Great Spadefish Action On Knot Wish’n Charters

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

The weather finally gave us a break and anglers taking advantage were rewarded! Those fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay found plenty of sheepshead along the CBBT. Spadefish are on just about all structure. Nice Spanish mackerel are feeding in the tide rips. Big red drum, cobia, croaker and small spot are all available throughout the lower bay.

Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets are producing some speckled trout and puppy drum. Look for feeding bluefish to invade at anytime.

Paige II Charters On The Flounder!

The coastal wrecks are holding sea bass, flounder, triggerfish and spadefish. Spanish mackerel fishing is very good along the oceanfront.

Eastern shore anglers are finding croaker and flounder inside the seaside inlets. Tarpon are in the deeper holes. The shoals are producing big red drum and cobia.

Offshore Deep-droppers are finding excellent numbers of both golden and blueline tilefish, along with sea bass.

Mahi-mahi tops offshore trolling action. Billfish and wahoo numbers are on the rise just in time for local tournaments! We have a great lineup of big money tournaments ready to roll! The Virginia Beach Invitational Marlin Tournament just wrapped up. Next is the 45th annual White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Md. This is the biggest billfish tournament on the East Coast. Teams can fish out of Virginia Inlets and points north, but must return to Ocean City if they have a fish to weigh. Then comes the 29th annual Alice Kelly Memorial women’s only event out of Pirate’s Cove Aug. 11-12 followed by the 35th annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Aug. 13-17. After that the parties move to Rudee Inlet. The 16th annual Wine, Women and Fishing women’s only event falls on Aug. 17-19, followed by 15th annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Aug. 22-25. Even if you are not participating these are great events to checkout. Hundreds gather at the scales each evening to watch the Weigh-ins.

Knot Wish’n Charters

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

The weather hasn’t been our friend recently. The rainy breezy conditions have slowed fishing activity.

There are plenty of cobia around but they are hard to spot in choppy, overcast conditions. Chumming was the most effective method last week. A few nice fish were reported, some topping 50 pounds.

Flounder action remains excellent on ocean wrecks. Flounder are also in the bay and in local inlets. Look for them around structure and on rough bottom. Remember, big baits for big flounder.

There are plenty of spadefish hanging around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and The Cell. Sheephead are also hanging around the bridge.

Some really large red drum are in the area. Anglers fishing at night are having good success.

Boats trolling the oceanfront have been catching limits of spanish mackerel.

Pier anglers are enjoying typical summertime action, spot, croaker, flounder and trout.

Before the weather went downhill the offshore mahi-mahi fishing was excellent. Overnight charters had been returning with mahi, tilefish and seabass. Billfish action is heating up with the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament fast approaching August 22-25.

Paige II Charters

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

Flounder catches are on the rise! They’re being boated along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and on rough bottom in the Bay. Many of the larger fish are being taken around near-shore wrecks and artificial reefs. Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets are also holding flounder, along with speckled trout and puppy drum. Captain Craig Paige, Paige II charters enjoyed impressive flounder catches last week.

Cobia are being found throughout the lower Bay. Both sight-casters and angler anchoring and chumming are catching, some fish have topped 70 pounds. Remember the 2018 Virginia recreational cobia regulations. A 40-inch, total length, minimum size limit; 1-fish daily possession limit or 3-fish-daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; only one fish per vessel per day may be greater than 50 inches in total length; the season runs through September 30. All anglers, captains, and guides fishing for cobia must obtain a Recreational Cobia Permit from the Commission and report all harvest and cobia fishing activity. Permits can be obtained online here ,

Red drum remain plentiful on the shoals at the mouth of the bay. Occasionally anglers have encountered large schools on the surface.

Sheepshead are hanging around the pilling of the CBBT now. Small crabs are your best bait. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle usually has them in the live tank.

Spadefish remain plentiful. Look for them around buoys, pilings and over wrecks. The Chesapeake Light tower is a favorite spot but some of the larger fish are being found in the Bay, at the Cell near Cape Charles.

Boats trolling the oceanfront off Sandbridge are catching limits of Spanish mackerel. Anglers working coastal wrecks are catching lots of triggerfish.

Croaker are available throughout the lower bay now. Virginia piers are reporting croaker, sea mullet, pompano, spadefish, flounder and a few spanish mackerel and cobia.

The Eastern Shore shallows are holding some tarpon. Catching a tarpon in Virginia waters is special.

The offshore fleet has been finding good numbers of white marlin and a few blue marlin and sailfish. Mahi-mahi numbers are good but our tuna bite is almost non extant.

Deep-droppers are enjoying excellent catches of golden and blueline tilefish, along with sea bass.

Look for amberjack around the south tower.

Ryan Rainville and buddy with a couple of Cobia

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Cobia Cobia Cobia! Just in time for the Monarch Cobia Classic! There’s lots of big ones in the lower bay, some topping 70 pounds! Anglers are chumming up fish and then using live eels or croaker as bait. Some of the best action is coming from York Spit and the Windmill Bar area.

There’s still plenty of large red drum around. Occasionally sight casters are finding schools on the surface and casting to them. Others are being caught using live bait while anchored up. And flounder anglers drifting live bait are catching some as well.

Our flounder fishing has picked up and a larger class fish is available. Ocean wrecks have been holding the biggest fish. Drifting live baits or jigging wrecks or the pilings of the CBBT with buck tails tipped with cut bait or Gulps has been doing the trick. Robert A. Bradshaw JR. caught a 9 lbs 4 fish jigging at the CBBT to take the lead in the Virginia Saltwater Citation Tournament.

Large spadefish are here again! For the past couple of years the size had been decreasing but this year anglers are landing nice fish in the 7 to 8 pound class. Spades can’t resist clam bits floated in front of them.

Spanish Mackerel are available along the oceanfront and in the lower bay.

Croaker, spot, and white perch are available in the rivers and estuary feeding the Bay. Cobia, flounder, speckled trout, are a possibility in the same area.

Offshore anglers are catching mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, white marlin, blue marlin and spearfish. Deep dropping remains good for blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish and golden tilefish.

There should be good amberjack action around the south tower.

Nice flounder for Paige II Charters

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Doormat flounder have arrived in the lower Bay. Large flounder are also being caught around seaside wrecks. Remember when fishing for flounder the general rule is large baits attract large fish.

The coastal wrecks are also holding sea bass and triggerfish.

Spadefish and sheepshead are holding on structure. The spadefish can be spotted around buoys, over wrecks or near the tower. They like fresh clam strips floated in front of them. Sheepshead hang around bridge pilings and jetties, they prefer small crabs.

Spanish mackerel are in the area. Look for them along the oceanfront and in the lower bay. Most are caught slow trolling small spoons behind a planer or inline sinker. Remember the clearer the water, the longer your leader should be and the larger your sinker or planer, the longer your leader.

Cobia and big red drum are available along the oceanfront and in the lower bay. A favorite place to look for drum is on the Eastern Shore shoals. Anglers are finding cobia throughout the lower bay. Check around all the buoys, cobia love to hang close by. Don’t forget the Monarch Cobia Classic is coming up July 19-21. In addition to being a fun tournament, fishery scientists will be gathering information to further increase our understanding of cobia and Virginia’s cobia fishery.

Offshore, tuna continue to be caught at the canyons but the hot bite is for mahi-mahi. Lots of mahi have made there way up from the south. Last week a potential new world record mahi-mahi weighing 72 pounds, 14 ounces was caught off Hatteras by angler Lucas Duke age 14. If approved his catch will qualify for the Male Junior world record and potentially a line class world record depending on the tackle used.

Deep dropping remains good for blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish and golden tilefish. There should be good amberjack action around the south tower.

Justin Wilson and crew had a nice day on tile fish!

Flounder activity is improving, some nice fish have been caught on inshore and ocean wrecks. There has also been an upswing in flounder catches at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, but the wrecks have been much more consistent. Sea bass are also on coastal wrecks.

Sheepshead and spadefish are around structures like the CBBT, the tower and buoys. Fresh clams are the key to success.

Croakers are being encountered throughout the bay.

Spanish Mackerel are along the Virginia Beach oceanfront and their numbers are on the increase inside the bay.

There is a tremendous number of small cobia in the bay with enough larger fish around to keep things very interesting. Don’t forget the Monarch Cobia Classic coming up on July 19th.

Big red drum continue to be caught on the eastern shore shoals and tarpon are now a possibly in their usual holes.

Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets have been known to produce speckled trout at this time.

The North Carolina Outer Banks surf is producing sea mullet, pompano, and bluefish.

Offshore, the tuna bite has been a little slow at Norfolk Canyon lately, the best action has been up around the Washington Canyon. Dolphin fishing is good at the Norfolk Canyon and a number of both white and blue marlins have been caught. There’s scattered grass lines at 50 fathoms loaded with dolphin.

Oregon Inlet NC boats have been finding some yellow fin and big eye tuna but mostly dolphin these days.

Look for amberjack at the towers.

Deep dropping is excellent for tilefish and the occasional grouper.

With the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament playing out over the weekend 97 boats turned their attention to tuna.  Here are the tournament results from their website. First place went to Reel Emotion with 172.4 lbs, second to Wired Up with 160.2 lbs and third went to Reelin’ N’ Dealin’ with 154.8 lbs.

Largest single tuna was caught by team Reelin N Dealin at 104.9 lbs. The largest wahoo was caught by team Le Grande Slam II and weighed in at 23.0 lbs. And the largest mahi went to team Rebel at at 21.3 lbs. Congratulation to all!

VBTT LEADER BOARD 

Golden Tilefish on the Rudee Angler!

Along with the good offshore tuna fishing mahi numbers are on the rise and billfish numbers should follow. Bottom fishing remains good for tilefish and grouper.  Amberjack have arrived at the southern towers.

Inshore a few nice flounder are being taken inside the lower bay now. Spanish mackerel, cobia and schools of red drum are being encountered along the oceanfront and on the bay. There should be some king mackerel available near shore. The cobia and red drum hot spot seems to be the eastern shore shoals. Sheepshead are holding on structure and the spadefish are at the Chesapeake Light Tower and over most all wrecks.

Down in Carolina, OBX surf anglers are catching sea mullet, pompano, spanish and bluefish. Soundside fishermen are catching trout and spot. The OBX pier reports go like this, Avalon: spanish early and sea mullet. Nags Head: spanish. Jennette’s: spanish, flounder and spades. Outer Banks: trout, sea mullet, flounder, black drum and taylor blues.

Inshore boats are having good luck with ribbon fish, spanish, bluefish and amberjack.

Offshore Captains are enjoying outstanding catches of yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, wahoo and mahi.

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

There are plenty of options for Virginia saltwater anglers at this time of year!

The spadefish and sheepshead are on structure now. Most of the big spades are coming from the Chesapeake Light Tower, an 11-pound fish was weighed in this week. 9 pounds is the minimum size for a state trophy recognition citation. The sheepshead are hanging around bridge pilings. Look for both these fish to thicken up at the Bay Bridge Tunnel and The Cell.

Red drum and cobia are available through out the lower bay. The cobia action is outstanding. They are being caught from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to Windmill Point. Catches have also been made along the oceanfront, in the surf and on the Buckroe Pier. Anglers are chumming and sight casting, but sight casting seems to be how most fish are encountered. There should be plenty of cobia around for the Monarch Cobia Classic.

Schools of Red Drum are being spotted while searching for Cobia. Anglers fishing the bottom with cut bait are picking up the drum as well. The area around the Bridge Tunnel Islands and the Eastern Shore shoals are hot spots.

Flounder action is picking up inside the bay. Large flounder are showing up near the bridge tunnel. An 8-pound fish was weighed last week. There have been some catches coming from inside Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets as well.

Speckled Trout catches are on the rise. Gulp baits and paddle-tailed plastics are producing best. But top water baits seem to be producing  a larger class fish.

Anglers trolling the oceanfront are catching spanish mackerel and encountering cobia and red drum.

Virginia’s offshore tuna action has picked up just in time for the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament. Yellowfin and bigeye tuna catches are showing up on local docks. To the south boats have found tuna busting on the surface and were able to catch them by casting. There have been some good tuna catches reported to our north, by boats fishing from Ocean City, MD. So now Virginia captains will have to decide which way to run each morning. Dolphin are available and our first billfish have been caught.

Offshore bottom fishing remains good. Some of the VBSF charter sponsors run these trip on request. The Rudee Angler has been running trips. You need to book early!

The OBX/Hatteras surf is providing pompano, bluefish, and sea mullet. There has been some large sharks landed in the Nags Head and Hatteras surf.

Nice Spadefish caught onboard Aquaman Charters

By Dr. Ken Neill, III | Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association Member

Cobia have arrived in the bay in force. Fishing has been good for both chummers and sight fishermen. While cobia are getting most of the inshore buzz, red drum fishing remains excellent on the shoals at the mouth of the bay. Schools of big red drum are also being encountered by angler sight-fishing for cobia and by anglers trolling the oceanfront for Spanish mackerel.

Spanish mackerel are being caught along the oceanfront and have begun to move on into the bay. Some nice catches of spadefish have been made at the Chesapeake Light Tower and over some of the coastal wrecks. More are showing on structures inside the bay. “Nice” means by today’s standards, not the 9 and 10 pound spadefish we used to catch.

Some really nice sheepshead (by any standard) are being caught at the CBBT. Flounder are showing some promise this year. Fishing for them has not been great the past few years other than around the ocean wrecks. Catches were good on the seaside this spring and more are being caught in the bay so hopefully we will have a better summer.

Medium and small croaker seem to be plentiful in the rivers where some nice early spot are being caught. Speckled trout seem to have survived the winter freeze and decent numbers of puppy drum have been around.

Offshore action has gotten off to a late start. Tuna fishing has been good out of Oregon Inlet all spring but it took until June for the yellowfin to move closer to us. They are here now in range of Virginia Boats. Nice  bigeye tuna are mixed with the yellofins. Offshore action should swiftly heat up now.

Spencer Elford has won pretty much every youth angling award that Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association offers. Now as a teenager, his winning ways continue. He and two of his friends: Joel White and Dylan Copeland fished the first annual Cobia East Coast Championship. With no adults to get in their way, the three boys landed a 79.7 pound cobia which easily won first place in the tournament. They walked away with $5,000 and they also won the youth angler award.

Another popular tournament for PSWSFA members is the Gloucester Boys and Girls Flounder Tournament. The tournament will be on July 14 with a captains meeting on July 13. New for this year will be a special PSWSFA Member Division. The largest flounder caught by a club member will earn you $300 in addition to any other prizes you may win.

Soon after that is the Monarch Cobia Classic, July 19-21. For more information about the Monarch Cobia Classic and to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.odualumni.org/cobiaclassic

Nice Drum On Key Dreams Charter!

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

The hot weather is here and the summer fishing pattern is setting up in Virginia waters.

The cobia season is open and anglers are catching. Both chumming and sight casting are working! Anglers sight-fishing for cobia are also seeing large schools of red drum. Even prior to the season opening numerous trophy cobia release citations were registered. Remember all anglers, captains and guides fishing for cobia must obtain a Recreational Cobia Permit from VMRC and report all harvest and cobia fishing activity.

Don’t forget the Old Dominion University Alumni Association annual Monarch Cobia Classic coming up in July!

Spanish mackerel and taylor blues have arrived along the oceanfront. Anglers trolling for bluefish and spanish are also encountering the large red drum and cobia.

Eastern Shore flounder catches remain strong inside the seaside inlets.

The coastal wrecks are holding good numbers of sea bass and there should be some triggerfish. Spadefish can be found over the wrecks and flounder can be found around them. Spadefish are being caught at the Chesapeake Light Tower. A nice class of sheepshead have shown up in their usual holding spots. Small bluefish and striped bass are still holding around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel islands.

Offshore anglers making a long run south out of Virginia or fishing from Oregon Inlet have been experiencing one of the best tuna seasons in years. The big eye tuna numbers have been off the charts and so have the size of the yellowfins. Many, many of the hooked tuna have been lost to the sharks. A couple of boats fished their way back to Rudee Inlet this week and reported good tuna fishing all the way. The good tuna conditions are moving closer to the Virginia charter fleet. Offshore bottom fishing remains strong for tilefish and sea bass.

Water Temps

Ches Bay Bridge: 77.0 F
Cape Henry: 76.0 F
Kiptopeke: 78.6 F
Duck NC Pier: 77.9 F
Oregon Inlet Sound side: 79.1 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 76.7 F
Hatteras Surf: 79.7 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 80.3 F

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

As Memorial Day rapidly approaches the spring saltwater fishery continues to improve almost everywhere.

Sheepshead are hanging around the CBBT pilings and other structure in the lower bay.

Red and black drum are plentiful on bay shoals near the eastern shore.

Cobia have enter our waters but our season is closed for a few more days, it opens June 1st. There are massive numbers to our south off of Nags Head, headed our way!

Striped bass and bluefish remain around the CBBT islands.

Spadefish should be available at the Chesapeake Light Tower.

There have been some nice size bluefish caught inside Lynnhaven inlet. Some puppy drum and sizable flounder are showing inside both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. The flounder should be available around coastal wrecks and along the CBBT anytime.

Flounder catches remain very good in the seaside inlets on the eastern shore. Some large striped bass are being caught in the surf on the eastern shore.

Tuna fishing is red hot to our south. A few Virginia boats have been making the run. Some very large yellowfins and lots of bigeye tuna are awaiting crews. Some of the yellowfins have topped the 90-pound mark. Dolphin and an occasional blue marlin round out catches. A little closer to home tilefish and grouper are being caught by deep-droppers.

Sea bass season is open and catches are good on the ocean wrecks. In seabass news, Dr Ken Neill reports that the sea bass regulations have been set again. As previously planned, we will not have a fall closure this year. This came in doubt when some northern states protested the sea bass plan, but that now has been resolved. Sea bass will remain open for the rest of the year with a 15-fish bag limit and a 12.5-inch minimum  size.

http://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/fr950.shtm

Water Temps

Ches Bay Bridge: 71.0 F
Cape Henry: 71.0 F
Kiptopeke: 71.6 F
Duck NC Pier: 72.9 F
Oregon Inlet Sound side: 76.1 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 69.7 F
Hatteras Surf: 75.7 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 74.3 F

Our next report will be Jun 4th.

Nice size Bluefish in Long Creek caught by Bob Caudle 11lb 12oz

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

The first cobias of the season have entered Virgina waters. Anglers targeting drum have caught-and-releases a few. Looks like there will be plenty around when the Virginia season opens June 1. Our cobia season should peak around the same time as the Monarch Cobia Classic, scheduled for July 19-21.

Now that the tautog season has closed some are targeting sea bass. The sea bass season opened May 15th.

Sheepshead are holding around CBBT structure as are striped bass. The spring striped bass season is open; and anglers can keep two slot fish between 20 to 28 inches long. Bluefish are mixed in with the stripers.

Flounder fishing is picking up. Flounder catches remain good inside of seaside inlets on Virginia’s eastern shore.

Plenty of red and black drum are still on the shoals on the northern side of the bay.

North Carolina surf anglers fishing Cape Point continue to catch red drum. Pompano, big chopper bluefish and sea mullet have been available as well.

Offshore Virginia boats are either making a long run south to get in on some outstanding tuna fishing off Carolina or they are deep dropping closer to home for tilefish and grouper. The Rudee Angler and Aquaman Charters have been doing very well with the tile and grouper.

Offshore boats out of Hatteras and Oregon Inlets have added great dolphin catches to their already great tuna catches. Plenty of mahi, plus yellow fin, blackfin and big eye tunas. A 690 lb Blue Marlin was just caught and there are some wahoo around. The Hatteras Offshore Invitational Marlin tournament was held this week, congratulation to the winners. Sea Toy – 1st Place Calypso – 2nd Place Goombay – 3rd Place.

Water Temps

Ches Bay Bridge: 68.0 F
Cape Henry: 68.0 F
Kiptopeke: 69.6 F
Duck NC Pier: 66.9 F
Oregon Inlet Sound side: 76.1 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 63.7 F
Hatteras Surf: 75.7 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 74.3 F

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Many of our spring species have found their way to the Chesapeake Bay and our coastal waters.

Our tautog action is still good and should remain so through the close of the season. The Tog season closes from May 16 thru June 30.

Red and black drum are here in numbers and fishing for them should continue to improve over the next few weeks. Fishing fresh crabs, clams or live bait produces the best action. Remember, all red drum over 26 inches must be released. So far the best action on both red and black drum is coming from the Eastern Shore.

The Eastern Shore inlets near Assateague, Chincoteague Oyster and Wachapreague are the hot spot for flounder right now. Anglers drifting flounder rigs across shallows are hooking keepers. A flounder rig with a minnow tipped with a strip of squid works well. Some flounder are also available around Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets.

Striped bass and bluefish are hanging around the bridge tunnel islands. The bay’s spring striped bass season opens May 16. The small striped bass must meet the 20-inch minimum size. Anglers will be able to keep two striped bass each measuring between 20 and 28 inches. One of these two fish may be longer than 36 inches, as the trophy season will still be open. A permit is required for any fish larger than 36 inches and you must report the catch. There is not a special permit or reporting required for the 20- to 28-inch fish.

Sheepshead and spadefish have arrived. Look for the sheepshead on  structure and around the bridge tunnel piles, and the spades around bay buoys and the light tower.

Croaker have shown up under piers on the lower bay and in the York River.

Anglers have started catching cobia off Hatteras and the fish should start arriving in Virginia waters any day. The Virginia season does not open until June 1. Our cobia season should peak around the same time as the Monarch Cobia Classic, scheduled for July 19-21.

Offshore a few bluefin tuna along with bigeye and yellowfin tuna are available for anglers making the long run to the southeast. A few Rudee inlet charter boats are making the run. Fishing should pick up closer to home in the coming weeks. Deep-dropping is producing plenty of blueline tilefish and some big golden tiles. A few snowy grouper and bluefish have also  been boated. The Rudee Angler has been enjoying some great deep drop action lately!

On North Carolina’s Outer Banks the red drum fishing continues to be good around Hatteras Island. Surfcasters are  catching bluefish, speckled trout, puppy drum, blow toads, a few striped bass and lots of skates.

In the sound, speckled trout and small striped bass have been caught on the Manteo Nags Head causeway bridge.

Boaters are finding cobia off Hatteras Inlet. That action is only going to get better in the coming weeks. Coastal wrecks should be holding amberjack, spadefish, triggerfish and sea bass.

Yellowfin and blackfin tuna are providing outstanding action for boats sailing from both Oregon and Hatteras inlets. Dolphin numbers are on the rise. The season’s first billfish and wahoo have been boated.

Anglers are reminded to use caution while navigating through Rudee, Oregon and Hatteras Inlets, as shoaling continues to be a big problem.

Water Temps
Cape Henry: 65.7 F
Kiptopeke: 65.1 F
Duck NC Pier: 57.4 F
Oregon Inlet Sound side: 73.6
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 60.6
Hatteras Surf: 70.7 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 71.6 F

Great fishing aboard the Rudee Angler!

By TH Spangler | Connie Barbour

Tautog, red drum, black drum, striped bass, flounder, trout and croaker are all available in Virginia waters now.

The best flounder fishing is taking place in our seaside inlets. The tautogs are being caught on structure, near shore and in the lower Chesapeake Bay.

Red drum are here and will be available throughout the lower bay for several weeks. Many anglers like to set up near the rock islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel for them. Occasionally they can be spotted swimming on the surface. They also love to feed on the shoals near the Eastern Shore.

Black drum anglers don’t forget the Fourth Annual Black Drum Chase. It will be held May 11th-20th and you can sign up at Chris’ Bait and Tackle on the Eastern Shore.

The trophy striped bass season is open and fish over 40 pounds have been weighed in.

The first sheepshead are here and the cobia will be arriving soon. Cobia are already being caught off Hatteras NC. Remember the Virginia cobia season does not open until June 1. Don’t forget about the 2018 Cobia Bowl July 19th-21st. The Cobia bowl, now known as the Monarch Cobia Classic looks to be bigger and better than ever!

Offshore the tuna fishing remains very good to our south. A few Virginia Beach Charter Boats are now available for the long run to the tuna. Offshore bottom fishing for tilefish and grouper is very good. The Rudee Angler just returned from a great trip. The sea bass season will re-open again May 15 and the blueline tilefish season opened May 1.

Down on the Other Banks of North Carolina surf anglers are catching red drum, sea mullet and jumbo bluefish near Buxton. Anglers fishing off the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway are catching small trout and small puppy drum.

The OBX pier report sounds like this. Avalon: trout, sea mullet, bluefish and drum. Nags Head: slow. Jennette’s: sea mullet and bluefish. Outer Banks: bluefish.

Boats fishing along the beach near Oregon Inlet are catching albacore and lots of bluefish. The Headboats are catching sea mullet and bluefish.

The OBX offshore fleet is enjoying fantastic tuna fishing, yellowfin, blackfin and bigeye are all available. So are the dolphin, with some being gaffers. A few wahoo and billfish round out the catch.

Water Temps
CBBT: Not Available
Cape Henry: Not Available
Kiptopeke: 60.3 F
Duck NC Pier: 55.6 F
Oregon Inlet Sound side: 64.2 F
OI offshore Buoy @ 60 feet: 61.9 F
Hatteras Surf: 67.3 F
Diamond Shoals Tower: 75.4 F