Virginia anglers have lots to look forward to in the coming weeks. We didn’t have much of a winter, which should be good news for species like speckled trout. And it could signal an early arrival for other species.

Tautog are already at the CBBT and on nearly all near-shore structures. Mat Lee weighed a 10-pound 2-ounce one he caught at the CBBT.

Speckled trout and puppy drum have been biting in the rivers. With the recent warm weather, they should be available inside Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets now. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Guide Service has been picking up drum recently.

Stripers are being caught in the tidal rivers, but they must be released. Richard Parmelee registered a 48-inch striper with Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle that he caught inside Lynnhaven Inlet.

OBX NC

Captain Ned Ashby and crew releasing a giant bluefin

Large red drum have been at the Point in Hatteras NC for a couple weeks.

Anglers fishing the northern OBX are catching blow toads, trout, flounder, puppy drum and sea mullet.

Tuna action out of Oregon Inlet North Carolina has been fantastic all winter. Yellowfin, bluefin and blackfin. And of course, there are plenty of sharks available.

Here’s a look ahead!

Inshore fishing was fantastic last year and there’s a very good chance this year will be even better.

As April rolls in our tautog action will continue and flounder will become a possibility. Some flounder reports are already coming from Wachapreague, Virginia.

By mid-April the big black drum will be here, in fact one has already been landed this year. 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.

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Couple of warm days and look for lots of these

The water temperature in the Bay and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront is 48.0 F. We need four or five warm days to really 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 hungry predators will follow.

The recent cold snap has most likely delayed the big black drum bite a little. But a few warm days will take care of that as well. The bite will quickly pick up on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Fresh clam is the bait of choice.

Tautog fishing is good on the ocean wrecks when you can find a weather window. This is the time of year when the larger togs can be had along the CBBT. Look for boats anchored over the rock near the islands. Yak fisherman will be fishing the bridge pylons.

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

OBX North Carolina

Luke Beard caught and released this Hammerhead Shark at Ramp 49 in Frisco

Surf water temperature still hasn’t reached the magic 60-degree mark. It’s 53.8 F, but the fish are biting.

Some nice trout and puppy drum have been caught this week from the Little Bridge to Long Shoal, and further towards the western side of the sound.

Surf fishing is picking up. There was a good puppy drum and large red drum bite at the point in Buxton Friday. Puppy Drum are scattered from Ocracoke to as far north as Ramp 4 at Oregon Inlet. Along with the drum anglers are catching puffers, bluefish, and plenty of sharks around Hatteras.

Bluefin with Captain Ned Ashby

Offshore has been tough weather wise, but a few made it out. Captain Ned Ashby took an international crew from Japan out and found plenty of Bluefin.

We have officially entered our off-season. Fishing opportunities are limited in January and February.  Only the most hardcore anglers can deal with the weather. Water temperatures are now in the mid-40’s.

The Virginia Bay rockfish season closed January 31st. Before it ended anglers took advantage and caught a lot of large fish. In the winter big ocean rockfish school up in the Chesapeake Bay as they stage for spring breeding. Trolling live eels was the best way to target these 40-50 pounders. The larger fish are usually in the main channels of the Bay, while the smaller ones will be found further up into the rivers and tidal creeks.

The recent Christmas fridged cold spell slowed speckled trout fishing some. But with the New Year warm up, anglers should be rewarded once again.

Tautog should be available on inshore and near shore structures.

The black sea bass season is closed until February 1st. Reports have it tentatively reopening on the 1st and running through February 28th.

Our next report will be in February. Should have some good seabass reports.

Be sure and book a VBSF sponsor boat and then send us your pictures for our next report!

Speckled trout are inside all local inlets, creeks and tidal rivers near the bay. Fishing on the Eastern Shore bay-side and on the Peninsula has been especially good. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters says the water temperature in Rudee Inlet is a little above normal, so far the trout are small with very few gators available yet. Quality should improve as the temperature drops.

There are plenty of school-sized striped bass available especially around bridges and docks with lights. Anglers are casting light tackle such as swim baits and bucktails.

Tautog catches at the CBBT should be on the rise. The bay water temperature is now 62 degrees. Tautog action should get better as water temps drop into the upper 50’s. Ocean wrecks often hold larger fish. Crabs are always your best bait.

Some have successfully targeted swordfish.  Deep droppers are catching tilefish and sea bass.

Inshore wrecks are holding plenty of sea bass and some tautog and flounder.

Be sure to book a VBSF sponsor boat and then send us your pictures for our next report!

Spanish on the Ocean Pearl

Water temperatures remain a warm 78 degrees at the CBBT and along the oceanfront. The weather forecast calls for a big cool down next weekend.

The last day of cobia season for recreational anglers was September 15. Catches have been great but its all catch and release now. Sight casting is most effective and live eels are the best bait. These fish will start exiting the bay and move south soon.

Dr. Neil nice slot red drum

Cobia anglers are spotting schools of large red drum in the lower Bay. Puppy drum have been biting well in Bay inlets and in the surf along the oceanfront. Kevin W. Greiner registered a 50 inch red drum release at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle on September 9^th.

Spanish Mackerel are still available throughout the lower bay and along the oceanfront.

Sheepshead catches around the CBBT are still good. Meng Qing Wang caught a 12 lb. 1 oz. sheepshead on September 10^th.

Big Flounder continue to be taken, fish up to 9 pounds. Live Spot or finger mullet is the preferred bait for the big Flounder.

The speckled trout bite is picking up in shallow water tributaries and inlets. Topwater baits have been working well for both species. Popping corks with shrimp lures work also.

Spot are being caught; some big yellow bellies are available.

The Virginia Beach Fishing pier reported some spots, a few puppy drum , a few spanish and some blues.

High Hopes Sportfishing

Bluewater anglers are releasing white and blue marlin. They are also finding hungry wahoo, mahi and tuna. Bottom bouncers are catching tilefish. Bill Hawver and family had a great day offshore on the High Hopes with Captain David Wright.  Nice limit of blueline tilefish (2 citations) and a swordfish.

Throughout the fall our fishing report will be published twice each month.  But be sure and check in more often, because we will post breaking news and trophy fish reports as soon as they come in.

Be sure to book a VBSF sponsor boat and then send us your pictures for our next report!