake and at the
mouth of Sturgeon Creek. Catfishing is excellent.
JAMES RIVER - Largemouth bass are being caught on plastic worms, spinnerbaits
and small crankbaits. Points and wood structure are the better areas. The
outside bends of the river channel are producing blue catfish, to 50+ pounds,
on cut shad and eel baits. Above the city, smallmouth bass are cooperating on
Tiny Torpedos, small plastic grubs and crankbaits, such as the Bandit 100 or
Bill Norman's Tiny Deep N. Flyrodders are using hellgrammite or crayfish
imitations and wet flies. Try large buzzbaits along shoreline brush early and
late in the day for larger fish. Lots of carp and catfish.
LAKE CHESDIN - Bass are taking plastic worms in 6-8 feet of water throughout
the lake. Aggressive fish are located near the upper end of the lake, taking
crankbaits and buzzbaits. Crappie action is good near the bridge on live
minnows, while catfish to seven pounds are taking nightcrawlers and chicken
livers. Occasional walleye are caught by bass anglers.
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Normal summer conditions prevail. Largemouth bass are
taking buzzbaits, floating plastic worms and grass frogs in the lily pads and
hydrilla, plastic worms and grubs in creek mouths on moving tides, and Rat-l-
traps, spinnerbaits and plastic worms on cypress trees. Lots of good sized
sunfish on crickets, and catfish on peeler crab, minnows and turtle livers.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - More successful anglers are using live minnows and
topwater lures for good stringers of bass. Best lure seems to be the pearl
colored Bass Assassin or Zoom Super Fluke. Catfish anglers are having good
success on peeler crab. Bream and bluegill are taking crickets, while crappie
are biting well on live minnows. Most of the fish are located on points and
submerged grass. Lots of pickerel and bowfin are also being caught.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Patient bass anglers are catching bass to four pounds
with plastic worms in 12-15 feet of water. Lots of good sized bream, seemingly
everywhere. A number of large pickerel and nice catfish round out the catches
in this lake. Best success is coming by fishing points.
BACK BAY - Some bass are being caught at Lagamar Canal, West Neck Creek,
Hellespoint Creek and around Knotts Island. Stripers, to eight pounds, are
also foraging in the creeks. White perch are being caught on grass shrimp and
bloodworms, with some flounder mixed in the catch.
SUFFOLK LAKES - Plastic worms, Rapalas and Rat-l-traps are successful for
anglers fishing for largemouth bass. Topwater lures are also effective early
and late in the day. Crickets and red wigglers are the preferred bait for
shellcrackers, bream and crappie. Gar and catfish are also active, with live
minnows producing best. Some striper action available in Lake Meade on live,
jumbo minnows.
LAKE GASTON - Crappie are holding in brushpiles in 12-18 feet of water and
taking live minnows. Largemouth bass are holding in 12-20 feet of water and
may be taken on plastic worms and deep-diving crankbaits. Red seems to be the
best color in the clear water. Topwater lures are taking fish early and late
in the day, particularly in the weed beds. Most of the better fish are located
on main lake points and creek mouths. Boat docks are also holding a few fish.
Small plastic grubs are the ticket for the boat docks. Stripers are being
caught on rattling crankbaits, fished on the bottom on river channel points. A
few stripers are also being taken by trolling bucktails in the main river
channel from Eaton Ferry Bridge to Gaston.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Stripers in the 15 pound class are being caught vertical
jigging with Hopkins and Salty Dog spoons and jigs. Trolling bucktails and
Redfins is also working well. Better areas are Nutbush Creek and County Line
Creek, on the lower end of the lake. Topwater lures are taking bass early and
late in the day. Deep-diving crankbaits and plastic lures in pumpkinseed or
june bug colors, fished on points and adjacent to wood, are taking bass from
10-15 feet of water. Crappie are located on brushpiles in 10-12 feet of water.
BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Lots of bass in the slot are being
caught in the lake, along with some nice crappie. Lots of bream are taking
crickets, along with plenty of small bass. Bass, shellcrackers and crappie are
taking live minnows and nightcrawlers. Catfish to 10 pounds are taking chicken
livers, nightcrawlers and live jumbo minnows.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Good numbers of stripers are being caught on topwater
lures, live shad and by trolling large, deep-running lures, such as Rebels,
Big Macs, Hellbenders and Waterdogs. Most of the fish are located 18-32 feet
deep. The stripers are feeding around 9 a.m., mid-afternoon and late evenings.
Some of the better areas are from buoy markers 22-31 on the Roanoke River and
markers 11-14 on the Blackwater River. Largemouth bass are being caught in 15-
18 feet of water on deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina-rigged plastic worms.
Topwater lures are taking fish early and late in the day.
LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Good largemouth bass action throughout the lake. Shad
Raps, fished across points, are taking some fish, while plastic worms and
lizards are also working. Striper and white bass action has slowed.
LAKE MOOMAW - Trout fishing is good, with rainbows and browns, to four pounds
biting on live minnows. Catfish, to 17 pounds, biting on nightcrawlers and
chicken livers. Bass are hitting buzzbaits at dusk, but otherwise are found
very deep.
PHILPOTT LAKE - Fishing is good, with good catches of bass reported on plastic
worms at night. Crappie and catfish action is steady, on small minnows, jigs,
nightcrawlers and stink baits. Walleye are taking nightcrawlers. Action on the
Smith River has slacked off, but some trout are still being taken from the
low, clear water.
NEW RIVER - Excellent smallmouth bass action. The fish are taking plastic
grubs, worms and Senkos in pumpkinseed and motor oil colors. Small crankbaits
and topwater baits are also taking some nice fish. Muskie to 28 inches are
also being taken, along with catfish to 10 pounds.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Fishing is slow. Some catfish are being caught by
anglers night fishing under the lights. A few smallmouth are also being
reported taking jig 'n pig. Crappie are biting early in the day.
CLAYTOR LAKE - Stripers and white bass are taking live alewives. Plenty of
catfish are being caught in the deeper water, near the dam, on live alewives
and catalpa worms.
TROUT STREAMS - Most of the National Forest and Park streams are producing
quite well for fly fishermen using small dry flies, imitating terrestrials.
Mepps and Shyster spinners are taking fish for the spin fishermen. Stoney
Creek and Passage creek are the best bets for a day trip, while Martin's
Creek, the North Fork of the Powell River, Bullpasture River, Jackson River,
Cedar Creek and Clearbrook lake are all producing good catches. Beartree Lake,
in Washington County and Whitetop Laurel are also giving up some trout.
Maryland creeks producing good trout fishing include Gunpowder Creek, Hunting
Creek and Savage River. Streamers are the recommended lure, but terrestrials
are working well on Gunpowder Creek.
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!
Brandon White, Chief Angler, TidalFish.com
Virginia Fishing Reports Archive | Virginia Fishing Forum | Northern Neck Virginia Fishing Forum
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