nansemond river question

[ivorcouple]

hey campers was thinking about fishing for croaker this weekend will the nansemond pay off? any suggestions ..bait...shrimp? any spots..dont tell any secrets but a general idea would be good...thanks mike .ps i usally launch out of hunnington is there any ramps closer to the nansemond?? are the croaks fairly safe to eat?

[Randell]

You have your choice of three ramps that are on tributaries of the Nansemond.
Bennetts Creek Marina has a pay ramp and there is a Public ramp a little
further up the creek at Bennetts Creek Park off of Shoulders Hill Rd.
The only other ramp is at Brady's Marina off of Rt 10 headed to Chuckatuck.
I launched at Bennetts Creek Park last Saturday and fished the M&M.
Lots of small croker. Fishbites was the bait of choice.
~Randell

[TKBMECH]

Brady's is OK unless your on a bunk trailer and you catch low tide. Definately a short run though, I grew up fishing the Nansemond, There are a few holes you can find some decent fish in, Squid, fresh shrimp, fishbites bloodworm, bait diferent ways until you find what they want. When you get out to the mouth of the river, turn left, look for the feeder creeks leading into the main, cast up to them and let it drift past, you don't want to hold bottom, hit a few of them until you find fish, or just hit some of the oyster beds, I like an outgoing tide on the Nansemond, if you find yourself out to the Kings Hwy bridge, go to the first ch marker to the left past the bridge, and fish the edge.

[rcareymichael]

If I were you, I'd put out in Bennetts Creek and fish near the Rt. 17 bridge. I grew up on the Nansemond as well. Brady's is fine for me, but I'm used to that sorry escuse for a boat ramp. You can come right out of Bennetts Creek and catch fish. Hit the Suffolk side of the bridge on the right side if you are coming upriver. As soon as you pass under the bridge, take a sharp right. There is a large oyster bed over there. The water will go from about 25 feet to 5 feet. I anchor in that shallow area and cast out bottom rigs around the boat. Shrimp worked best for me last week.

[ivorcouple]

thanks guys good info as always

[redneck7]

I live on the Nansemond as well and we've had good luck with croaker right around the power line tower that is just past the Godwin Bridge...there's an oyster bed on the up river side of that tower that holds good croaker, but it's got plenty of oyster toads too...so have your pliers ready.

I also had plenty of luck as a kid just casting off of the bank or off of my grandma (and next door neighbor)'s pier, so if you're getting skunked at the places given, just try the shoreline.

Good luck.