It’s Speckled Trout Season In Virginia and North Carolina

Big ECU Pirate fan Michelle Cowling with a nice speck caught on the Eastern Shore

With cooler weather settling in anglers are targeting speckled trout and they haven’t been disappointed. Look for specks inside Lynnhaven, Little Creek and Rudee inlets. In creeks on the Eastern Shore. Around the Poquoson Flats. In the York, Nansemond and Elizabeth Rivers. Many fish are ranging 18 to 22-inches, with a few exceeding 24-inches. The Virginia state record is a sixteen pounder.

Large red drum are still available in the Bay. Surf casters at Sandbridge have had success as well. Anglers fishing the James River, Little Creek and Lynnhaven inlets are catching puppy drum.

Croaker, spot and taylor blues are biting in the inlets and around jetties.

Flounder and sheepshead are still hanging around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

School-sized striped bass can be found around any pier or bridge with lights. Small stripers are inside Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. Remember we have new regulations this season, one slot fish measuring between 20 and 36 inches per person per day in the bay and one between 28 and 26 inches in coastal waters.

Anglers taking advantage of the last few days of fishing on the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier before it closes for the season are catching spot, croaker and speckled trout.

Those fishing coastal wrecks are loading up with sea bass. Triggerfish some of the largest flounder of the season are being caught in the same area.

Nice Big Eye, 286 pounds for Zack Hoffman and crew

Further offshore bluewater trolling has been outstanding. Good numbers of yellowfin tuna, a few big eye tuna, dolphin, large wahoo and nice swordfish.

Deep-dropping continues to produce good numbers of blueline tilefish and a few golden tiles.

OBX, NC

The annual fall trout run is underway. Look for them in holes just outside the breakers at dawn. Puppy drum are in the same area.

Bottom fishing the surf is producing sea mullet and spot.

Fishing soundside has been excellent with speckled trout being the top target. Anglers are catching limits of good-sized fish to 22 inches. Look for them along grass banks and near oyster beds. The bridges on the west side of Manteo are holding trout and stripers.

In the ocean spanish mackerel are still hanging around and catches have improved with the return of cleaner water. King mackerel are scattered out to 20 miles.

Offshore anglers have been reporting scattered mahi around weed lines, large wahoo, blackfin and yellowfin tuna.

NEXT REPORT NOVEMBER 9th