Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

Fishing opportunities are abundant, offering anglers a wide variety of species to target in both shallow and open waters.

Inshore and Bay Action:

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) continues to be a hotspot. Anglers are finding impressive Sheepshead in the 10 to 15-pound range, often alongside Tautog, with crab being the go-to bait. Black Drum are also being caught from hard cover areas around the bay.

High Hopes Charters!

Spanish Mackerel are active, being caught from the oceanfront and bay piers, and around the spans of the CBBT. Trolling the mouths of many rivers is also proving effective for Mackerel, with Bluefish often caught as a bonus. Speaking of Bluefish, good numbers are being reported around the CBBT, too.

Red Drum are showing up in the ocean and bay, last week particularly off Sandbridge and within the bay, near the second island of the CBBT. While some anglers are specifically targeting Red Drum, they can be elusive.

AquaMan Charters Drumming!!

Cobia fishing has been steady, with recreational anglers and guides reporting fewer fish. However, the Cobia that are being found are a larger class, with many exceeding 50 inches.

For Flounder enthusiasts, success is being reported inside the bay, around the CBBT, Lesner Bridge, various artificial reefs, Rudee Inlet, and ocean wrecks.

Speckled Trout fishing has been more challenging due to heavy rains. The increased freshwater in their shallow habitats is causing them to move closer to the bay or deeper in the water column.

Sea Bass season on ocean wrecks is currently closed until August 5th.

Weakfish are making a strong showing around the concrete ships at Kiptopeke, though many are undersized, keepers are definitely in the mix. Additionally, Cutlassfish have arrived and are biting well in the evenings, particularly under the lights of piers.

AquaMan Charters!!

Offshore Scene:

The offshore bite is strong! Anglers are landing good numbers of Tuna, a trend expected to continue throughout the summer. Mahi and Wahoo are also being caught. For those targeting billfish, Blue, White Marlin and Sailfish are starting to providing exciting release opportunities.

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