Cobia and Large Flounder in the News

Ryan Rainville and buddy with a couple of Cobia

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Cobia Cobia Cobia! Just in time for the Monarch Cobia Classic! There’s lots of big ones in the lower bay, some topping 70 pounds! Anglers are chumming up fish and then using live eels or croaker as bait. Some of the best action is coming from York Spit and the Windmill Bar area.

There’s still plenty of large red drum around. Occasionally sight casters are finding schools on the surface and casting to them. Others are being caught using live bait while anchored up. And flounder anglers drifting live bait are catching some as well.

Our flounder fishing has picked up and a larger class fish is available. Ocean wrecks have been holding the biggest fish. Drifting live baits or jigging wrecks or the pilings of the CBBT with buck tails tipped with cut bait or Gulps has been doing the trick. Robert A. Bradshaw JR. caught a 9 lbs 4 fish jigging at the CBBT to take the lead in the Virginia Saltwater Citation Tournament.

Large spadefish are here again! For the past couple of years the size had been decreasing but this year anglers are landing nice fish in the 7 to 8 pound class. Spades can’t resist clam bits floated in front of them.

Spanish Mackerel are available along the oceanfront and in the lower bay.

Croaker, spot, and white perch are available in the rivers and estuary feeding the Bay. Cobia, flounder, speckled trout, are a possibility in the same area.

Offshore anglers are catching mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, white marlin, blue marlin and spearfish. Deep dropping remains good for blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish and golden tilefish.

There should be good amberjack action around the south tower.