Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

Wayne Seymore, King Mackerel

The upcoming weather forecast looks promising with calmer seas and clearer skies. This should make for excellent fishing conditions both inshore and offshore.

King mackerel encounters are picking up along the oceanfront, several nice ones have been landed. Live menhaden, fished on a king rig is the preferred bait for trophy fish. But #4 drone spoons fished deep (blue body, with silver reflect tape is my favorite), or several swimming lures can also be effective.

The spanish mackerel bite remains hot. Try trolling Clark or Drone spoons down deep behind a planer or inline sinker and a third one down the center on the surface, behind a skipping bird teaser.

Red drum are still around in goodnumbers, especially near Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlet. Look for them around structure and in the shallows during the early morning hours.

The cobia bite remains steady, particularly around the CBBT and the buoy lines. Sight casting with live eels or bucktails has been the most effective method. With the improved weather, expect the bite to remain solid.

Sheepshead fishing around the pilings of the CBBT has been consistent, with fiddler crabs and sand fleas being the top baits.

Spadefish are still hanging around the buoys and structure, and they’re biting well on small pieces of clam.

Paige II Charters

The flounder bite in the Chesapeake Bay has been strong, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) and the deeper channels. Anglers drifting with live minnows or Gulp baits have been reporting good catches. Target areas with structure, as flounder are often found around the pilings and rocky areas.

Croaker and spot are being caught in the rivers and creeks feeding into the bay. Bloodworms and squid strips have been the preferred baits. This is a great option for those looking to fill a cooler with some tasty fish.

Speckled trout action has been steady in the inlets and around the grass flats. Anglers are reporting good catches on soft plastics and jigs.

The striper are being caught mostly at night around well-lit docks.

The offshore scene has been productive with good catches of yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi. The tuna bite has been best in the canyons, with trolling ballyhoo being the go-to method. Mahi-mahi are hanging around the weed lines and floating debris. Wahoo are starting to show up in better numbers, especially around the 30-fathom line. High-speed trolling with dark-colored lures has been effective. The billfish bite has been spotty, but there have been a few reports of white and blue marlin as well sailfish being caught.

The 51st White Marlin Open in Ocean City Maryland concluded with significant winnings for top competitors.

The white marlin category saw the Waste Knot leading with a 77.5-pound fish, netting nearly $3.7 million, while the Billfisher maintained second place with a prize of $1,797,119.

In the blue marlin division, the Stone Cutter’s 897.5-pound catch awarded Lance Blakemore over half a million dollars. The Moore Bills and Bobojo followed closely, with substantial winnings for their respective anglers.

The tuna category was dominated by a 220.5-pound bigeye, making Rob Jones a millionaire, while a tie for second place resulted in significant earnings for two anglers from Cape May, NJ.

Ian Horowitz secured the wahoo division with a 70-pound catch, earning $68,500.

The dolphin division remained unchanged, with the Catch 23 in the lead.

Despite challenging weather, the Covered Up’s entry proved fruitful, with their 164-pound tuna garnering most of the small boat category’s winnings.

The tournament showcased remarkable catches and impressive payouts, reflecting the skill and dedication of the anglers involved.

Tight lines and good luck out there!