Large Stripers In Chesapeake Bay, Swordfish Offshore

Long Bay Pointe, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Report – Next report December 29th

 

The weather has been a hindrance some days; but anglers remain focused on an excellent striper season….. And just in time for local rockfish tournaments, the super sized fish are providing the action. 40 to 60-pounders have hit the scales. Most of these large fish are coming from the eastern side of the Bay, Plantation Light to Cape Charles, where boats are drifting and slow trolling with eels. School-sized rockfish are also available for anglers casting along bridge pilings and the artificial islands of the CBBT. Find diving birds and you usually find the fish close by. Some larger stripers are also in our rivers.

The local speckled trout bite has slowed; it was nice to see a comeback from the widespread kill resulting from the hard freeze of last winter. The average speck was around 22-inches, but a few gator-sized fish stretching from 27 to 30-inches were caught.

Tautog numbers should be picking up on the lower Bay and on coastal structures. Jumbo sea bass are available on many ocean wrecks along with scattered catches of triggerfish. Seabass become off limits at the end of the year, the open recreational seabass season is February 1 through February 28 and May 15 through December 31. Some big bluefish could also still make a showing near these same structures. This is the time of year boats are on the lookout for bluefin tuna rolling in some of these same areas. A lot of giant bluefins have hit the docks to our south, in Morehead City NC.

Riley Grace and crew, three nice swords

When boats can get out deep droppers should find tilefish around the Norfolk Canyon. Big seabass and bluefish are a good bycatch, as these fish often compete in the same areas. Those targeting swordfish off Virginia Beach have been rewarded with some nice fish recently.

North Carolina Outer Banks

The Kitty Hawk to Nags head beach has been slow, with mainly sea mullet and bluefish reported. Anglers fishing the little bridge in Manteo are catching speckled trout and stripers using soft plastics. Soundside anglers are reporting striped bass being caught around bridge pilings. Oregon Inlet has produced a few speckled trout and stripers.

Surf fishing on Hatteras beaches has been more productive. Large sea mullet, puffers and sheepshead are feeding on shrimp. A good number of bluefish are being caught on cut bait. Large speckled trout have been in the deeper holes along the beach. Flounder have been caught around Ramp 43. Puppy drum are scattered from Buxton to Frisco. A few citation red drum are at the point but action has slowed down lately.

Offshore trips have had a rough time with the weather but when they get out they are finding lots of false albcore, blackfin tuna, a few yellowfins, some bigeye tuna and a few wahoo.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/12/16/large-striper-in-chesapeake-bay-swordfish-offshore/

December, Striper Time In Virginia

VBSF, Long Bay Pointe Report – Next Report December 15

Aquaman Charters Photo

December … local tackle shops, marinas and boat ramps are buzzing with activity as anglers prepare to hit the water in search of giant stripers.

December is big rockfish season on the lower Chesapeake Bay and it’s off to a good start. Some monsters have already hit the scales over on the Eastern Shore. These big fish usually show first around Plantation Light and the area between the CBBT and Cape Charles. Anglers drifting live eels usually catch the larger fish. With each incoming and outgoing tide anglers should find fish all along the CBBT. A smaller class fish is usually encountered on the south side with the larger fish coming from the north end of the bridge. Dr Ken Neill says boats fishing up the bay, around the buoy 42 area have found lots of fish on the surface.

Several tournaments are planned during peak striper season. The Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout is December 6th thru the 8th. Teams can leave from any port in Virginia but must weigh fish in at King’s Creek Marina in Cape Charles. And the 10th Annual JMU Rockfish Duke Club Tournament is Thursday, December 13th through December 15th.

Jimmy Kolb

Speckled trout fishing has been outstanding inside Lynnhaven Inlet for a couple of weeks. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle has weighed a number of citation fish. Most fish have been caught on Gulps or on Mirr-o-lures. As the weather continues to cool Mirr-o-lures retrieved very slowly will work best.

With striper season wide-open tautog fishing has temporarily taken a back seat, but the bite should continue to improve for anglers targeting them.

Healthy Grin Sportfishing

Fishing ocean structures has been excellent for sea bass, triggerfish and chopper bluefish. The tilefish have been cooperating for those running offshore to deep drop. The Rudee Inlet head boat will be running sea bass trips throughout December. Boats fishing in 500 fathoms  have found good numbers of bigeye tuna.

A giant bluefin tuna encounter this time of the year is always a possibility for anglers trolling the ocean for stripers or bluefish. Theses giants usually show somewhere between Virginia Beach and Morehead City NC each winter.

Outer Banks NC Rundown

Anglers fishing the Outer Banks of North Carolina are catching a few trout and bluefish. Hatteras Island anglers have been catching sea mullet, bluefish, some trout, blowfish and a few drum. Sound fishermen are catching stripers. Stripers usually hang around the bridges on the west side of Roanoke Island in December.

When the wind lets up the OBX offshore fleet is catching lots of meat fish, yellowfin, blackfin tuna, dolphin, swordfish and wahoo.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/11/30/december-striper-time-in-virginia/

Nice Speckled Trout Action

Long Bay Pointe Report, Virginia Beach
NEXT REPORT DECEMBER 1

Anglers have been enjoying a nice speckled trout bite inside Lynnhaven, Little Creek and Rudee Inlets. Some large fish, 5 to 6 pounds have been caught inside Lynnhaven. Pictured is Casey Copeland and  Doug Garnet with 5lb 12oz specks caught inside Lynnhaven.

Striper fishing will take center stage soon. Striper fishing on the lower bay is good to excellent Thanksgiving through New Years. There have already been large fish taken in the Bay to our north. As the weather continues cooling these fish will move into local waters.  Although most of the action is still to our north and in rivers, Long Bay Pointe reports keeper-sized fish at the CBBT. The best action comes at night under the lights.

Bay tautog fishing is slow but nearby ocean structures are producing. Sea bass, bluefish and triggerfish are also available. Sunday, Wes Blow and Chris Boyce reported a nice limit of seabass to 18 inches. While  diamond jigging for bluefish they got a surprise catch, a 48.5 inch black drum.

A few boats made it offshore and returned with yellowfin and bigeye tuna. The Rudee headboats are running sea bass trips and doing well. These trips will continue through December.

Carolina Report

Surf anglers from Nags head to Hatteras are catching sea mullet, blow toads, small bluefish and trout. Large sharks and some red drum are being caught at the point in Buxton.

Soundside anglers are catching a few trout. There should be some stripers feeding around the bridge pilings on the west side of Roanoke Island.

The OBX pier reports go like this, Avalon pier reports trout and puppy drum. Nags Head Pier has seen trout, flounder and blues. Jennette’s is catching small blues. The Outer Banks pier is catching lots of blow fish and some trout.

The offshore fleet return to the bluewater after a bunch of blow days and caught blackfin, yellowfin, wahoo, mahi and king mackerel.  Captains targeting swordfish have been catching. The king fishing is red hot off Hatteras now.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/11/19/nice-specks-trout-action/

Speckled Trout, Stripers, Red Drum

Rudee Inlet Trout, Knot Wish’n Charters

Long Bay Pointe Report

Virginia Beach – The speckled trout bite is good inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Connie Barbour says the bite inside Lynnhaven is still hot with more keeper size fish arriving. Good reports are also coming from Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the waters around Poquoson, VA. Most of the trout are in the 14 to 20 inch range.

Lynnhaven Action!

Rockfish numbers are on the rise throughout the Chesapeake Bay and it’s tributaries. Fish are being caught on the James River, the York River and the Elizabeth River.  Other good locations are along the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and keeper size fish are at the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

A few spot and croaker are still available in the lower bay and inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets.

The bay water temperature has dropped to 63 degrees. As soon as it drops into the 50’s we should start seeing the tautog bite pick up.

The Rudee Inlet head boat recently ran a sea bass trip. They caught plenty of sea bass and a few nice triggerfish.

The Virginia offshore charter boats have had a tough time getting out; rough seas have kept them at the docks the past few days.

Outer Banks North Carolina Rundown

Anglers fishing the point at Buxton have been catching a lot of Red Drum. More than a dozen big ones to 46 inches were landed yesterday. From Kitty Hawk down to Hatteras anglers are catching small trout, sea mullet and bluefish. Some of the bluefish caught near Hatteras have measured 20 inches.

The Avalon Pier is reporting trout and sea mullet. The Nags Head pier has been slow. Jennette’s pier reports a lot of small trout, nice sea mullet, pompano, black drum and puffers. The Outer Banks pier reports specks, gray trout, sea mullet, black drum, spot and puffer.

Boats fishing inshore around the inlets are catching spanish mackerel and bluefish. There should be some smoker kings a little farther out. The gulfstream fleet is catching a few wahoo, some mahi, and a decent number of blackfin and yellowfin tuna.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/11/09/speckled-trout-stripers-red-drum/

Speckled Trout Action Peaking, Stripers Are Getting Hungry

Long Bay Pointe Fishing Report

Virginia Beach – Speckled Trout action is peaking! The specks are available inside Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet and the Eastern Shore creeks. Anglers are using soft plastics and Gulps! Along with the trout, an occasional puppy drum. Pictured below is Kathy Cooper and her husband Chad, they enjoyed a beautiful day inside Lynnhaven catching specks.

Kathy Cooper

Chad Cooper

There should still be some nice flounder hanging around. They are usually found near ocean structure this time of year. Not many anglers are targeting them, but they should be there.

Tautog fishing has been slow but as water temps continue dropping the bite should pick up.

42 inch Striper caught under the Great Neck Bridge!!!

Rockfish numbers are increasing daily. Most are coming from the rivers, the Rappahannock, James, Elizabeth, and Potomac. The CBBT area is always holding a few fish. Connie at Long Bay is reporting a lot of keepers in the 20 to 30 inch range being caught.

Offshore boats have been stuck at the docks, as weather has not cooperated. If the offshore conditions settle down, the latest satellite imagery has a nice warm water eddy well with in reach of Virginia boats.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/11/02/speckled-trout-action-is-peaking/

Speckled Trout In The Creeks, Drum In The Surf

Long Bay Pointe Virginia Beach Fishing Report

Speckled trout action is picking up inside Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet and in Virginia’s Eastern Shore creeks. Anglers are catching a lot of undersize fish but there are keepers mixed in. Leadheads matched with a twister tail or Gulps are the most popular bait, however topwaters seem to be catching the larger fish.

Puppy drum, some in the 20 to 28 inch class are in the same areas as the specks. Larger red drum are still  being caught in the bay and in the surf from Sandbridge  to Hatteras.  On a recent trip Craig Paige (Paige 2 Charters) and crew had a great day landing 20 red drum, several were citation release size. As a bonus they got a 7.5 lb flounder and a 9 ft sand tiger shark.

Anglers are starting to target stripers inside the rivers and inlets. They are also available around islands of the CBBT.

We still haven’t had our big spot run. The big yellow bellies should show anytime.

Tautog fishing is just around the corner as water temps continue to drop.

Offshore, there were nice kings caught inshore before the blow. Tilefish, snowy grouper and other bottom dwellers continue to bite well for those deep dropping. Off Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet they have had some nice hauls of blackfin tuna, a few yellowfin and big eyes,  some mahi-mahi and wahoo. Crews that have been targeting swordfish have been having success.  Elson Myers caught a 530 pounder last week.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/10/23/speckled-trout-in-the-creeks-drum-in-the-surf/

October! King, Marlin, Dolphin, This, That!

Long Bay Pointe Report

Virginia Beach, VA – The king mackerel bite gets top billing this week! Virginia anglers are landing them in the 40 to 50 pound class … Pretty work!

The offshore bite has been excellent. Anglers are landing some wahoo and releasing a good number of white marlin and a few blue marlin. There are still plenty of mahi around. Captain Dave on High Hopes Charters found plenty for his crew on this trip. This is great late season action!

Our ocean wrecks are producing seabass, triggerfish and a few flounder. Craig Irwin and crew had a  fine day on the wrecks.

Large red and black drum are beginning to leave their summer hangouts in the bay. Reds are still being landed on the shoals, but numbers are now increasing along the oceanfront in the surf. Beth Synowiec landed this nice black drum in the bay near Cape Henry.

Cobia are on the move as well. For a few days there were cobia on just about every buoy in the lower bay but numbers are decreasing. Remember cobia season is closed; all fish have to be released.

The Bay striper season opened October 4th. Anglers are now allowed to keep 2 rockfish between 20-28 inches per day. However, one fish may be over 28 inches in a 2 fish limit.

Small stripers have been reported around the CBBT islands and kayakers have been catching them around the rocks at Rudee Inlet. There are some large bluefish mixed in at both locations. Captain Craig Paige on Paige 2 Charters got into some large bluefish at the islands, he released this nice 37-inch citation fish.

The bridge tunnel is still home to some nice sheepshead.

Henry and Luke Bolin did some father, son fishing inside Lynnhaven Inlet Saturday and caught a dozen nice spot, a dozen croaker, two speckled trout and a few black drum and puffers.

Captain Bill on Key Dreams Charters enjoyed a nice day on the bay doing some family fishing. They caught 6 flounder up to 20 inches, spanish mackerel, sharks, puffers, and seabass.

OBX Report

The bluefish bite is good in the surf south of Oregon Inlet. There are some scattered mullet and pompano also available. Large drum are starting to show in the surf.

Soundside anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported trout, bluefish and some keeper stripers.

OBX Pier Fishing Report: Avalon: trout and drum. Nags Head: bluefish, spades, black drum, spanish and trout. Jennette’s: pompano, black drum, trout and bluefish. Outer Banks: spanish and blues off the end, pompano, sea mullet and trout.

Red Drum are being caught at Avon. Other species being caught there are bluefish, sea mullet, puppy drum, and pompano.



Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/10/09/october-kings-marlin-dolphin-this-and-that/

NOAA Request for Comments: Proposed Changes to Golden Tilefish Regulations

Noaa Southeast Regional Office Fishery Bulletin;  Request for Comments: Proposed Changes to Golden Tilefish Regulations in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region

NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule for golden tilefish.  The proposed actions would reduce golden tilefish catch limits based on the most recent population assessment.  The purpose of the action is to end overfishing (rate of removal is too high) of golden tilefish in the South Atlantic.

Comments are due by October 12, 2018

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES:

  • The proposed rule would set the total catch limit at 342,000 pounds gutted weight (lbs gw).
  • This proposed rule would also specify the commercial and recreational sector catch limits and component commercial quotas using the existing sector allocations.
  • The commercial catch limit would be 331,740 lbs gw.  The commercial quota for the hook-and-line component would be 82,935 lbs gw, and the commercial quota for the longline component would be 248,805 lbs gw.  The recreational catch limit would be 2,316 fish. 

 

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RULE:

The 15 day comment period associated with this proposed rule will end on October 12, 2018.  We will address all comments specifically directed to the proposed rule in the final rule.  You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail.  Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

 

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 83 FR 48788, published September 27, 2018

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0091.

2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.

3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Why is the reduction in the catch limit being proposed? 

  • In April 2016, a population assessment update for golden tilefish was completed using data through 2014 (SEDAR 25 Update 2016).  The update assessment indicated that the golden tilefish population is undergoing overfishing but is not overfished (population abundance is too low).
  • As mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries must end overfishing of golden tilefish.  The proposed rule for Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region reduces the catch limit based on the most recent assessment to end overfishing of golden tilefish.
  • An interim rule, which temporarily reduced overfishing of golden tilefish, expires on January 3, 2019.  This proposed rule would replace the interim measures.

What are the actions in the proposed rule? 

  • Revise the commercial and recreational catch limits for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic (See Table 1 below).   

Table 1. Proposed commercial and recreational catch limits for golden tilefish.

Total catch limit Commercial catch limit Commercial Hook-and-Line catch limit Commercial Longline catch limit Recreational catch limit
(pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (numbers of fish)
342,000 331,740 82,935 248,805 2,316

 Where can I find more information on the environmental assessment and the proposed rule?

Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

By Mail: Karla Gore

NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

By FAX: (727) 824-5308

By Phone: (727) 824-5305

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/10/05/noaa-request-for-comments-proposed-changes-to-golden-tilefish-regulations/

NOAA Bluefin Tuna Season News

NOAA Fisheries transfers 55 metric tons of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota to the General category for the October through November 2018 subquota period and closes the fishery as of Friday, October 5, 2018.

NOAA Fisheries transferred 40 metric tons (mt) from the Harpoon category and 15 mt from the Reserve category and will close the General category fishery until December 1, 2018. This action is intended to provide limited additional opportunities to harvest the U.S. bluefin tuna quota while avoiding exceeding it.

Quota Transfer:

Although a proposed rule was published to increase the baseline U.S. bluefin tuna quota from 1,058.79 mt to 1,247.86 mt and accordingly increase the subquotas for 2018, the final “quota rule” is not yet in effect. The transfers result in an adjusted subquota of 115.7 mt for the General category October through November 2018 subquota period, 28.6 mt for the 2018 Harpoon category, and 3.5 mt for the Reserve category.

NOAA Fisheries anticipates that General category participants in all areas and time periods will have opportunities to harvest the General category quota in 2018, including the December time period.

Closure of the Bluefin Tuna General Category October through November Fishery:

The General category bluefin tuna fishery will close effective 11:30 p.m., October 5, 2018, through November 30, 2018. Based on landings rates in the September 2018 fishery and the October through November fisheries in recent years and anticipated fishing conditions, NOAA Fisheries projects that the General category October through November subquota of 115.7 mt will be reached at that time.

The General category will reopen automatically on December 1, 2018, at the default one-fish level. Based on quota availability in the Reserve, NOAA Fisheries may transfer additional quota to the December subquota period.

More information can be found in the Federal Register Notice

Who is affected?

Persons aboard vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas General and Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat categories may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna after 11:30 p.m. on October 5, 2018, through November 30, 2018.

This action applies to General category (commercial) permitted vessels and to HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna.

Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of receiving bluefin tuna. Late dealer reporting compromises our ability to implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments or fishery closures and may result in enforcement actions.

Additionally, and separate from the dealer reporting requirement, General category and HMS Charter/ Headboat category vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead, within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip, by accessing the HMS Permit Shop, using the HMS Catch Reporting app, or calling (888) 872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). 

All bluefin tuna that are released must be handled in a manner to maximize survivability and without removing the fish from the water.

Download the Careful Catch and Release brochure for more safe handling tips.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/10/05/noaa-bluefin-tuna-closure-news/

Flags Are Flying At Rudee Inlet

Paige 2 Charters

Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle Report

Hurricane Florence has passed and local anglers are back at it! And the cobia and red drum have not disappointed. Fishermen are encountering schooling fish on the move; Craig Paige, Paige 2 Charters caught some large citation reds this week.

Sheepshead are plentiful around structure. Beth and Kevin Synowiec had a great catch over the weekend.

Beth and Kevin Synowiec

Anglers fishing the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier are catching sheephead, spanish mackerel, a few spot, small trout and small black drum.

High Hopes Charters

Trollers are still finding the spanish mackerel biting up and down the beach and near the islands of the CBBT. Captain David Wright on the High Hopes put his crew on this nice catch.

Ocean Pearl Charters, with Captain Steve Wray got in a good half day trip the morning. They hooked seven cobia, caught four, a 38″ (released),44″, 48″ and 57″. They found the spanish biting first thing and caught 13 keepers and a ton of throwbacks.

Ocean Pearl Charters

Captain Bill on Key Dreams Charters checked in with a nice catch. Seven nice flounder to 18″ and a 31″ red drum released to fight another day. They pulled the hook on a much larger red.

Key Dreams Charters

Flags are flying! Those heading offshore were rewarded; the white marlin bite has been on fire. Along with the whites, boats landed a mixed bag of wahoo, tuna and mahi.

CAROLINA SURF REPORT

Down on North Carolina’s outer banks surf fishing has been very good in some nice clear water. Anglers fishing from Kitty Hawk to Corolla have caught bluefish, spanish mackerel and large pompano. A few cobia have been caught in Avon. Anglers down in Hatteras are catching citation-sized sea mullet, spot, and pompano on shrimp and sand fleas. Some large spanish mackerel and bluefish are schooling just behind the  bar. Anglers at the Point have hooked some false albacore and sharks.

Look for new fishing reports every other week from now until April. We will post any news releases from the fishery agencies as they are made available.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/09/24/flags-are-flying/

Hurricane Florence Stirs Up Local Waters

By Connie Barbour, Steve Wray (Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle)

Hurricane Florence has stirred up our local waters, once things settle down anglers will again have to locate the best fishing action.

A couple of days before the blow there was some outstanding cobia fishing happening. Boats were finding large schools with dozens of fish on the surface. Anglers were casting live eels and large bucktails to them. Don’t forget the Virginia cobia season closes the end of the month.

King and Spanish mackerel had made a good showing before the storm. Anglers were encountering them along the coast, close to shore.

Red drum were still hanging around the lower bay and along the Atlantic shoreline as well.

When anglers return to the water sheepshead should still be available around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and spadefish around the buoys.

A local favorite, the Norfolk spot are located throughout the bay and it’s tributaries now. Yellowbellies begin to show in the lower parts of the rivers, and then move to more oceanside locations. By about mid to late September, these hefty spot become very numerous as they pack into inlets, hang on bars, and line structure near lower bay seaside areas.

Croaker are also are showing in the same areas. Look for the big croaker to show up along the edge of the bay shipping channels and in deep holes near Lynnhaven Inlet. Speckled trout, puppy drum, flounder and bluefish are inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets this time of year.

Offshore the mahi mahi action was excellent before the storm. The question is, will they still be available after the blow. Also our blue and white marlin season was heating up. It will be interesting to find out how the churned up water has affected their location. Offshore deep droppers had been landing some nice
golden and blueline tilefish catches prior to the storm, and it should remain a good fishery.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/09/15/hurricane-florence-stirs-up-local-waters/

Offshore Bite Heating Up

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour (Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle)

September is typically the best month for Flounder. The bite inside the bay has been picking up. The bridge tunnel is the most popular area for bay flounder. The Cell is also a good spot. Ocean structure is still producing as well.

A lot of sheepshead are being caught around bridge tunnel pilings. Lawson Freeman picked up a stray mahi at the third island last week.

Cobia are being spotted just about everywhere. Sight casters are finding them cruising the surface, be sure and check out all the buoys. The cobia season closes September 30th. The commercial cobia fishery will also close in state waters the same day.

Red drum are being caught throughout the lower bay. Locating a large school of drum is a memorable experience.

Spanish mackerel fishing remains excellent. There’s a nice class of fish available now, some topping four pounds!

Spot fishing is good in the rivers. The Rappahannock River, the Potomac River, Colonial Beach and Buckroe Pier, all good locations.

There’s been reports of puppy drum and trout inside Lynnhaven Inlet lately.

Offshore, limits of mahi are being caught by the offshore charters. The red hot white marlin bite has been in the canyons to our north, but over the past few days the bite seems to be picking up closer to home. Look for it to really turn on any day. The blue marlin, and wahoo action will pick up as well. There are some big blues out there, the Virginia Beach Billfish Tourney produced a 683 and a 440 pounder.

The Tilefish bite has been very productive, and should stay that way for a while.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/09/03/offshore-bite-heating-up/

ASMFC & MAFMC Approve Catch and Landings Limits for Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass and Bluefish for 2019

ASMFC & MAFMC Approve Catch and Landings Limits for Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass and Bluefish for 2019

ASMFC Approves Black Sea Bass Addendum XXXI for Public Comment

Virginia Beach, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) reviewed previously approved specifications for scup and established new specifications for black sea bass, bluefish, and summer flounder fisheries. The Commission also approved Draft Addendum XXXI for public comment and agreed to provide the states the opportunity to open their black sea bass recreational fisheries in February 2019.

Catch and landings limits for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries were established for 2019 only. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to state waters (0-3 miles from shore). The Council will forward its recommendations for federal waters (3 – 200 miles from shore) to NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for final approval. The table below summarizes commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits (RHL) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish (2018 values are provided for comparison purposes).

 

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/08/27/asmfc-mafmc-approve-catch-and-landings-limits-for-summer-flounder-scup-black-sea-bass-and-bluefish-for-2019/

Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Results

 

It was game on Saturday as the 80 boats fishing the 15th annual VBBT took advantage of a hot bite and racked up the points with multiple release after release.

But one boat really capitalized when a hungry blue marlin swam up behind the teaser and inhaled a circle hooked mackerel pitch bait. Two hours later, after the big fish made a desperate attempt to escape by ripping loose the gaff, angler Ed Groce had his second blue marlin and the largest ever.

Groce’s father, Ed, owns Waste Knot, based in Manteo, North Carolina. Capt. Barry Sawyer is the seasoned skipper aboard the 56 Sunny Briggs ……. READ MORE

https://www.vbbt.com/2018/08/for-the-record-books/

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/08/26/virginia-beach-billfish-tournament-results-2/

Virginia Is Entering Peak Fishing Season

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour (Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle)

September is just around the corner! And that’s peak fishing in Virginia!

The offshore waters will load up with white marlin. The whites school up off the Virginia coast until the first good autumn blow, or until a tropical storm stirs the cooler water to the surface and off they go. But until then the fishing will be outstanding. Many days charter boat outriggers will look like laundry lines as they return to port.

Our local offshore tournaments are currently underway. After some brutal offshore 20-30 knot winds at the canyons, things improved Friday for the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. 167 billfish were recorded Friday. The Katherine Anne boated a blue marlin. The 63” Paul Spencer is owned by local Brad Wachowiak and Captained by Daniel Davis. That blue weighed in at 440 pounds. Saturday is the finale day. We’ll list the results next report.

Inshore, spot are becoming numerous throughout the bay and its tributaries. Spot fishing for the big yellow bellies should peak mid September. Small to medium croakers are available all over the bay.

The spadefish bite is slowing while the sheepshead bite picks up.

Spanish mackerel and small bluefish are plentiful along tide rips and along the oceanfront. There are a few kings around. Paul McCallum picked up a nice 47 pond king while chumming off sandbridge.

Cobia and big red drum action continues and should peak in September.

Some doormat flounder are being caught; the lager flounder seem to be coming from ocean structure.

Tarpon are still inside Eastern Shore seaside inlets.

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