Bay Fishing is Great, Offshore Heating Up!

Anglers are having great success in the bay, with big sheepshead being a primary target. There was even an 18-pounder caught recently, with many others over 10 pounds. Popular baits for sheepshead include fiddler crabs, blue crab, clam, and sand fleas.

Cobia are also being caught, but remember the new 43-inch minimum size limit and the daily limit of two per vessel or one per angler. While weather has been challenging, the forecast looks promising. Anglers are employing various techniques for cobia, including sight casting, chumming while anchored, or using live bait with side planers and floats. Live fish like croaker and spot are excellent bait choices for larger species.

Red drum and Flounder

Redfish are active, with some anglers finding schools on the surface and others targeting them on the bottom using crab, fish, and clams. Evenings have been particularly good for large red drum.
For flounder, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) structures are producing fish, but more consistent catches are coming from offshore wreck fishing, where anglers are also catching good numbers of black sea bass.

Inshore and Surf Fishing

Inside the inlets, rivers, and bays of the Chesapeake, look for speckled trout and slot redfish. Shallow grass and piers are prime locations for these species. Effective baits include topwater baits, popping corks with shrimp, and 3-4 inch soft plastics like paddle tails and Gulp baits.

Spanish mackerel can be caught by trolling small spoons behind diving planers or in-line sinkers, offering a good way to stay cool on sunny days.

Along Virginia Beach and Sandbridge, surf and pier anglers are catching Spanish mackerel, bluefish, redfish, flounder, and spot.

Look for a few Virginia Tarpon to be released between now and September.

High Hopes, Joseph Sandy and crew have some tired arms! Lots of Yellowfin off Virginia. Captain Wright saw a lot Maryland boats fishing VB waters.

Bluewater, Canyon Trolling

Offshore tuna fishing has been fantastic, and High Hopes Charters with Captain Dave Wright have been enjoying the excellent tuna action. Look for mahi and billfish numbers to pick up.

This a great season to book a Virginia Beach charter!

Long Bay Pointe Bait & Tackle is ready to assist you on your next outing! They’re fully stocked with all your fishing needs … beverages, fuel, ice, tackle, live eels, crab, and shrimp.