Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

If you love fishing, then you should definitely check out the early April action in Virginia Beach and on the OBX, NC. There are plenty of fish to catch, from flounder and tautog to drum and bluefish. Here are some tips and tricks to help you land some of these beauties.

Flounder and tautog get top billing in early April. Flounder are flatfish that like to hide on the bottom and ambush their prey. They can be caught drifting live or dead natural baits on the bottom or trolling small bucktails dressed with strip baits, usually near Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Some of the best early flounder action comes from the Seaside inlets of the Eastern Shore. They are also available in both local inlets, Rudee and Lynnhaven. Flounder average between 1 and 3 pounds, but some monsters can be found. The Virginia State record is 17 pounds, 8 ounces; caught at Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in 1971 by C.E. Cross. To catch a big fish try large live baits.

Tautogs are also known as blackfish or tog. They are hard-fighting fish that live on near shore underwater obstructions like wrecks and reefs. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands are a great location to find them. They like blue, fiddler or marsh crabs. Clams, whelk and a new packaged crab flavored artificial bait made by Fishbites will work as well. Tog average 3 to 6 pounds, but they can grow much bigger. The State record is 24-pound 3-ounces, caught in 2012 by Ken Neill III of Seaford, VA. To catch a big tog, you need a stout rod, a heavy sinker, and a lot of skill.

The water temp is 51.4F. As it continues warming this month, black drum, bluefish, croaker, grey trout, red drum, speckled trout and rockfish reports will increase. These fish are all fun to catch and good to eat.

The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier has already recorded its first red drum of the season. Red drum are also known as redfish or channel bass. They are powerful fish that can grow up to 90 pounds. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters has been picking some pups up in Rudee Inlet. Pups are juvenile red drum that are under 27 inches long. And Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle has been reporting pups in Lynnhaven for a couple weeks. To catch a red drum, you need a medium-heavy rod, a sturdy reel, and a fresh bait.

OBX. NC is another great fishing destination in early April. Nice puppy drum and over slot size fish are being caught on the beaches north of Oregon Inlet. Over slot fish are red drum that are over 27 inches long and must be released. Bluefish, sea mullet, blowtoads, puppy drum, a few big drum and lots of sharks have been reported down south from Avon to Ocracoke.

Speckled trout and a few puppy drum are around the Manteo causeway Little Bridge area. Speckled trout are also known as spotted seatrout or specks. They are beautiful fish that can reach up to 10 pounds. Plenty of nice trout are available from long shoal and west. Closer to the inlet puppy drum are beginning to show up.

Offshore, the boats are still releasing good numbers of Giant Bluefin with a few boats finding some smaller keeper size fish. Giant Bluefin are tuna that can weigh over 1000 pounds. They are highly prized for their meat and their fight. Blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and a few wahoo have also been reported further offshore.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your rod and reel and head to Virginia Beach or the OBX NC for some awesome fishing action in early April!

Book your charter today!!