Winter Fishing Action In Virginia

Hope everyone is enjoying a great holiday season!

Local angling is officially entering the winter season. We still have a few days available in our sea bass and bay striper season. Both close midnight December 31st. After that it’s all catch and release.

This time of year hearty anglers turn their attention to wreck fishing. Tautogs will be the main focus, but look for some flounder and bluefish to be caught as well. Dr Ken Neill and crew fished the wrecks recently. Action was good. They caught limits of jumbo sea bass, bluefish, tautog, almaco jack, triggerfish and some red snapper. Snapper in Virginia at Christmas are unusual.

Depending on how harsh our winter gets speckled trout will continue being a possibly. On warmer sunny days I’ve seen them warming themselves over boat ramp concrete. While they are still hungry they move very slow in the cold water. So slow your retrieve to a crawl.

Offshore deep droppers will continue catching tilefish at the Norfolk Canyon. Swordfish are still available to those targeting them. Look for tuna in any warm eddies you run across. On the ride out and in watch for bird activity, this time of year giant bluefins can show up anywhere there’s schools of bait fish.

OBX, NC

Boats fishing out of Oregon Inlet are catching yellowfin. One boat limited recently.

Surf anglers on Hatteras Island are catching some trout, black drum and puppy.

Next Report January 15th