Peninsula Saltwater Sport Fisherman Rundown

February 22, 2012

Dr. Ken Neill, III
IGFA Representative
President, Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association

Rockfish action has been much more miss than hit lately. The best action has been in the bay, at the CBBT and on up in the rivers. This is catch and release fishing only.

Bait and whales remain along the oceanfront but the fish seem to have mostly gone. That includes the bluefin tuna that gave us such great fishing for most of the winter. Boats out of Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet are encountering good numbers of bluefin tuna but thus far, they have not been easy to catch.

Speckled trout continue to be caught in the Elizabeth River. The bite is not great but some nice fish are being caught. The best bite this past week was found by boats targeting tautog. Structures in the lower bay and near the coast are producing some very good catches.

Boats venturing further out to Triangle Reef area found mostly seas bass. The CBBT and the Cape Henry Wreck are both good tog structures right now. The best bite would be sea bass on the deeper water wrecks but that season is closed for about 3 more months. This is for a species that is considered recovered and not over-fished. Hopefully, they will have the sea bass regulations straightened out by 2013.

It is time for the Outer Banks bite to turn on. In addition to the bluefin tuna, yellowfin, blackfin, and wahoo are all being caught out of Oregon and Hatteras Inlets but the action has not been great. It should heat up any day now.

There is a lot of Virginia in the March issue of Salt Water Sportsman magazine. “Life on the Edge” is an article by George Poveromo that features his striped bass trip to Virginia Beach this winter. There are two photos from that trip in the article. “The Ultimate Spring Striper Tour” by Nick Honachefsky has the Chesapeake Bay and the CBBT as the first stop. Captains Chandler Hogg and Pete Dahlberg are listed as the “Who”. In the “Traveling Fisherman”, Virginia is the 1st choice with Maryland being 2nd for striped bass.

www.saltwatersportsman.com/techniques/rigs-and-tips/fishing-edge

The Virginia Striped Bass episode of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing will air on the NBC Sports Network. The show times are: Friday, March 2 – 2:30 p.m. Featured airing: Saturday, March 3 – 11:00 a.m. Encore Performances: Saturday, May 26 – 11:00 a.m. Locally, NBC Sports Network is Cox Cable channel 34 and Direct TV channel 603.

www.georgepoveromo.com

The very popular Flounder Bowl will be held on June 30. It will be headquartered at Dare Marina again this year.

Flounder regulations for 2013 will be set in a week. Let the VMRC know which option you prefer now. The VMRC proposes the following management options for its 2012 recreational summer flounder fishery:

A) 17 ½ inches minimum size limit, 5 fish, no closed season
B) 17 inches minimum size limit, 5 fish, no closed season
C) 17 inches minimum size limit, 4 fish, no closed season
D) 16 ½ inches minimum size limit, 4 fish, no closed season

It will be extremely helpful for future years if anglers will report their flounder catches at: www.vasaltwaterjournal.com


Category Categories: Club Reports

Outer Banks NC Fishing Report

February 21, 2012


By Tony Spangler
Outer Banks NC Fishing Report Contributor

Outer Banks Report – Offshore – Inshore – Surf & Pier 

This time of year bluefish may blitz the surf, causing bunker to beach them self trying to escape.

The only pier and surf fishing reports are coming from Jennette’s Pier. Skates and dogfish are biting. Water temp at the pier is 47 degrees. Beach anglers have a tough time fishing this time of the year due to rough surf and adverse weather, but when conditions permit, some of the largest red drum and striped bass are taken. Bluefish blitzes can happen at anytime. Speckled trout are a possibility on the beaches from Rodanthe southward.

When the weather permits, offshore boats are departing Oregon Inlet. There are plenty of fish to be caught. Late last week boats returned with wahoo, dolphin, yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna. Bluefin tuna were also released; fish were estimated in the 300 to 350 pound range. Congratulations to Charles Kay and Timothy Starling on their releases. Michael Wroton brought in a bluefin measuring 69 inches and weighing 176 lbs.

On Friday boats departing Hatteras Inlet were met by cool breezy weather. They were rewarded with excellent bluefin tuna fishing. Several were released and several were brought back to the docks. There were also a few wahoo caught. Congratulations to 11 year old Nicholas Cecil on his 205lb bluefin tuna. Other citation went to John Jones of Warminster, PA released a bluefin tuna, Jamie Faraldi of North Bergen, NJ caught a 180lb bluefin tuna, Nicholas Cecil of Hilliard, OH caught a 205lb bluefin tuna, Robert Johnson of Elizabethtown, KY released a bluefin tuna, Nick Cecil of Hilliard, OH a 124″ hammerhead shark.

There were no reports from Ocracoke or Portsmouth Island this week.


Category Categories: Outer Banks, NC

Virginia Inshore & Offshore Report

February 17, 2012

By Dr. Julie Ball, VBSF.net fishing report contributor and IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach

Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach Offshore Report

The El Niño effect of 2012 continues to grace the Mid-Atlantic region with moderate weather. The push of cold air over last weekend barley 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. But 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 the 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 down to Cape Charles. Anglers are trolling and jigging for the bite, with many fish pushing to around 46 to 48-inches this week. For light tackle top water casters, schoolies are active under working birds in Bay waters and around lower Bay structures and Bridge-Tunnels.

The bluefin tuna are still around, but with the hit and miss striper activity this week, fewer boats are targeting them. 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 reports that anglers are finding slower action in the Elizabeth River, but most are nice fish. The 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. Those anglers putting in their time to look for the fish and working the right areas are catching specks averaging around seven-pounds this week 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 he feels will trump all other trout lures. According to David, “this lure is the real deal.” During its testing phase, “the lure has consistently attracted big speckled trout, with some ranging to over 11-pounds.” So stay tuned for the “Super Mullet 95” to hit the market soon.

Although there is not a lot of interest as of yet, tautog are available along the CBBT and on lower Bay structures. 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 ranging to over 13-pounds hitting the docks lately. Big seabass 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.


Category Categories: Inshore & Bay Reports, Offshore Report

Virginia State Striped Bass Record Shattered

February 15, 2012


Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament

A 74-pound striped bass, caught on January 20th by Cary Wolfe of Bristow, VA, has been certified as the new Virginia State Record by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Wolfe’s catch surpassed the existing record of 73 pounds, caught nearly four years ago to the day by Fred Barnes of Chesapeake.

Wolfe made the record-setting catch in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Henry, where they were but one of an estimated 100-boat flotilla while fishing with Captain Tim Cannon aboard the charter boat Bada Bing. The trophy striper hit a trolled tandem parachute rig, consisting of a pair of 2-ounce big-mouthed nylon skirted jigs, paired with 9-inch rubber shad bodies and trolled from a custom rod mated to a Penn 114H, spooled with 80-pound Ande monofilament line. When the fish hit, Wolfe pulled the rod from its holder and began reeling after the striper made an initial but brief run. After an uneventful 15 minutes, the fish broke water near the back of the boat, where the captain realized the fish was likely too large for the net. Wolfe was instructed to lead the fish head first into the net. As the angler strained the 80-pound mono to lead the fish the mono snapped and the hook fell from the fish’s lip. Momentum carried the fish across the waiting landing net, where the fish rested briefly. A flick of the tail and the fish would be gone but the huge striper relaxed. Its head slumped into the net and was hauled into the boat by Wolfe and Captain Cannon. Several pictures were immediately taken and the group figured the fish was at least 50 pounds.

Tournament Director Lewis Gillingham viewed the official weigh-in at Long Bay Pointe Marina by its weighmaster Connie Barbour. “The fish seemed very long for its girth, with a large head and not much in its stomach. Captain Cannon indicated the fish had spit-up several medium-sized eels after it was brought onboard,” noted Gillingham. The trophy striper was hustled to the Richmond Boat Show later Friday evening, where it was on display through Sunday. Wolfe, an X-ray technician employed at Manassas Hospital, also allowed the removal of the big striper’s otilith (ear bone) after the display by a member of the VMRC biological sampling program so its age could be determined. At the time the otilith was removed it was determined the fish was a female with a reasonably large egg mass but its gut was empty.

The record striper’s otilith was taken to Old Dominion University’s CQFE Ageing lab where it was determined the fish was 26 years old, making it a member of the 1986 year class. The 26 year old fish ties as the oldest otilith aged striped bass. The other fish, taken in 2011, weighed 61 pounds and was a member of the 1985 year class. Interestingly, the outgoing state record striper, was determined to be 22 years old but that was in 2008, making it a colleague of the new record fish as another member of the 1986 year class.

The 74-pound, record-setting striper measured 56-3/4 inches in length and had a girth of 31-1/2 inches. The prior state record of 73 pounds was caught in the Atlantic Ocean about one-half mile north of the 4A buoy, which is located off Fishermen’s Island, by Frederick Barnes of Chesapeake on January 23, 2008.

For more information, contact Lewis S. Gillingham, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2600 Washington Avenue Third Floor; Newport News, VA, 23607, (757) 491-5160, vswft@mrc.virginia.gov



Category Categories: New Record Fish

Peninsula Saltwater Sport Fisherman Rundown

February 15, 2012

Report By Dr Ken Neill

Virginia’s bluefin bite might be over. I have not heard of anymore catches since our fish last week. Now, every time that I have thought it was over, more tuna are caught. More bluefin are being found off of 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.

The Virginia Striped Bass episode of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing will air on the NBC Sports Network. The show times are: Friday, March 2 – 2:30 p.m. Featured airing: Saturday, March 3 – 11:00 a.m. Encore Performances: Saturday, May 26 – 11:00 a.m. Locally, NBC Sports Network is Cox Cable channel 34 and Direct TV channel 603. www.georgepoveromo.com


Category Categories: Club Reports