Reports

Mar 15 2021

Dr. Ken Neill Report

March 15, 2021

Wes Blow and I left my house dark and early this morning. We were met by a very bright UFO which turned out to be a Space X rocket launch.

Beautiful ride to the wreck and things started out fine. I caught 3 tog and a sheepshead while Wes caught some sea bass and an oyster toad. I did not say a thing, which those that have togged with me may not believe. No, “that’s OK, I’ll catch your limit for you“, or, “are you ever going to put a fish in the box?“. I’ve fished with Wes enough to save that stuff to the end. Good thing as his first tog of the day turned out to be our biggest, 13.5 pounds. My biggest, we did not even take a photo of, was maybe 8 pounds.

Really nice ride back in until we hit some chop in the bay.

Dr. Ken Neill, III
IGFA Representative
Past-President, Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association, Inc.
Associate Commissioner Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Commissioner Potomac River Fisheries Commission

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/03/15/dr-ken-neill-report/

Mar 14 2021

Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Fishing Rundown

March 14, 2021

Buxton, NC, the point

For a couple weeks puppy drum and sea mullet have been caught from the surf on Hatteras Island. And now with 60 degree water, and a new moon on the 12^th , the big red drum arrived at The Point. Game on!

Giant bluefins are feeding off Oregon Inlet, it’s catch and release though. There have been some good yellow fin tuna catches as well.

There’s been some scattered speckled trout and puppy drum action in local inlets, Rudee, Little Creek and Lynnhaven. They will become more numerus and feed more aggressively as the water temperature rises. Porpoises made their way inside the inlet to feed over the weekend, let’s hope they left some for us.

Nice Tautog, Wes Blow on the Healthy Grin

Virginia anglers have lots to look forward to over the coming weeks. By the end of March we should be enjoying some great tautog action. VBSF.net charter captains are booking taugtog trips now, so if plan to go you should contact one asap.

As April rolls around the taug action will continue and flounder will become a possibility.

By mid-April the big black drum roll in. Bluefish and gray trout will also be a possibility. The flounder bite should continue improving and speckled trout will become more numerous. By the end of May plenty of large red drum will have made their way into the lower bay.

In June everything starts to peak, inshore and off! Black drum, red drum, cobia, croaker, flounder, gray trout, round head, sheepshead, spadefish, spanish mackerel, speckled trout, small striped bass, mahi, yellow fin tuna and school size blue fin tuna.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/03/14/virginia-beach-chesapeake-bay-fishing-rundown/

Feb 28 2021

Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Fishing Rundown

February 28, 2021

The Virginia Special Black Seabass season is coming to a close. Fishing was great. Don’t forget ALL permit holders are require to report all fishing trips even if you didn’t catch. If no trips were taken you still have to report “no activity”. This helps scientist understand the condition of the species and to maintain a healthy fishery. The reporting regulations are outlined in there entirety online at the VMRC website.

Many anglers will now turn their attention to “togging”. Tautogs are generally in the area the entire year, but the reason late winter and early spring is a good time to target them is because the bait stealing warm water fish haven’t arrived yet. Togs average in the 3-to-6-pound range, but the state record is 24-pounds, 3-ounces caught on March 25th by Ken Neill III. They hang around underwater obstructions like reefs, wrecks and rock piles on the lower bay and in nearshore coastal waters. Togs use a large set of front teeth to pick and crush mollusks, crabs and other crustaceans. Therefore, crabs are a favored bait. An easy to get to location to catch them is over the tubes of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, or around its numerous pilings. The islands marking the entrances and exits of the tunnels are surrounded by rocks. These rocks extend out over the actual tubes for quite a distance. It’s in these rocks that Tog like to hangout. Other good spots include The Concrete Ships, Cape Henry Wreck, The Cell, Back River Reef, the reefs around the Chesapeake Light Tower, the Triangle Wrecks, the Santore and several rock piles and drainage pipes along the oceanfront are also productive.

Despite very cold water temps a few speckled trout and puppy drum have been caught in the Hampton area, mainly from the James River and the Elizabeth River. This time of the year they are almost dormant, on warm sunny days they will come up in the shallows to warm themselves.

Offshore, the giant bluefin tunas have made their way north. Lots of fish in the 500-to-800-pound class were hooked off Oregon Inlet this week. If you want a chance at catching and keeping one of these beast you better go tomorrow! If history repeats the capture season will close quickly once a small number of fish are caught.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/02/28/17513/

Feb 15 2021

Virginia Beach Fishing Rundown

February 15, 2021

3 at a time!

Virginia’s sea bass fishery is open until the end of the month, it’s a special one-month fishery. A no-cost permit is required by the boat captain, reporting is mandatory and you must tell VMRC when you are fishing so they have the opportunity to have a biologist meet you when you return. Please do not overlook the recreational minimum size, 12-1/2 inches in total length.

Here’s the VMRC regulation: “It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take, catch, or possess any black sea bass, from February 1 through February 28, without first having obtained a Recreational Black Sea Bass Permit from the Marine Resources Commission. It shall be unlawful for any black sea bass permittee to fail to contact the Marine Resources Commission Operation Station at (800) 541-4646 before returning to shore at the end of the fishing trip during the February black sea bass season. The permittee shall provide the Operations Station with his name, VMRC ID number, the point of landing, a description of the vessel, and an estimated return to shore time. Permits can be obtained online here or at an MRC Licensing Agent. Reporting can be done online through the Saltwater Journal or using forms provided by the VMRC.” All this is an effort to collect data on this wintertime fishery that was closed for several years.

VBSF sponsor, the Rudee head boats have enjoyed some successful sea bass trips. Fishing has been excellent, with everyone catching limits. They are running trips on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Saturday tips filled up quickly so due to demand they have added some Friday trips.

Usually in mid-February someone finds some very nice tautogs. So far I haven’t heard any good news.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/02/15/virginia-beach-fishing-rundown-24/

Feb 06 2021

Healthy Grin Report

February 6, 2021

sea bass

We ran out for sea bass today during the special February season. It was just like the good old days. Fish were abundant and large. We had a 4-person limit by 8:30 AM and made it home by lunchtime. We also caught some bluefish. The head boat got there not long after we did. As we headed in with our catch, we passed through a small fleet of boats headed to the wreck. I think everyone caught all the sea bass they wanted. We did briefly stop on a couple of wrecks on the way in to try for tautog. No tautog, just some small sea bass but we did not try long. Gorgeous half February day on the water.

Dr. Ken Neill

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/02/06/healthy-grin-report-5/

Jan 30 2021

February Sea Bass Season Opens Monday

January 30, 2021

Virginia’s February recreational black sea bass fishing season starts February 1st and ends on February 28th. The Feds and VMRC have done a good job managing this fishery, there are some really large ones available now. Below is a link they’ve provided to learn about the required permit and reporting requirements that are critical for Virginia to continue participating in this special recreational season.

(https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/mpermits/index.php)

Pictured above is a 8 lb 11 oz fish caught by M. Okonek off Virginia Beach onboard the Rudee Angler December 27, 2020. It’s the largest recorded Virginia Citation sea bass since 2000. The Rudee Angler will be running February trips on Wednesdays Saturdays and Sundays. If you would like to get in on the action you better book ASAP. It looks like their Saturday trip are sold out already.

Tautog and Flounder are are also available for those fishing ocean wrecks.

Speckled Trout were available in the rivers and near the east jetty at Little Creek a week ago. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish”n Charters said the Rudee Inlet bite has been unusually slow.

A number of Rudee Inlets crews are rigged and ready for giant bluefins just in case they come in range. A few guys have been out looking, but nothing yet. There have been some reports off Oregon Inlet, near the tuna hole.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/01/30/virginia-beach-fishing-report/

Jan 20 2021

Existing VA State Record Swordfish Crushed!

January 20, 2021

swordfish

A 597-pound swordfish, caught September 25, 2020 by Nicholas Kontodiakos of Norfolk, VA, has been certified as the new Virginia State Record by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Kontodiakos’ catch surpasses the existing record of 466-pounds, caught on August 16, 2019, by Tony Gower Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA.

The record setting catch was made off Virginia Beach while drifting along the southern edge of the Norfolk Canyon in 1,000 feet of water during a daytime deep dropping trip for swordfish. The massive swordfish hit a bait suspended at about 800-feet.

Kontodiakos, a rescue diver for the Navy, and fishing buddy Trey Wallace, with part time experience as a charter boat mate, left Rudee Inlet at 4:30 AM aboard the angler’s 2007, 29-foot SeeVee. After arriving at their designated location they made several long drifts and had a couple of bites that did not come tight. The lines were set for “one more drift” before they planned to head in for the day to arrive at Rudee Inlet shortly after dark. But at 3:30 PM those plans changed as the deep “buoy rod,” with a rigged dolphin belly on a blue and white skirt, came tight. After wrestling with the fish for nearly 5 hours it was clear it was a large swordfish, and when the fish was finally secured at the transom, they began to relax. But securing the fish to the transom was just round one. Round two would consist of couple of hours of stop and go, inching the fish onto the deck on each stop, tying it off and then running until they were recovered enough to resume their tug of war. Finally, with the fish on the deck and the tuna door closed, it was non-stop to Rudee Inlet.

Kontodiakos’ passion to land a swordfish began 10 years earlier while living on the east coast of Florida. He admits “I had no idea how to go about catching them.” After moving to Virginia Beach and realizing there were swordfish to be had off the Virginia coast some 60 miles plus, “I decided I needed a bigger boat.” Unfortunately, even with a bigger boat, his lack of success in Florida had tagged along to Virginia. It got so bad he sometimes had to settle for fishing alone. “No one wanted to fish with me because I never came back with any fish.” Relentlessly perusing information on the internet to aid in catching a swordfish plus talking to successful anglers along the east coast for additional insight eventually began to payoff and his success improved markedly in recent years. “I think I’ve caught a swordfish in every month of the year except maybe January.”

It was nearly midnight when the pair pulled inside Rudee Inlet. A call had already been made to alert the Virginia Beach Fishing Center of the catch and the boat’s bow was pointed straight to the Fishing Center’s main dock. Representatives from the Fishing Center were at dockside to assist and a small crowd of interested onlookers had already assembled despite the late hour.

The mammoth swordfish would weigh an incredible 597-pounds–besting the former state record by 131 pounds! The fish measured 180 inches total length with a lower jaw fork length of 111 inches while sporting a hefty girth of 69 inches. Kontodiakos used a custom Joe Leffler 80-pound class rod, teamed with a Shimano Tiagra 50 reel, spooled with 80-pound PowerPro braided line and topped off with a 25-foot, 250-pound Moni mono leader with a Mustad 7691, 11/0 hook, attached to the business end.

For more information, contact Lewis S. Gillingham, Director, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 380 Fenwick Road, Fort Monroe, VA 23651, (757) 247-2013 or [email protected]

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/01/20/virginia-state-record-swordfish-crushed/

Jan 12 2021

Fishery News, Flounder, Black Sea Bass

January 12, 2021

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Input on Summer Flounder Recreational Management

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is collecting public comments and suggestions regarding current and future management of the recreational summer flounder fishery. Input provided through their scoping comment form will help inform the development of a management strategy evaluation which will evaluate different management strategies designed to minimize discards in the recreational summer flounder fishery.

The Council is collecting this information as part of the continued progress and implementation of its Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) structured framework process.

See: https://www.mafmc.org/eafm for more information.

The Council encourages all stakeholders who have interest, knowledge, or experience related to the recreational summer flounder fishery to provide comments. The form should take 10-15 minutes to complete, and your answers will be kept confidential.

VMRC – Virginia Recreational Black Sea Bass Info

Virginia’s February 2021 Recreational Black Sea Bass fishing season will start February 1st and end on February 28th, 2021. VMRC has provided the link below to learn more about the required permit, information, and reporting requirements, that are critical for Virginia to continue participating in this special recreational season!

(https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/mpermits/index.php)

Or you can go through one of their licensing agents (https://mrc.virginia.gov/mrcagents.shtm). Agent locations may be closed to the public at this time; call ahead before picking up a permit in person.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/01/12/fishery-news-flounder-black-sea-bass/

Jan 03 2021

Virginia Beach Fishing Rundown

January 3, 2021

Happy New Year and tight lines from VBSF to all in 2021. (VBSF 2000-2021). Time sure does fly, where did the past 21 years go!

The Chesapeake Bay striper season closed on December 31. The ocean season began January 1st, with a minimum keeper size of 28 inches and a maximum size of 36 inches.

MAP: https://www.mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/striperregmap.shtm

Charles Southall, Gabe Sava, Lexi Sava and Danny Forehand decided to spend New Year’s eve ringing in 2021 with some catch and release Striper fishing on SpecialKate.

There’s still lots of large stripers in the Bay, some over 50 pounds were caught and released near Cape Charles this weekend. Most were landed while drifting live eels. If the fish are holding near the bottom, mojos might be a better option .

Speckled trout are still available inside Lynnhaven Inlet and Rudee Inlet.

Tautogs are being caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and on ocean wrecks and reefs. Fresh crab is the preferred bait for the Togs.

Some nice flounder have been caught near offshore structure.

Our excellent seabass season has come to a close, but a special permit season will open for the month of February. You can obtain a special season Recreational Black Sea Bass Permit from the Marine Resources Commission. They can be obtained online or from a VMRC Licensing Agent. Every trip must be reported online within 7 days of the trip through the Saltwater Journal or using forms provided by the VMRC. Lack of activity on the permit must be reported by March 15 through the Saltwater Journal or using the same VMRC form. You can find more information on their website.

VMRC released their last “2020 New Leader” update last week.

VA Saltwater Fishing Tournament
VA Game Fish Tagging Program

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2021/01/03/virginia-beach-fishing-rundown-23/

Dec 20 2020

Virginia Beach Christmas Fishing Report

December 20, 2020

Ken Neill Striper

Large rockfish are moving out of bay tributaries into the Bay. Look for them on the eastern side, near Plantation Light and along Cape Charles. Anglers are drifting or slow trolling eels. Mann’s Stretch 25 lures and tandem rigs are also effective. A number of healthy, fat, 45-to-50-inch fish were caught during the recent Rock Fish Shootout tournament. The crew on “Mystic Lady” took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the Shootout. They walked away with $42,785.80. Congratulations.

Slot-sized stripers in the 20-inch minimum, 36-inch maximum range are available by casting along the bridge pilings and around the artificial islands of the CBBT…. and in most rivers.

Bay Taug

Tautogs are available on structure. The bay water temperature is at 51 degrees. Once it drops below 50 the ocean wrecks will probably produce best. Fiddler crabs and quartered blue crabs are the preferred baits. The Tautog season is open throughout the winter.

Speckled trout reports are still coming in. Last week, Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle registered several citations caught in Long Creek. Greg Licurance released a 24 1/2″ speckled trout, Brian Hostetter a 25″ speck, Randy Morton weighted a 5 lb. 8 oz. 24 1/2″ fish and Paul R. Ewing registered a 24″ release. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n charters says speckled trout fishing inside Rudee Inlets is still good, a lot of short ones but some nice ones mixed in. One went 7.5 pounds and measured 28”. Mirr-O-Lures and swim baits are working well.

Sea Bass on the headboats

The Rudee Head Boats are catching lots of large seabass on the ocean wrecks. The season for the seabass closes December 31st. Some big bluefish could show near the same structures.

This time of the year captains are on the lookout for bluefin tuna rolling. Some really large ones in the 600-to-900-pound range have been off the Morehead City North Carolina coast for several weeks. Unfortunately, the bluefin capture season was closed by NOAA on December 14th.

When boats make it out to deep drop they are finding good numbers of tilefish and sea bass.

Captain Jake’s February 2020 Record

Captain Jake Hiles’s 708-pound bluefin tuna caught last year on February 16, 2020 was certified this week as the new Virginia State Record by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament’s Director Lewis Gillingham.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2020/12/20/virginia-beach-christmas-week-fishing-report/

Dec 07 2020

Virginia Beach Fishing Roundup

December 7, 2020

Catching trout with Knot Wisn’n Charters

Speckled trout anglers have been doing quite well. Lynnhaven Inlet has been especially good …… Over the recent Thanksgiving break David Dick registered a 24 ½ inch trout release, Jerry Snyder weighed a 5 lb. 9 oz fish, James Robinson a 5 lb. 4 oz. fish, Tony Masciangelo released a 24 ¾ inch fish, Richard Parmelee a 24 incher, Todd Sturtevant weighted a 5 pounder, Ryan Gingrich released a 24 inch fish and Conor McManus released a 24 ½ inch fish. Depending on how cold it gets the bite can last throughout the winter. Try using Mirr-o-lures and jerk baits.

Tautog anglers are enjoying a good bite both inside the Chesapeake Bay and on the nearby ocean wrecks. Craig Irwin’s son (above) picked up his first ever tog over the holiday while fishing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area.

Dr Ken Neill slipped out in the fog a couple of times last week and caught limits of tog and sea bass. One trip he collected 10 triggerfish and tagged smaller trigger and sheepshead. Two of the triggers weighed over 4 pounds.

The Rudee Tours headboats are running trips out to the ocean wrecks and enjoying some excellent catches of black seabass, triggerfish with a few flounder mixed in.

Soon most anglers will turn their attention to rockfish. This week boats stumbled on some larger winter fish that are moving to the lower Bay. But most fish are medium in size and still up the rivers, the Elizabeth, James, Rappahannock and Potomac. Most anglers are trolling Umbrella rigs and if they spot feeding birds, they switch up and cast buck tails, rattletraps, swim baits, and spoons into the frenzy.

CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW VIRGINIA CITATION LEADERS AS OF DECEMBER 9, 2020

CLICK TO VIEW

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2020/12/07/virginia-beach-fishing-roundup/

Nov 25 2020

Thanksgiving Fishing Rundown

November 25, 2020

Bob Caudle with a nice 6 lb 1 oz. speck!

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Fishing for speckled trout and puppy drum has been excellent, hopefully many of you can take advantage of the long weekend and get in on the action.

The trout are being caught in a number of locations. Inside Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet, Little Creek Inlet, on the Poquoson Flats, in most creeks along the bay side of the Eastern Shore and in the York and Elizabeth rivers. Live shrimp is the best bait if you can find them but a 4-inch sea shad, various Mirr-o-lures or suspending jerk baits will work.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings are holding striped bass. School-sized rock are being found in good numbers throughout the lower bay, especially at night around any bridges and piers with lights.

Dr Ken Neill, puppy drum in the Bay

Some sizable puppy drum are being caught in the inlets and rivers as well as in the ocean surf.

The tautog bite is good right now. Fresh cut crab or fiddler crabs will be your best bait. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel islands are an excellent place to target the taugs.

There’s an excellent black seabass bite on offshore structures now. The same structures are holding some quality flounder, black drum and triggerfish.

The offshore OBX charters are doing well with the yellowfin and blackfin tuna right now. Catches of wahoo are in the mix as well. There’s some red hot live bait king mackerel fishing out of Hatteras Inlet.

Eric Stevens, swordfish, congratulations!

Virginia Deep-droppers can expect good catches of sea bass, tilefish and some snowy grouper. And there are good numbers of swordfish available.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2020/11/25/thanksgiving-fishing-rundown/

Nov 09 2020

Virginia Beach Fishing Rundown

November 9, 2020

Virginia’s fall speckled trout season is in full swing. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle has been weighing in some nice 5 to 6 pounders. The specks are holding in all the usual hot spots. Look for them inside Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, Little Creek Inlet, in eastern shore bayside creeks, on the Poquoson Flats and in the York and Elizabeth Rivers. They are feeding on shrimp and minnows near marshes. Shrimp hooked under a popping cork, jigs, plugs and topwater baits are all productive.

Puppy drum are in the same areas and hitting the same baits. A few large red drum are still hanging around in the lower Bay. Anglers fishing Sandbridge, near the wildlife refuge are landing them in the surf.

Sheepshead, tautog and flounder are available inside the Bay.

Lots of school-sized striped bass are available around lighted bridged and piers.

Offshore bottom fishing continues to produce seabass in good numbers and a few large flounder, some bluefish, black drum and triggerfish.

Offshore trollers are picking up some nice tuna and a few wahoo. Many are successfully targeting swordfish and tilefish.

Congrats to the crew of the Relentless for catching a rear Opah Fish. This is one of the first opah caught recreationally in our area.

VBSF Contributors

The Rudee Head Boats are now focusing their effort on offshore trips. Their full-day and 12 hour trips have been loading up! Anglers are catching limits of black sea bass with many citation fish in the mix. Also big bluefish, triggerfish and 10 to 12 flounder each trip.

Captains Todd and Jake Beck with Knot Wishn Guide Service are finding plenty of trout inside Rudee Inlet. Lots of short fish, with a number of keepers mixed in.

Dr Ken Neill fished the Triangle Reef. While jigging for sea bass he caught a half-dozen big black drum, a bunch of small bluefish and a handful of nice triggerfish. He kept a limit of big sea bass. He finished the weekend on the artificial reefs inside the bay where he caught little sea bass, more small bluefish, pufferfish, pigfish and a good number of tautog that he tagged and released.

Captain David Wright on the High Hopes is focusing on half-day trips now.

Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle continues to weight in lots of citation fish!

Joshua Caples 46″ Red Drum Release 11/8/20
Antony Nahitchevansky 4 lb. 4 oz Grey Triggerfish 11/7/20
Stephen Gasecki 107 nlb. Swordfish 11/7/20
Bill Susewind 24″ Speckled Trout Release 11/6/20
Brian Hostetter 24 1/4″ Speckled Trout Release 11/6/20
Kelly Hoggard 4 lb. 8 oz. Grey Triggerfish 11/5/20
Michael Jones 5 lb. 2 oz. Speckled Trout 11/5/20
W. Casey Copeland 5 lb. 4 oz. 24 1/2″ Speckled Trout 11/5/20
Andrew J. Reid 25″ and 24 3/4″ Speckled Trout Releases (2) 11/5/20
Mike Firestone 24″ Speckled Trout Release 11/5/20
Ronnie Williams 39 Lb. Wahoo 11/4/20
Devin King 65 Lb. Wahoo 11/4/20
Sunny Caraco White Marlin Release 11/4/20
David Oden 25″ Speckled Trout Release 11/4/20
Cashin Prutsman 5 Lb. 6 oz. Speckled Trout (weigh citation but fish was released) 11/4/20
Matthew Venner 6 Lb. 2 oz. Speckled Trout 11/3/20
Matt Masciangelo 25 1/2″ and 24″ Speckled Trout Releases (two fish) 11/3/20
Mike Firestone 24″ Speckled Trout Release 11/1/20
Cashin Prutsman 26″ Speckled Trout Release 10/27/20

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2020/11/09/virginia-beach-fishing-rundown-22/

Oct 26 2020

Virginia Beach Fishing Rundown

October 26, 2020

Speckled trout and puppy drum fishing is great just about everywhere. Some big reds continue to be caught in the Bay and along the coast.

There have been good numbers of king mackerel along the Virginia Beach oceanfront the past few days.

Large sheepshead continue to be caught on Bay structures.

Tog fishing is picking up in the Bay.

Coastal wrecks, like Triangles are producing sea bass, flounder, and a few red snapper.

Anglers fishing off the Virginia Beach fishing pier are picking up small spot, small black drum, small trout, roundhead and few puppy drum. The water temp is 65 degrees.

Surf anglers fishing near Sandbridge continue to land big reds from the beach. Frank Marble picked up his third last week.

Offshore swordfish catches have been very good.

VBSF Contributor Reports

Captain Jake Beck at Knot Wish’n guide service at Rudee Inlet enjoyed quality speckled trout fishing inside the inlet last week. He said it’s still a bit hit and miss depending on the day and tides, but there are plenty of nice size fish around. His ocean trips got in on the hot king mackerel bite. The kings have been skying through menhaden bait balls regularly he said. There are still some spanish mackerel lingering and there are plenty of bluefish.

Rudee Tours offshore headboat fishing has been great! Numerous citation blueline tilefish have been landed weighing up to 17 pounds. Their inshore trips are picking up seabass, triggerfish and red drum. The bluefish are starting to show up on the inshore wrecks as the water temperature is starting to cool down.

Captain Nolan Agner at Aquaman Charters said they have been deep dropping for sea bass and tilefish. They’ll be running sea bass trips through end of year.

Dr Neill spent a couple of days wreck fishing inside the bay and trolling along the oceanfront. At night, he fished from his dock. Small sea bass and oyster toads were a problem at times, but he managed to also catch sheepshead, tautog, pufferfish, pigfish, pinfish, porgy, flounder, bluefish, king mackerel, red drum, perch, speckled trout, and gray trout. Nothing big. He said there’s a good amount of bait around and he saw a number of whales, as many as a half-dozen at a time. It should be a good whale-watching season.

Captain David Wright and crew on the charter boat High Hopes had an awesome day last week. They caught a limit of blueline tilefish, four of which were citations. They landed some beautiful black sea bass. Then topped the day off with two swordfish, one 78 pounds and the other 201 pounds.

VMRC Cobia News

Virginia has exceeded its recreational cobia harvest quota in the last few years and must adhere to the regulations set forth by Amendment 1 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic cobia. To keep the recreational fishery in compliance, Virginia must adjust management measures to achieve a 42% reduction to the recreational cobia fishery for the 2021-2023 seasons. Virginia must adjust seasons and vessel limits according to specific language in the Fishery Management Plan.

We are soliciting public input through this survey to provide feedback to the Commission. This information along with VMRC staff and the Finfish Advisory recommendations will be brought before the Commission for deliberation at the December 8, 2020 meeting. Final regulations for the 2021-2023 recreational cobia fishing seasons will be decided at that meeting.

The link for the recreational cobia survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S9VKQQR

The survey will be open until close of business (2:30 PM) Friday, October 30, 2020. Feel free to distribute.

Fisheries Management Staff
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
380 Fenwick Rd., Building 96
Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA 23651-1064

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2020/10/26/virginia-beach-fishing-rundown-21/

Oct 11 2020

Virginia Beach Fishing Rundown

October 11, 2020

Fall is speckled trout season! Fisherman are finding them in all three southside inlets and in the surf from Sandbridge, south. Captain Jake Beck, Knot Wish’n Guide Service, said the trout and puppy drum bite inside Rudee Inlet has been hit and miss … with some great days and some very slow ones. If you can find live “shrimp” to fish under a popping cork it’s a trout’s favorite snack. Topwater plugs and jigs with plastic tails are also effective.

Puppy drum like fresh cut bait fished under a float or on the bottom. The key is fresh. Fresh spot is my favorite for puppy drum. There have been plenty of spot around, catches have come from the piers and inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Croaker are mixed with the spot.

Captain Jake said the spanish mackerel bite turned on again last week and anglers were able to load up. King Mackerel and schools of large drum also popped up off the beach.

Frank Marble kept his annual Sandbridge, red drum in surf, release string intact by picking up a nice 49 incher this week.

Tautog action is picking up. Look for fish along the CBBT and on the inshore wrecks and reefs. Dr. Ken Neill caught 24 tautogs on a recent trip. They were tagging and releasing them, they caught two twice.

They also picked up sea bass, gray trout and red drum. Dr. Neill released his largest red drum of the season.

Hunter Southall rounded out the trip with three big sheepshead.

Our striped bass season is open and you’re allowed to keep one fish that measures between 20 and 36 inches per angler per day in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and one fish that measures between 28 and 26 inches per angler per day along the coast inside three miles. Right now look for them along the CBBT and at night near piers and jetties with lights.

The flounder are moving to deeper waters, a few were landed at the triangle wrecks this week.

Offshore, swordfish have become a very popular target. Anglers have been enjoying good action. Captain David Wright, High Hopes Charters, released an under size, 44 inch swordfish Saturday. They pulled the hook on a larger one. He rounded out his day with a nice catch of dolphin, sea bass and tilefish. Others got into a nice tuna bite as well.

Deep-droppers are finding plenty of tilefish. Remember a NOAA Species permit for both blueline and golden tilefish is required now.

The Rudee Head boats will be running offshore deep drop trips all month on Tuesdays and Saturdays. They said fishing is excellent, with citation tilefish and seabass being caught. They also had some snowy groupers brought in with the largest weighing in at 53 pounds! Inshore bottom fishing is slowing down somewhat, but they are still catching seabass with some triggerfish mixed in.

Don’t forget to reports your summer cobia catches. The VMRC reminds us that it’s time to take care of our required reports. They are due by October 21, 2020. If you have questions about how to meet your reporting requirements, you can visit the VMRC recreational cobia website at:

https://www.mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/VA-recreational-cobia-fishing.shtm

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