Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

Knot Wish’n Charters

The Virginia saltwater fishing scene is bustling with activity, offering a diverse range of species for anglers to target. Spanish Mackerel are abundant, with most anglers using Clark and Drone spoons trailed behind diving planers or inline sinkers to attract these swift predators. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) is a hotspot for Sheepshead, with fiddler crabs on sweeper jigs proving to be an effective method for capturing these structure-loving fish.

August 30^th thru Sept 1^st, Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle will sponsor a three-day sheepshead fishing tournament with a daily Calcutta and an overall winner determined by the two heaviest sheepshead stringer accumulated over the weekend. You can contact the shop for more details.

Long Bay Pointe Marina

Cobia fishing remains good. Chumming is a popular technique that can yield larger specimens, although sight casting allows anglers to cover more ground and potentially secure more hook ups. Red Drum are thriving inside the bay and along the oceanfront, responding well to jigs and topwater baits. It’s important to note that any Red Drum over 26 inches must be released to preserve the population.

Kelly Virginia,
24-inch flounder. Great day fishing with Paige II Charters

Flounder fishing has been particularly fruitful, especially around the CBBT where live Spot bait seems to attract the largest flounder. Jigging around the CBBT pilings can also produce a variety of species including Triggerfish, Sea Bass, and Drum.

Speckled Trout enthusiasts are finding success in area marshes on local rivers like the Lynnhaven, Elizabeth, Piankatank, Rappahannock, Mobjack Bay, and the waters near Poquoson.

The Sandbridge surf is teeming with life, offering Red Drum, Sea Mullet, Croaker, Spot, and Bluefish to those casting their lines.

Virginia Beach Pier anglers are catching a variety of species, Spot, Croaker, Spanish, Roundhead, Flounder, and Bluefish.

OFFSHORE BLUEWATER

Good day onboard the High Hopes with Daniel Savage group. Trolling bites were hard to come by, managed to get a nice limit of these Blueline Tilefish though.

Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Shark and billfish are available to offshore trollers. Nice dolphins were caught at Norfolk Canyon recently. Many are choosing to troll early, then deep-drop for Swords, Tilefish, Grouper with squid or cut baits.

Offshore wrecks and navigation structures are holding Amberjack.

August heralds the excitement of Marlin tournaments along the mid-Atlantic coast, drawing anglers from all over to compete in these prestigious events. The White Marlin Open, set to take place from August 5-9 in Ocean City, Maryland, kicks off the season with one of the largest and richest billfish tournaments in the world. Following closely is the Alice Kelly Ladies-Only Billfish Tournament on August 10-11, a unique event that celebrates women in sportfishing, hosted in Manteo, North Carolina. The Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, also in Manteo, takes the stage from August 12-16, offering a week of competitive fishing and camaraderie. The series concludes with the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament from August 21-24, where Virginia Beach, Virginia, becomes a hub for anglers seeking the thrill of the catch. These tournaments not only promote sportfishing but also contribute to conservation efforts, ensuring the sustainability of the sport for future generations.

With such a rich and varied marine environment, Virginia’s saltwater regions are a haven for both novice and experienced anglers alike, promising exciting fishing adventures and the chance to reel in some impressive catches.

VBSF reports brought to you by Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle. Long Bay Pointe Marina and Coastal Fiberglass.