The big news over the weekend was the sighting of schooled, large red drum off Rudee Inlet. Some have already entered the Bay. Anglers fishing the Eastern Shore breakers near Fisherman’s Island have caught the first of the year. There are many more fish on the way up from Carolina. Hatteras Inlet filled up with feeding fish on the surface several days last week.
Lots of black drum are being caught seaside in Eastern Shore inlets. Look for the black drum numbers to increase inside the Bay around the Concrete Ships and the Cabbage patch.
Inlets are warming and a lot of puppy drum are being caught. Rudee, Lynnhaven and Little Creek Inlets are hot spots and there’s plenty of fish in the Elizabeth River. Right now most fish are being caught on shrimp or crabs, they are deadly. As the water continues to warm up, they can be taken on a multitude of lures, bucktails, or spoons. Look for them along the marshes, oyster beds, jetties or near pilings. Light spinning or casting tackle is used. Speckled trout are starting to be caught in the same areas as the pups. And some nice grey trout and small stripers have been mixed in.
Nice size tautog continue to be available on bottom structure. Baits for tog fishing include quartered blue crabs, marsh crabs, fiddler crabs. Clams, mussels and squid are okay during aggressive feeding periods. Clams or any soft bait is cut into strips. If using crabs, run the hook through a leg socket and out the back of the crab. Whole fiddler crabs can be used, blue crabs are cut into smaller sections. The tog season temporality closes May 15.
Flounder action is on the upswing. The best catches are coming from Eastern Shore sloughs and creeks.
The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier has reopened and anglers are catching small spot and croaker. Bluefish and sea mullet should show soon.
Yellowfin tuna continue to provide excellent action off the Outer Banks of NC. Many boats limited out over the weekend.