Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

Virginia’s spring fishing season is picking up as the Bay water temperature hits the magic 60 degree mark!

Tautog fishing remains excellent. Look for them around underwater obstructions, wrecks, reefs and rocks. Many anglers like to pylon hop along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Blue crabs or fiddler crabs are the best bait, but some are caught using clam or whelk. The average size tog is 3 to 6 pounds, but in Virginia large ones can top 20 pounds.

Black Drum are showing up along the shallow channel ledge running from Fisherman’s Island to north of Cape Charles. Good spots are Kiptopeake, the Cabbage Patch, the Concrete Ships, as well as the highrise and 2nd & 3rd Islands of CBBT. Running tides, late afternoons and evenings and full moons are considered the best time to fish for them. Whole clam, peeler crab, whelk or a combination is the best bait. The average size Virginia black drum is 40 to 60 pounds, but they can easily top 100 pounds. Black drum are one of the largest fish in the bay and can put up a tremendous fight. They have a distinctive drumming sound that they make with their swim bladder. The optimum setup is a heavy-duty rod and reel, braided line and a large circle hook to land these giants.

Red drum averaging 25-50 lbs are showing up on the shoals at the mouth of the bay. Latimer Shoal and the shallow water near the northern section of the CBBT are good spots. Their numbers will continue increasing into May and action will peak in early June. Also known as channel bass or redfish, they are prized for their beauty and strength. They have a coppery-red color and a black spot near their tail. They can grow up to 60 inches long and weigh over 90 pounds. They are often found in schools and feed on crustaceans and fish. Trolling spoons like 3 1/2 Drones or similar, over and around the shallows or anchoring on top of the shoal and setting out lines are the best methods. When anchored use 7/0 or 8/0 long shank hooks with peeler crabs. Short shank hooks or circle hooks work well with cut baits like fresh spot and menhaden. Use a medium-heavy rod and reel, monofilament line and a variety of lures and baits to go after these fish.

Flounder numbers are on the rise in seaside inlets. Some nice catches are coming from Wachapreague and Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore. Flounder lie on their side on the bottom and camouflage themselves with their surroundings. They change colors to match their environment. They feed on small fish and shrimp that pass by their mouth. Drift fishing with live minnows, or fresh strip baits fished behind bucktails are a good choice. Try using live spot or small mullet for big fish in deep water around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

A few speckled trout, gray trout and puppy drum have been reported in Rudee, Lynnhaven and Little Creek Inlets. Numbers should increase as the water warms up. Speckled trout are also known as spotted seatrout or specks and have dark spots on their back and fins. They can grow up to 25 inches long and weigh up to 10 pounds. They feed on shrimp, crabs and small fish in shallow water near grass beds and oyster bars. Puppy drum are juvenile red drum that have not yet reached maturity. They have similar markings as their adult counterparts but are smaller in size. They can grow up to 18 inches long and weigh up to 5 pounds. They feed on crabs, shrimp and small fish in shallow water near marshes and docks.

OBX, NC

Action on the Outer Banks is good. The red drum bite at the Point in Buxton has been phenomenal, with many anglers scoring big fish and earning citations at local tackle shops. You can also find plenty of puppy drum, jumbo bluefish, sharks, blow toad, sea mullet and some nice flounder in the surf and sound.

But that’s not all. The offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet and Hatteras has been equally amazing, with lots of yellowfin tuna. Mahi, wahoo and black fin tuna are available as well. Whether you troll or jig, you’re sure to have a blast and fill your cooler with some tasty fish.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience some of the best fishing on the East Coast. Book your trip today and get ready for some rod-bending fun!