Reports

Apr 08 2018

Warmer Hatteras Water Brings With It Red Drum Bite

April 8, 2018

By Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Strong harsh winds have made it nearly impossible for Virginia anglers to do much fishing lately. Everyone is still waiting for calmer, warmer days and a speckled trout, red drum bite. Water temperatures remain a bit on the chilly side.

Tautog action should still be good on the ocean wrecks and at the CBBT when weather permits. There have been a few reports of flounder being landed near inlets in deeper water.

Last week Outer Banks surf anglers enjoyed an outstanding run of big red drum at the Point in Hatteras, and to the south to Ocracoke inlet. Water temps finally hit the 60 degree mark there. Anglers are also finding puppy drum, sea mullet, blow toads and even a few croaker.

The Outer Banks offshore fleet fishing of out of Oregon and Hatteras Inlets are catching lots of yellowfin tuna. Their catches have also included blackfin tuna, king mackerel, wahoo and even a blue marlin or two.

Water Temps

Cape Charles: 49.1 F
Cape Henry: 50.0 F
Kiptopeke: 49.4 F
Duck NC Pier: 54.1 F
Oregon Inlet Surf: 52.1 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 51.5 F
Hatteras Surf: 60.0F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 64.4 F

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/04/08/report-hatteras-red-drum/

Mar 31 2018

Easter Week Fishing Report For Virginia Beach

March 31, 2018

By DR Ken Neill III | Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association

So, what has been happening out on the water so far? In addition to the great bluefin fishing out of Oregon Inlet, both yellowfin tuna and some bigeye tuna have been caught. Blackfin tuna are being caught out of Hatteras. As early as late January, big red drum were being caught out of the Hatteras surf during that early spring we had. Typically, about 2 weeks after that bite starts, we get them here on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. It was simply way too early, but there were rumors of both red and black drum encounters on the seaside. Then winter came back and stopped that talk. Now that spring has come back, expect the red and black drum fisheries to begin soon.

We had a winter fish kill that affected speckled trout, juvenile red and black drum, mullet and even striped bass. We will see if this has a significant impact on our fisheries with speckled trout being the greatest concern. The population appeared to be healthy and growing this past fall.

Striped bass have made their moved into the bay and rivers and are available for catch and release fishing until May when there are some open seasons. Anglers practicing catch and release in the rivers have also caught some puppy drum with some of those in the keeper-slot range.

Boston mackerel have made a showing and some have been caught by gill-netters in the bay. Tautog are the main fishery at the moment with the coastal wrecks being the most productive location. Bay structures have produced some fish during the warm times then shut down after the snow events. The bay will turn back on quickly as water temperatures raise a bit. The fish are there, it is just their activity level that is affected.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/03/31/fishing-report-chesapeake-bay/

Mar 30 2018

Virginia Saltwater Fishing News

March 30, 2018

By DR Ken Neill III | Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association

Virginia Saltwater Fishing News

Spring has sprung and a new fishing season is upon us. There have been some changes for this year and likely, there will be more to come.

Shark fishing has become even more regulated this year. Anglers fishing for sharks in federal waters must now use non-offset circle hooks. They also have to have a special shark endorsement with their HMS permit. We catch sharks in state waters but if you do have an HMS permit (used to be your tuna permit) for fishing offshore, you have to abide by circle-hook rule even in state waters if you are fishing from an HMS permitted vessel. You can get this endorsement online, while ordering your permit. You watch a video on shark identification which is followed by a quiz.

NOAA has been encouraging anglers to release shortfin makos for some time. Now you will have to release most any that you catch. The possession limit is still one fish per boat but the minimum size has been increased to a 83-inch fork length.

There has been a good run of large bluefin tuna. We are allowed to keep one “trophy” bluefin tuna per vessel per year but what has become the norm, this fishery has been closed early again this year. The current bluefin tuna regulations allows for the retention of one bluefin tuna per vessel per day measuring at least 27 inches but less than 73 inches fork length.

The bluefin tuna have been large this spring. Before the closure of the trophy season boats out of Oregon Inlet, along with some boats making the run south out of Virginia, experienced great action on fish in the 500 plus pound class. On the last day the trophy fishery was open, an 877 pound bluefin was weighed in as the pending North Carolina record. Big tuna continue to be caught but now must be released.

Tautog regulations have been relaxed a bit. The bag limit has been increased to 4 fish. Minimum size is 16 inches. The season length has been greatly increased with a closure from May 16 through June. It is open the rest of the year.

Sea bass is another fishery that has been expanded. We had an open fishery this February for the first time in many years. The regulations for the rest of the year will be set at the April VMRC meeting but are expected to be an opening May 15 with the season open the rest of the year, without the one-month closure in the fall that we have had for a number of years. We also expect to have a January and February sea bass fishery for 2019 but keep following this.

The keeper-size for flounder has been reduced to 16.5 inches. The bag limit is 4-fish per person.

Tilefish regulations are undergoing major changes. We had no regulations from Virginia on north. When this fishery was “discovered”, Virginia enacted regulations while waiting for the federal system to catch up. Virginia cannot set regulations for federal waters but can regulate what is brought into Virginia. We have had a 7 fish tilefish (combined species) and a 1 fish grouper bag limit with a year-round fishery for a number of years. The federal system has caught up with tilefish (no changes with grouper so still just Virginia’s one per person bag limit). We now have an 8-fish golden tilefish bag limit and that fishery is open year-round. Blueline tilefish was closed. It will re-open May 1 and remain open through October under the most bizarre bag-limits I have ever seen. Recreational anglers will have different bag limits based on the type of boat they are fishing from. If you are on an inspected vessel (those licensed to carry more than 6 passengers) your bag limit is 7 fish. Examples of these boats here are the High Hopes and Ocean Pearl. If you are fishing from most charter boats, your bag limit is 5 fish. If you are fishing from non-charter boat, your bag limit is 3 fish. These new blueline tilefish regulations come with new federal reporting requirements. These new requirements are not being applied to those fishing under the 3-fish bag limit this year. We still have Virginia’s mandatory permit and reporting requirements for tilefish and grouper.

Cobia regulations have been very contentious the past couple of years with federal managers using data that is simply unbelievable to many. Virginia did not go along with a federal closure and set very conservative regulations for state waters. This year, the ASMFC is involved with cobia management and we are working to get better data. Based on what data we have, a 3-year rolling soft quota has been set. This gives us a number to aim for but will not require a fishery shut down if we get some crazy spike one year in survey estimates.

Virginia had the option of relaxing cobia regulations this year. We could have increased the boat limit to 4 fish, gotten rid of the “only one over 50 inches”, and gotten rid of the no-gaffing provision. A bit surprisingly, the vast majority of anglers and charter captains who weighed in favored keeping the boat limit at 3 fish and keeping the only one big fish rule. They did want to get rid of the no gaff rule. There were a number of options on the season with the majority favoring a June 1 opening and remaining open through the end of September. The second most popular choice was a May 15 opening and a September 16 closure. Personally, this second option was my favorite and I have not gaffed a cobia in years. What I supported at VMRC was what was most asked for by recreational anglers and that is what passed. I was rather proud of Virginia’s anglers supporting regulations more conservation oriented than we could have done.

So for 2018, our cobia season will begin on June 1 and you can keep fish through September. The daily bag limit remains 1 fish per person up to 3 fish per boat. Only one fish per boat may be over 50 inches. The minimum size is still 40 inches. The prohibition on gaffing is removed but please do not use a gaff unless you are sure it is fish that you are going to keep. The free Cobia Permit along with mandatory reporting is still required for an ongoing effort to get more accurate data.

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about the Cobia Bowl. The Cobia Bowl was begun as a fun way for anglers to help gather information about Virginia’s cobia fishery and to help raise funds for fisheries research. Due to great sponsorship support and angler participation, this fishing tournament has been a great success. We are pleased to announce that we have even bigger and better plans for 2018. The Cobia Bowl is joining forces with the Old Dominion University Alumni Association for the Monarch Cobia Classic. Our goal is to create the largest cobia tournament on the East Coast. We invite Cobia Bowl sponsors and anglers to join us for what will be a fantastic event with great fishing, bigger parties, and even more fun all while supporting great causes. The Monarch Cobia Classic will raise funds to support scholarship and research. This event will be held July 19-21, during the peak of the cobia season. For more information about the Monarch Cobia Classic and to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.odualumni.org/cobiaclassic

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/03/30/virginia-saltwater-fishing-news/

Mar 23 2018

Virginia Beach Saltwater Fishing Report

March 23, 2018

tautog virginia

By VBSF Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Virginia Beach anglers need four or five warm days in a row to kick off the speckled trout, puppy drum seasons inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. A few warm days will lure bait into the shallows and the predators will follow.

Cold inshore water is holding up our big red drum bite. But a few warm days will take care of that as well. Then look for reports to start coming in from the Outer Banks of NC and along Virginia’s Sandbridge. The bite will quickly turn on in the shallows of Virginia’s Eastern Shore and in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Bay anglers will also be targeting large black drum with fresh clams.

Tautog fishing is good on the ocean wrecks when you can find a weather window. Dr. Ken Neil fished a half day recently and caught 8 tautog.

Rockfish are available inside the rivers, but must be released.

On the Outer Banks NC surf anglers reported slow fishing last week. With the water temperature on the beach in the low 50s it’s hard to find a consistent bite. We need water temps in the low 60’s. A few red drum were beached at the Point though, but action is not very consistent. There’s a steadier bite found on the southern beaches of Ocracoke Island.

Anglers fishing Jennette’s Pier are catching a few dogfish on frozen cut bait fished using bottom rigs.

Offshore boats running out of Oregon Inlet are finding plenty of big bluefin tuna. Along with the bluefins are some yellowfin tuna and even some wahoo. Blackfin Tuna are available off Hatteras. Hatteras boats are doing some bottom fishing as well this time of year.

Water Temps

Cape Charles: 42.4 F
Cape Henry: 42.6 F
Kiptopeke: 43.0 F
Duck NC Pier: 43.9 F
Oregon Inlet Surf: 44.1 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 44.1 F
Hatteras Surf: 52.3 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 70.0 F

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/03/23/fishing-report/

Mar 12 2018

Excellent Virginia Tautog Fishing

March 12, 2018

vbsf taugs

By VBSF Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Despite three nor’easters in a row, anglers have found small windows of fishable weather.

Tautogs are available on the ocean wrecks and at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Last week Jamal Esfahani and crew had an incredible day. They weighed their largest fish (9 lb 13 oz) at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle. They tagged and released 27 citation size taugs.

Our local head boats are catching codfish, red hake and pollock.

The speckled trout and puppy drum should start arriving on the shallow flats inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, on the James River and in the Eastern Shore creeks as waters warm.

Down in Hatteras NC puppy drum are being caught on the south side of Cape Point and around Ramp 48. There was a big Red Drum run at the point February 29th and 30th.

Bluefin tuna are still around. Last week the boat Seawolf caught a 116-inch, 835 lb, new NC State Record monster bluefin tuna while fishing off the Outer Banks NC.

Water Temps

Cape Charles: 43.3 F
Cape Henry: 43.0 F
Kiptopeke: 43.7 F
Duck NC Pier: 43.3 F
Oregon Inlet Surf: 47.1 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 55.8 F
Hatteras Surf: 51.1 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 73.6 F

Be cautious while running offshore. The endangered right whales are active off the Virginia North Carolina coast from November to April.

Also be on the lookout for floating objects. The Coast Guard has received reports from cargo ships about lost shipping containers in recent rough seas.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/03/12/excellent-virginia-tautog-fishing/

Feb 27 2018

Virginia Tautogs and North Carolina Tunas

February 27, 2018

virginia beach fishing

By VBSF Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Virginia’s bottom fishing for sea bass and tautogs is still good when weather permits. Unfortunately our short sea bass season closes tomorrow.

North Carolina tuna fishing is excellent when boats can get out. Blue fin tunas have generated most of the excitement. Boats fishing out of Oregon Inlet are finding a few blue fin tuna in the 250 to 600 pound range. Yellow fin tuna are also available. Black fin tuna can be jigged up off Hatteras Inlet.

There has been some puppy drum reported along Hatteras beaches. UPDATE 3/1/2018 – Big Red Drum blitz took place February 29th and 30th at Cape Point, Hatteras.

Water Temps
Cape Charles Water Temperature: 45.5 F
Cape Henry Water Temperature: 47.1 F
Kiptopeke Water Temperature: 47.3 F
Duck NC Pier Water Temperature: 48.7 F
Oregon Inlet Surf Water Temperature: 50.7 F
Hatteras Inlet surf Water Temperature: 58.6 F

Be cautious while running offshore. The endangered right whales are active off the Virginia North Carolina coast from November to April. You can read more: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/02/27/virginia-tautogs-and-north-carolina-tunas/

Feb 19 2018

Sea Bass and Tautog Fishing Excellent

February 19, 2018

By VBSF Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Our mild February temperatures allowed anglers to hit the water again and they were rewarded with some excellent sea bass and tautog catches. Yesterday, Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle weighed in these nice tautogs (above), ranging from 9 to 12 pounds.

Captains running offshore to bottom fish are seeing large schools of stripers 30 to 50 miles out, well beyond the 3 mile limit.

A few local head boats have been anchoring and chumming over wrecks, and are catching codfish and pollock.

Dr. Ken Neill checked in after his last trip. He said at about 20 fathoms his crew saw porpoise, whales and some bird activity. They did not stop, but he told his crew to have their tuna jigs ready on the ride home. He has found bluefin tuna in those conditions. When he got to his wreck it was loaded with sea bass. Conger eels were also prevalent. They did not catch a single dogfish. They caught a limit of sea bass with fish to over 5 pounds. On the way in, they did not see the same activity they spotted on the way out, but there were some birds, and slicks. When he slowed down, they saw some big bunker floating on the surface. They had just missed something. They cruised around and saw some fish marks. They dropped their jigs and hooked up. No tuna or bluefish, but a lot of big rockfish. They moved around a bit to see if they could find a tuna or bluefish. After a few tries with only rockfish to show, they left them alone and headed in.

Remember the Virginia black sea bass season only runs through Feb 28. A no-cost recreational species permit along with your regular saltwater fishing license is required to catch the sea bass.

Down on the outer banks of North Carolina, surf anglers have found drum between Frisco and Hatteras. The bluefin tuna are off the outer banks right now and some very impressive fish have been weighed. Commercial crews are catching lots of yellow fin tuna.

Water Temperatures
Cape Charles: 42.6 F
Cape Henry: 42.8 F
Kiptopeke: 42.8 F
Duck NC Pier: 44.4 F
Oregon Inlet Surf: 48,0 F
Hatteras Inlet Surf: 56.1 F

The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament announced there will be no changes to citation requirement in 2018.

Be cautious while running offshore. The endangered right whales are active off the Virginia North Carolina coast from November to April. You can read more: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/02/19/sea-bass-and-tog-fishing-excellent/

Feb 06 2018

Virginia Black Sea Bass Season Open

February 6, 2018

By VBSF Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

The Virginia black sea bass season opened Feb 1 and runs through Feb 28. Remember, a no-cost recreational species permit along with your regular license is required to catch sea bass. The head boats will be running trips; and we should have some good reports coming. In the mean time cod, large red hake, cunners and pollock have been keeping head boat anglers busy while fishing the ocean wrecks.

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

Recently Dr Ken Neill fished some ocean wrecks. On the ride out he said the boat became covered in ice from the spray. Once they arrived their destination the water was warmer and they were able to use buckets of it to thaw the deck so they could stand. They fished a number of wrecks, catching sea bass, tautog and spiny dogfish. Because of the numerous dogfish they were forced to use jigs on the sea bass. They targeted the togs with green crabs. They had three fish weigh enough for trophy-fish citations: two sea bass and one tautog.

Beth and Kevin Synowiec fished the canyon January 27. On their first drop they caught two fish each, a large golden tilefish and some nice sized red hakes. They continued catching with each drop, with many producing two fish at a time They finished the day with large red hakes, golden tile fish, a large black belly rose fish and a alfonsino fish.

On North Carolina’s OBX beaches the fishing slowed a bit with just a few reports of slot red drum coming from near Hatteras Inlet and some black drum and red slot drum from near the Frisco Pier.

Offshore there has been a few blue fin tuna and some limits on yellow fin tuna.

Cape Charles Water Temperature: 39.7 F
Cape Henry Water Temperature: 39.6 F
Kiptopeke Water Temperature: 37.8 F
Duck NC Pier Water Temperature: 40.8 F
Orogen Inlet Surf Water Temperature: 43.7 F
Hatteras Inlet surf Water Temperature: 50.7 F

Be cautious while running offshore. The endangered right whales are active off the Virginia North Carolina coast from November to April. You can read more: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/02/06/virginia-black-sea-bass-season-open/

Jan 24 2018

Mid-Winter Virginia North Carolina Fishing Report

January 24, 2018

Outer Banks Marina Wanchese. North Carolina

By VBSF Staff | TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Now that the super cold weather has broken anglers are finding there way back out on the water. The fridged icy water took a toll on some Chesapeake Bay stripers and our local speckled trout population. Hopefully not to many were stunned to death. The bay water is still way too cold for much fishing. At Cape Charles the water temperature is 39.0 F. Cape Henry it’s 39.6 F and at the buoy off Duck NC it’s 40.6 F

Anglers making the long offshore run to the canyons are finding lots of spiny dogfish waiting for them. Mixed in with the dogfish are a few golden tilefish and hake. They are being caught on jigs and fresh bait. The blueline tilefish season is closed right now. On a recent trip to the canyon Dr Ken Neill’s crew caught a rare beardfish. The headboats are finding some cunners, taugs and pollock on nearshore wrecks. The black sea bass season is closed. Black sea bass seasons are Feb 1-Feb 28, May 15-Sept 21, Oct 22-Dec 31.

Down on the Outer Banks of North Carolina surf anglers have found some slot size red drum on Frisco and Hatteras beaches. The first giant blue fin tunas have been showing up on commercial docks in Wanchese. Carolina captains are also finding some yellow fin tuna.

Be cautious while running offshore. The endangered right whales are active off the Virginia North Carolina coast from November to April. You can read more: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/01/24/mid-winter-virginia-north-carolina-fishing-report/

Jan 23 2018

News Release – Mid Atlantic Council Meeting in Raleigh

January 23, 2018

Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh/Crabtree Valley
3912 Arrow Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
Telephone 919-703-2525

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s February 2018 meeting to be held February 13-15, 2018 in Raleigh, NC. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh/Crabtree Valley, 3912 Arrow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612, Telephone 919-703-2525.

Meeting Materials: Briefing documents will be posted at http://ww.mafmc.org/briefing/february-2018 as they become available.

Public Comments: Written comments must be received by Wednesday, January 31, 2018 to be included in the Council meeting briefing book. Comments received after this deadline but before Thursday, February 8, 2018 will be posted as “supplemental materials” on the Council meeting web page. After that date, all comments must be submitted using an online comment form available at available at http://www.mafmc.org/public-comment.

Webinar: For online access to the meeting, enter as a guest at: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/february2018.

Agenda

PDF Agenda

Tuesday, February 13th

1:00 p.m. Council Convenes

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Risk Policy Framework and MSE
John Wiedenmann and Doug Lipton

Council discussion on integration of more comprehensive social and economic analyses into MAFMC MSE model developed to evaluate Council risk policy and ABC Framework

Council Staff

Risk policy and butterfish specifications

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Climate Change and Fisheries
Bradford Dubik/Elizabeth Clark (Duke University)

Trends in average commercial fishing locations over time in response to shifts in species distribution

Jim Morely (Rutgers)

Discuss future direction of Rutgers/MAFMC Climate Velocity COCA project

Wednesday, February 14th

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Ricks E Savage Award

9:15 a.m. Demersal Committee Meeting as a Committee of the Whole

9:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures

Adopt 2018 Federal waters management measures (tabled motion from December 2017 meeting)
Review state proposals for 2018 February fishery
Discuss progress on LOA Framework

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial Accountability Measures Framework – Meeting 2

Review and approve preferred alternatives

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. Council Convenes

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Council Habitat Update

Progress towards a Regional Fish Habitat Assessment
Council engagement on Offshore Wind Energy Planning
Habitat projects of interest (GARFO/Habitat Conservation update)

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. North Atlantic Right Whale 5-Year Review and Reinitiation of Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Fishery Biological Opinions
Michael Asaro (NMFA PRD)

Update on the status of right whales and a summary of recent research
Overview of consultation on commercial fisheries under Section 7 of the ESA
Update on planned activities of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 2018

Thursday, February 15th

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes

9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session

Committee Reports
Executive Director’s Report, Chris Moore
Science Report, Rich Seagraves
- Review final draft of EAFM Risk Assessment
Law Enforcement Reports
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
- U.S. Coast Guard
Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Regional Planning Body
Continuing and New Business

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/01/23/news-release-mid-atlantic-council-meeting-in-raleigh/

Jan 11 2018

Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for Atlantic Cobia Management

January 11, 2018

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia as they consider revising the current management system. Public hearings will be held via webinar with public listening stations beginning January 22, 2018. Information on the proposed changes is now available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. Written comments are also being solicited using the online comment form available from the website page.

Atlantic cobia are managed in federal waters along the Atlantic coast from Georgia through New York in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; two voting seats are provided to the Mid-Atlantic Council on the South Atlantic Council’s Mackerel Cobia Committee. This arrangement provides an opportunity to include the views of constituents from Virginia northwards. Cobia in federal waters off the east coast of Florida are considered part of the Gulf of Mexico migratory stock. The management boundary for the two stocks was modified following a 2013 stock assessment and annual catch limits for each stock were set. NOAA Fisheries determined the recreational catch limit for Atlantic cobia was exceeded in 2015, leading to a shortened season in 2016. Cobia harvested in both state and federal waters count toward the annual catch limit. Subsequent overages occurred during 2016 and the recreational fishery was closed in federal waters on January 24, 2017.

In order to provide for effective management and fair and equitable access to the Atlantic cobia fishery without reducing protection to the stock, the Council is considering a range of alternatives for managing Atlantic cobia, from complementary management with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to removal of Atlantic cobia from the federal management unit. The ASMFC recently approved an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Cobia that will be implemented in April 2018. Should the Council choose to remove Atlantic cobia from the current federal management unit, the ASMFC Interstate Plan would be applied to both state and federal waters, allowing for additional management flexibility.

Public Hearings for Atlantic Cobia Management

(Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan)

Public hearings will be conducted via webinar with listening stations as noted below. Attendance at the listening stations is encouraged but not required. During the public hearings, Council staff will present an overview of the amendment and will be available to answer questions via webinar. Area Council members or state agency representatives will be present at each of the listening stations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record via webinar or at the listening stations to record their comments for consideration by the Council.

January 22, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Port Royal Sound Maritime Center: 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office: 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division: One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31523

January 23, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

Hatteras Community Center; 57689 NC Highway12, Hatteras, NC 27943

January 24, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

Haddrell’s Point Tackle: 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (The Maritime Building); 2500 Washington Ave., 4th Floor, Newport News, VA 23607 *Note: The VA location is a state-organized listening station and was arranged to provide the public in Virginia the opportunity to attend and provide comments in-person.

Registration for each webinar is required. Registration information, along with public hearing documents, video presentations, and other materials is now available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. An online public comment form for written comments is also available. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. February 9, 2018 to be included in the briefing book materials for the Council’s March 5-9, 2018 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA.

The Council is also asking for public input on the timing of measures proposed in Amendment 31. A Stock Identification Workshop for Cobia is scheduled to begin in April 2018 as part of a benchmark stock assessment Atlantic cobia. For additional information, contact Christina Wiegand, Fishery Social Scientist at [email protected] or contact the Council office at 843/571-4366.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2018/01/11/12671/

Dec 31 2017

Happy New Year! Tight-lines In 2018!

December 31, 2017

Lance Shores and a nice 6 pound flounder!

Frigged winter weather has set in on the lower Chesapeake Bay, but that didn’t stop some very hearty anglers from closing out the bay striper season with a bang. A number of fish topping 40-pounds were weighted the finale week.

Now it’s time to turn our attention to ocean waters. The Virginia coastal season for striped bass opens January 1st and we can continue harvesting stripers until March 31st. The coastal waters start at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and extend seaward 3 miles.

The water temperature at Cape Henry was 47.8 F today, and a buoy located off Duck NC at 36.260 N 75.594 W reports 49.6 F. And dropping FAST!

Our offshore wrecks are holding sea bass and flounder. There are schools of bluefish around and this time of year where there’s bluefish there could be a bluefin tuna or two.

Captain Jake Hiles fished the triangle wreck December 29th. They found plenty of hungry sea bass. Some of the fish were in the 6-pound class. They also caught bluefish with one qualifying for a release citation at 36 inches. They spotted several square miles of stripers mixed with bluefish under birds east of Chesapeake light tower. Unfortunately any stripers (rockfish) beyond the 3 mile limit are illegal to keep. Capt Craig Irwin fished offshore structure December 22nd for flounder and sea bass using light tackle and jigs. They had consistent action all day and caught some nice fish up to 6.5 pounds. On December 29th Captain Skip Feller on a Rudee headboat put his anglers on sea bass as well!

On the Outer Banks of North Carolina most action is south of the Oregon Inlet Bridge. Anglers fishing the Avon and Buxton beaches have found some puppy drum and trout; Frisco anglers added some flounder, black drum to 7 pounds, and speckled trout to 22 inches. The dogfish have been biting at Ramp 44 and there were scattered reports of puppy drum and speckled trout just north of Cape Point.

Only one boat ran offshore from OI and they caught some black fin tuna. In Hatteras the commercial king mackerel fishing has been good trolling or using live baits.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM VBSF!

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2017/12/31/happy-new-year-tight-lines-in-2018/

Dec 06 2017

Virginia State Record Gray Triggerfish Certified

December 6, 2017

A 6-pound 12-ounce gray triggerfish, caught on November 1, 2017 by Dave Walden of Yorktown, VA has been certified as the initial Virginia State Record for the species by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The record-setting gray triggerfish measured 18.5 inches (TL) and the fish sported a robust 17-inch girth.

Walden was bottom fishing off the Virginia Beach coast over the Chenango wreck site, which is located on the western edge of a seamount known as the Cigar, some 50 miles east of the coast. Walden was a member of a make-up charter trip for an “over-nighter” aboard the Underdog skippered by Captain Jake Hiles. The crew left the dock at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center at 2 AM and started trolling in vicinity of the Cigar around first light. After a few hours with no action the crew opted for bottom fishing for sea bass at the nearby Chenango site. Seabass provided steady action and a limit catch seemed in their future when Walden hooked a fish “that was clearly not a seabass” according to Captain Hiles. As the fish reached the surface mate Robert Mudgett grabbed the leader and unceremoniously slung the fish aboard. Walden was using a Shimano Tarmar rod mated with a Shimano Torium reel spooled with 30-pound Power Pro braided line. Attached to this rig was standard bottom rig, baited with strips of squid, with a 12-ounce lead sinker on the terminal end. The Chenango wreck site lies in surprisingly shallow water for such a distance from the coastline, at approximately 100 feet.

Gray triggerfish was added to the list of eligible species for state record consideration in 1996 with an initial qualifying weight of 6 pounds. In 1999, gray triggerfish was added to the Citation list of eligible species for both weight (4 pounds) and release (20 inches). Walden’s fish is the first gray triggerfish registered which met the 6-pound minimum established for initial state record recognition.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2017/12/06/virginia-state-record-gray-triggerfish-certified/

Jul 14 2017

New Virginia Golden Tilefish State Record

July 14, 2017

A 58-pound golden tilefish, caught on June 27, 2017 by Joshua Jung of Virginia Beach, has been certified as the new Virginia State Record for the species by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The record-setting tilefish measured 47.5 inches (TL) and the roe-laden female sported a 32-1/4-inch girth.

Jung was fishing off the Virginia Beach coast and just south of the Norfolk Canyon aboard the private vessel Canyon Abyss skippered by Josh’s dad Carl Casamassina. The group of four left East Beach Marina, located just inside Little Creek Inlet, mid-morning on a planned combination overnighter and deep-drop trip in the vicinity of the Norfolk Canyon. About 4 pm Jung hooked the record-setting tilefish in 640 feet of water using a simple bottom rig baited with squid and cut fish on a well-traveled Penn Fathom Pinnacle rod mated to a Penn 40 DL DHS lever drag reel spooled with 40-pound spiderwire braid. An urgent 20 minute wrestling match followed, as several large sharks were seen in the area, and once on the surface, the fish was quickly boated.

Golden tilefish was added to the list of eligible species for state record consideration in November 2006 with an initial qualifying weight of 40 pounds. Jeffery Dail was the initial record holder, with a 44-pound golden tilefish caught on April 29, 2007. Dail’s record was bested by Charles Maresh on September 22, 2007 with a 53-1/2-pound tilefish. Aaron Sledd landed a 56-1/2 tilefish in June of 2008 and held the current state record fish prior to the certification of Jung’s 58-pound tilefish. The International Game Fish Association All-Tackle record for golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaelonticeps) is 65 pounds, 3 ounces, was set in August 2012, landed in New Jersey and caught at Poormans Canyon.

For more information, contact Lewis S. Gillingham, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 968 S. Oriole Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, (757) 491-5160, [email protected].

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2017/07/14/new-golden-tilefish-press-virginia-state-record/

Aug 04 2015

New World Record Spinycheek Scorpionfish

August 4, 2015

Roger Burnley and a new world record.

This 4 pound 6 ounce Spinycheek Scorpionfish has been approved as the All-Tackle World Record by The International Game Fish Association. Roger was fishing at the Norfolk Canyon onboard the Healthy Grin.

This is the second IGFA All-Tackle World Record caught on the Healthy Grin this year. Johnny Boyd established the All-Tackle World Record for Carolina Hake earlier this year with a 5 pound 10 ounce fish. A total of twelve IGFA All-Tackle World Records have been set on the Healthy Grin.

Roger has caught three of the Healthy Grin world-record fish. In addition to his Spinycheek Scorpionfish, Roger has set the world record for snowy grouper twice and he holds the current Snowy Grouper IGFA All-Tackle World Record at 70 pounds 7 ounces.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2015/08/04/new-world-record-spinycheek-scorpionfish/