Nice Puppy Drum, Dr Neill
As the days grow longer and the waters of Virginia warm, anglers are in for a treat with the variety of fish coming into season.
Tautog fishing is currently at its peak. These guys hang in and around underwater structures, wrecks and the rock islands protecting local bridge tunnels. With the Virginia season drawing to a close on May 15th, now is the time to go.
Anglers targeting Togs are already picking up Sheepshead. Their numbers will increase in May and peak in early June. The best baits are fiddler crabs or mole crabs, fished very close to structure.
Large Red Drum are feeding on the shoals at the mouth of the bay, near the north end of the CBBT. Next month, as the water warms and the number of fish increases, anglers will begin having success sight casting along the ocean front and near the islands of the CBBT. Smaller Puppy Drum are available in the shallows inside Lynnhaven, Rudee and Little Creek Inlets and in rivers. Dr. Ken Neill picked up some nice pups this week (pictured top).
For those seeking Black Drum, the shallow channel ledge from Fisherman’s Island to north of Cape Charles is the place to be. Here, you can spot boats huddled together in prime fishing spots like Kiptopeake and the Concrete Ships.
Knot Wish’N Charters
Flounder, speckled trout and bluefish are starting to bite inside local inlets. The best flounder catches are still coming from Wachapreague, Oyster and Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore. A few flounders have been caught along the CBBT. Pictured is one Knot Wish’n Charters picked up inside Rudee Inlet, where the water temperature was 64 degrees. Numbers will continue to improve as the water warms.
Virginia offshore anglers can target sea bass, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, snowy grouper. It’s crucial to stay updated with the seasonal regulations. The Black Seabass season runs May 15 through Jul 15; and again, July 27 through Dec 31. Tuna fishing is heating up to our south in North Carolina, it won’t be long now.
OBX, NC
Sea Breeze Charters
OBX offshore Yellowfin fishing was outstanding this week. Pictured is a great catch made on board the Sea Breeze, with captain Ned Ashby.
Trout fishing on the beach had been good at dawn and dusk. There have been Puppy Drum, Puffers and Sea Mullet landed as well.
Sound side there have been reports of nice sized Trout.
They are catching Puppy Drum in the sound as well. Cut bait and Johnson’s gold spoons have been productive when targeting Puppy Drum.
As the days grow longer and the waters of Virginia and North Carolina warm, anglers are in for great fishing!
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