Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

Good Times on High Hopes Charters

Not sure where to start! Just about everything’s available now! Inshore, Red Drum, Cobia, Spadefish, Sheepshead, Flounder, Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel. Offshore, Tuna, Dolphin, Marlin, Tilefish and Seabass.

Big Red Drum are showing throughout the lower Bay and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Anglers are having success sight casting and bottom fishing. Most hook ups are coming from the shoals on the north side of the bay and around the islands of the CBBT. Captain Wright, on the charter boat High Hopes has been enjoying the schools of Red Drum near Rudee Inlet.

Aiden, scored big today, reeling in two Cobia. The first measured 35” and the second a whopping 50”, both caught on a jig!

Cobia action remains red hot. Anglers are fishing live bait in chum slicks for them. But you never know when they’ll pop up on the surface, so always have a rod ready to sight cast. Our capture season opens today, June 15th.  If you’re interested in a bit of tournament competition and want to support the Old Dominion University Alumni Association, the Monarch Cobia Classic fundraising fishing tournament is coming up July 11-13. You will need to enter by July 9th.

It’s time for the BIG Spanish Mackerel to show up. When they do it’s not uncommon for many fish to top 3 or 4 pounds. Look for them and the Bluefish to be feeding together. If you find yourself catching more Bluefish than Spanish, you’re trolling to slow. Spanish will chase down fast-moving Clark spoons more so than Blues.  You can bet Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters will be on the big ones when they arrive!

Citation Spadefish on Paige II Charter

Spadefish are around buoys, the pilons of the CBBT and the Chesapeake Light Tower. Also hanging around the bridge pilons are lots of large hungry Sheepshead. Captain Craig Paige, Paige II Charters was in the middle of the Spadefish last week, limiting out, including this 9lb 4oz one caught by Jermaine.

Flounder catches are picking up. Look for them along the CBBT, around inshore wrecks and artificial reefs throughout the lower bay and along the coast.

Pier and surf anglers are finding Bluefish, Flounder, Croaker and Sea Mullet and small Spot are starting to show up in better numbers.

Coastal wrecks are holding bluefish and triggerfish. Big AJ’s (Amberjacks) should be arriving as well.

Tilefish, deep dropping on AquaMan Charters

Offshore, as predicted in our last report, Dolphin arrive in numbers this week, a boat out of Rudee Inlet loaded up! We should see a pickup in Marlin release flags decorating outriggers lines next week. Yellowfin Tuna action is picking up, which is great news for the up-and-coming Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament. Come out and enjoy the tournament weigh- ins and witness the competition as participants vie for the heaviest catch, June 19th – 22nd. The official weigh-in stations are located at Long Bay Pointe Marina at Lynnhaven Inlet and The Virginia Beach Fishing Center at Rudee Inlet.

Anglers bottom bouncing on the edge of the canyon continue catching Blueline Tilefish, Golden Tilefish and Sea Bass.  AquaMan Charters did well deep dropping for Tilefish last week.

It’s time to go! Book a VBSF charter Captain ASAP! These guys are the best around. They all are full-time charter businesses, and coastguard inspected.

Stop by Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle all your tackle needs.