The Sea Breeze, with Captain Ned Ashby

It may be the slow saltwater season in Virginia … but it’s a great time to pull the cover off the boat and get things ready to go. Anglers have been hitting local flea markets and tackle shops for fresh line or a new reel or two.

It’s a different story in North Carolina. Things are really picking up offshore on the OBX’s …  March is tuna time! … There has been an outstanding blue fin tuna bit off Oregon Inlet. The commercial guys did well and now the charters are collecting their one per year limit. Anglers from around the world show up to charter and take advantage of the limit. The yellow fin and black fin tuna bite is also picking up, limits have been caught recently. Some large mako sharks (in the 300 lb class) have crashed baits as well.

The short Virginia black sea bass season has ended and lots of scientific data was collected. Don’t forget, if you were issues a special permit you must report even if you didn’t catch or fish. If you don’t you may not be eligible to participate next year. March 15th is the deadline for reporting your activities under this permit. Reports can be conveniently reported through the online Virginia Saltwater Journal (https://www.vasaltwaterjournal.com).

Virginia anglers have lots to look forward to over the coming weeks. By the end of March we should be enjoying some good tautog action. Atlantic mackerel will also be available. Local charter captains are taking advance booking for 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.

Lots to look forward to!

Virginia Beach, Long Bay Pointe Report –

Dr. Ken Neill and crew on the Healthy Grin returned to the wrecks for more sea bass action this week. This time Stan Simmerman caught the trophy fish, a state citation sea bass. The boat Playin’ Hookey got in on the  action as well. They caught fish in the 4 to 5 pound class and had one qualify for a state trophy citation. Ken said the bluefish were not as plentiful as they were on his last trip. The dogfish are still thick, but everyone managed to land a nice catch of sea bass.  He also landed a lone blueline tilefish, which was released.

Back at the dock VMRC fishery personnel measured, weighed and counted everyone’s fish. The February sea bass fishery is a closely monitored recreational fishery. You have to have a special permit, call VMRC before you head out, call again when you return and be met at the dock. Ken said, “if this sounds like a lot it is … but it really hasn’t been a problem at all. The VMRC people, both fisheries and law enforcement, have been friendly and appreciative. They are making up for decades of zero federal “wave-one” catch data during this special fishery, which has turned out to be a big science project.”   Permits can be obtained online here or at an VMRC Licensing Agent. Reporting can be done online through the Saltwater Journal or using forms provided by the VMRC.”

Fishing offshore Virginia Beach last week the boat Diehard got into some nice February yellowfin tuna and picked up a wahoo as well.

On North Carolina’s outer banks there have been reports of puppy drum around Hatteras and near ramps 43 and 44.  Offshore conditions have been snotty, but those who fished picked up some yellow fin and blue fin tunas, one blue fin dressed out at 400 lbs.

In cobia news, NOAA fisheries has announced changes to cobia management in Atlantic federal waters. This change removes Atlantic cobia from NOAA’s fishery management plan. Atlantic cobia will now be managed under the purview of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, because the majority of Atlantic cobia landings are in state waters. The final rule is effective on March 21, 2019.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/node/64346

Virginia Beach, Long Bay Pointe Report –

Virginia’s sea bass fishery is open, it’s a special one-month fishery, highly regulated and designed for data collection. A special, no-cost permit is required, 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.

All this is an effort to collect data on this wintertime fishery that we once had, but has been closed for several years.  When asking federal managers to reopen this fishery one objection has been that no information was known about this “Wave 1” fishery. VMRC stepped up and basically said they would collect the data if you will give our recreational anglers a winter season. So for the second year now, we have this “trial” one-month fishery.

The Rudee Angler (Head boat) enjoyed a successful sea bass trip. Everyone limited out in about an hour. Jim Baugh was onboard filming and got some incredible footage. He will be producing a show … watch for it. Jim will be at West Marine April 13 cooking up some of the sea bass at a cooking demonstration. The first trip on the Rudee Angler was sold out, so if you want to get in on the action call ASAP.

Dr Ken Neill and crew on the Healthy Grin also spent the first two days of the sea bass season on the ocean. They caught a 5-person, 75-fish limit on February 1. Two fish were heavy enough to earn trophy-fish citations of at least 5 pounds in weight. February 2nd, they caught a 6-person, 90-fish limit with more meeting citation minimum. They also caught multiple bluefish each day and a 9-pound hake. Boats were met at the dock each day by a very friendly VMRC biologist who measured and weighed a selection of the catch.

Anglers are finding a few tautogs on ocean structures.

A few giant bluefin tuna are showing up on docks from Virginia Beach down to Morehead City NC. There have been some nice size yellowfin and blackfin tuna caught off the OBX.

The Virginia Beach Boat Show is coming up February 8th –10th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. If you have been thinking about buying or upgrading, now might be the time to do it, all the big dealers will be there.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet March 6-7, 2019 at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront (3001 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, Telephone 757-213-3000).

Agenda and Briefing Materials
http://www.mafmc.org/briefing/march-2019 

Virginia Beach Fishing Report – Long Bay Pointe

Well … we have officially entered our off-season. Fishing opportunities are very limited in January and February.  Only the most hardcore anglers can deal with the frigid weather.  But what better time of the year for a boat show! The Virginia Beach Boat Show is comming up February 8th –10th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. If you have been thinking about buying or upgrading, now might be the time to do it. The boat show offers some great show specials and all the big dealers will be there.

The best news off the water this week is the tautog action is picking up on inshore structures. Dr Ken Neill put the Healthy Grin over some nice fish Saturday.

Some stripers have been marked 15 miles offshore, well beyond our legal waters. The Bay season of course is closed.

The black sea bass season is closed until February 1st. It tentatively reopens the 1st and runs through February 28th. The Rudee headboat will be running sea bass trips on Saturdays. They fill up very early, so give them a call as soon as possible.

North Carolina

The puppy drum have moved well south of Hatteras Island. Dogfish and skates are in the surf all most anywhere you wet a line. There should be some puffers around for those who enjoy the tender nuggets.

The big OBX news is that the Skirt Chaser, out of Oregon Inlet has caught the first blue fin tuna of the season. The fish measured 65 inches. There are also some nice yellowfin around.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.