Virginia Beach Fishing Report

52″ Rockfish, Dr Ken Neill

Happy Holidays to all from VBSF!

We have officially entered our winter fishing season. There are still a few days available in our sea bass and bay striper season. Both close midnight December 31st. After that it’s all catch and release.

The Bay water temp at the CBBT is 50 degrees now and most of the large rockfish are being caught on the east side of the Bay. Some are coming from areas near the mouths of the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers and there are still some keeper size fish around the CBBT and HRBT.

Trout, redfish and rockfish are still a possibility in local inlets and rivers. Depending on how harsh our winter gets speckled trout will continue being a possibility. On warmer sunny days they sometimes warm themselves in shallows. While they are still hungry they move very slow in the cold water. So slow your retrieve to a crawl.

Tautog fishing is still good around the CBBT islands and on coastal wreck.

Perhaps the best bite going right now is the seabass bite. Those targeting them are also catching a few triggerfish and flounder. The season for the Seabass closes on Dec. 31.

Offshore deep droppers will continue catching tilefish at the Norfolk Canyon. Swordfish are still available to those targeting them. Look for tuna in any warm eddies you run across. On the ride out watch for bird activity, this time of year giant bluefins can show up anywhere there’s schools of bait fish.

We will post fishing reports every 30 days or so until April. We will also pass along any fishing news released by VMRC.  Check back.