Reports

Apr 03 2023

Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

April 3, 2023

If you love fishing, then you should definitely check out the early April action in Virginia Beach and on the OBX, NC. There are plenty of fish to catch, from flounder and tautog to drum and bluefish. Here are some tips and tricks to help you land some of these beauties.

Flounder and tautog get top billing in early April. Flounder are flatfish that like to hide on the bottom and ambush their prey. They can be caught drifting live or dead natural baits on the bottom or trolling small bucktails dressed with strip baits, usually near Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Some of the best early flounder action comes from the Seaside inlets of the Eastern Shore. They are also available in both local inlets, Rudee and Lynnhaven. Flounder average between 1 and 3 pounds, but some monsters can be found. The Virginia State record is 17 pounds, 8 ounces; caught at Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in 1971 by C.E. Cross. To catch a big fish try large live baits.

Tautogs are also known as blackfish or tog. They are hard-fighting fish that live on near shore underwater obstructions like wrecks and reefs. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands are a great location to find them. They like blue, fiddler or marsh crabs. Clams, whelk and a new packaged crab flavored artificial bait made by Fishbites will work as well. Tog average 3 to 6 pounds, but they can grow much bigger. The State record is 24-pound 3-ounces, caught in 2012 by Ken Neill III of Seaford, VA. To catch a big tog, you need a stout rod, a heavy sinker, and a lot of skill.

The water temp is 51.4F. As it continues warming this month, black drum, bluefish, croaker, grey trout, red drum, speckled trout and rockfish reports will increase. These fish are all fun to catch and good to eat.

The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier has already recorded its first red drum of the season. Red drum are also known as redfish or channel bass. They are powerful fish that can grow up to 90 pounds. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters has been picking some pups up in Rudee Inlet. Pups are juvenile red drum that are under 27 inches long. And Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle has been reporting pups in Lynnhaven for a couple weeks. To catch a red drum, you need a medium-heavy rod, a sturdy reel, and a fresh bait.

OBX. NC is another great fishing destination in early April. Nice puppy drum and over slot size fish are being caught on the beaches north of Oregon Inlet. Over slot fish are red drum that are over 27 inches long and must be released. Bluefish, sea mullet, blowtoads, puppy drum, a few big drum and lots of sharks have been reported down south from Avon to Ocracoke.

Speckled trout and a few puppy drum are around the Manteo causeway Little Bridge area. Speckled trout are also known as spotted seatrout or specks. They are beautiful fish that can reach up to 10 pounds. Plenty of nice trout are available from long shoal and west. Closer to the inlet puppy drum are beginning to show up.

Offshore, the boats are still releasing good numbers of Giant Bluefin with a few boats finding some smaller keeper size fish. Giant Bluefin are tuna that can weigh over 1000 pounds. They are highly prized for their meat and their fight. Blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and a few wahoo have also been reported further offshore.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your rod and reel and head to Virginia Beach or the OBX NC for some awesome fishing action in early April!

Book your charter today!!

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/04/03/virginia-saltwater-fishing-report-3/

Mar 27 2023

Virginia Saltwater Fishing Report

March 27, 2023

taugs

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.

red drum

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.

Book your charter today!!

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/03/27/virginia-saltwater-fishing-report-2/

Mar 21 2023

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

March 21, 2023

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.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/03/21/virginia-beach-fishing-report-43/

Mar 14 2023

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

March 14, 2023

red drum

The Bay water temperature dropped a little this week, down to 47.8 F. But spring is right around the corner and the trend should reverse. This is an exciting time of year for anglers. Warmer water will mean more angling opportunities.

Speckled Trout anglers are doing well in the shallows that feed into the Elizabeth and York Rivers. Soft plastic swim baits and Mir-o-lures are working.

The tautog bite continues to be good. Larger fish, up to 20 pounds have been found on the nearshore wrecks and reefs and smaller ones should be biting at the CBBT and on artificial Bay reefs. Fresh crab baits always work best but Fishbite E-Z Crab strips are popular as well.

red drum

Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle says that puppy drum are being caught inside Lynnhaven Inlet and Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n charters has landed a few inside Rudee Inlet. As the weather warms look for the bite to pick up.

Black drum usually start showing at the end of March and peak in April. Look for them along the bayside of the Eastern Shore. At the Cabbage Patch, the Concrete Ships, Buoy 13, and near the high rise of the CBBT.

OBX North Carolina

Surf fishing is picking up. Puppy drum are being caught around Oregon Inlet. Down south near Buxton there have already been reports of large red drum at the point and on Ocracoke Island. Puppy drum, sharks, sea mullet and bluefish are starting to show up in the Hatteras Island surf as well.

Large speckled trout and puppy drum are still being caught on the western side of the Pamlico Sound. Some small trout are being caught at Little Bridge on the Manteo Causeway, as well as some rockfish around the Manns Harbor Bridges.

Blackfin tuna, kings and a few wahoo are being caught offshore and it’s not too late to go catch a giant Bluefin, there are still plenty of them around for catch and release.

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/03/14/virginia-beach-fishing-report-42/

Mar 06 2023

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

March 6, 2023

trout

Spring is almost here and the fishing will get better this month.

With the water temperature at Thimble Shoal reaching 52 F black drum should start to show up in their usual haunts along the bayside of the Eastern Shore. Good locations are the Cabbage Patch, near the Concrete Ships, Buoy 13, near the high rise of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, around 36A and off of Cape Charles. Look for boats anchored close together in these areas. Best baits are clam and crab, used separately or together on the same hook.

Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle said a number of puppy drum were caught back inside Lynnhaven inlet this week. Shallow water on an outgoing tide is prime. Try slowly bouncing soft plastics along the bottom.

Speckled trout are becoming more plentiful in the Elizabeth and York River tributaries. Dr Neill fish on the Peninsula side recently and picked up five, all around 19 inches He lost at least as many as he caught.

tautog

Our tautog bite continues. Look for them anywhere there’s structure. Popular areas include the CBBT, Back River Reef, the Cell, Tower Reef, the Concrete Ships, Cape Henry Wreck, the Santore, the Winthrop, and the Triangle Wrecks. The best bait is fresh crab but strips of clam, whelk, and Fishbites E-Z Crab will also work.

OBX, NC

red drum

Surf fishing is a couple of weeks ahead due to the unseasonably warm weather we have been experiencing. Nice Puppy Drum have been caught at ramp 4 at Oregon Inlet. Down south the water is 62.0 F in the surf and there has been reports of big drum at The Point and on Ocracoke Island. Puppy drum, sharks, a handful of sea mullet and bluefish are starting to show up to the south as well.

Big speckled trout and puppy drum are being caught on the western side of the Pamlico Sound. Some nice trout were caught at Little Bridge on the Manteo causway this week. Striper are still hanging near the Manns Harbor Bridges.

Giant bluefin are still around for catch and release. Blackfin, kings, and a few wahoo are in the mix.

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/03/06/virginia-beach-fishing-report-41/

Feb 25 2023

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

February 25, 2023

Steve Bradley

April 1^st VBSF begins its 24th season promoting Virginia saltwater fishing. My how time flies. Special thanks to all our sponsors and contributors for making it happen.

Lance Shores

The Virginia special black sea bass season has provided great fishing all month. Boats have been limiting out.

Taug Fish

Tautog are plentiful on nearshore ocean wrecks and reefs. Their feeding activity is based on water temperature. When the water is above 44 degrees, they should be available. Now that Bay water has hit 50 degrees look for the bite to pick up inside. The rock islands of the CBBT is an ideal location, but they can be found anywhere there’s structure. Popular areas include the CBBT, Back River Reef, the Cell, Tower Reef, the Concrete Ships, Cape Henry Wreck, the Santore, the Winthrop, the Triangle Wrecks, and any other wreck or structure you can find. The best baits are crabs … blue, fiddler or mole crabs. Strips of clam, whelk and FISHBITES E-Z CRAB will also work. Tog or blackfish are arguably one of the best tasting fish in our area.

Speckled Trout are becoming more plentiful, especially in the Elizabeth River and York River tributaries. There hasn’t been many caught in Lynnhaven or Rudee inlets as of yet, but if the warm weather stays, they should start showing.

Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reported some puppy drum catches inside Lynnhaven Inlet.

Ocracoke Red Drum 45 inches, Leslie Mc Rimmon

OBX surf anglers are catching dogfish up and down the beach. At the point in Buxton they are starting to catch puppy drum, sea mullet, and blow toads. Anglers on Ocracoke are catching large reds in the surf.

Crews fishing offshore from the Outer Bank inlets are catching yellowfin, blackfin, school size bluefin tunas and an occasional wahoo!

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/02/25/virginia-beach-fishing-report-40/

Feb 13 2023

Mid-February Virginia Beach Fishing Report

February 13, 2023

Rudee Tours Sea Bass

February hasn’t been able to make up its mind, the usual bitter cold has given way to some unseasonably warm weather as well. The swings make a big difference in what’s biting. The average water temperature is now 45 degrees.

The Virginia February black sea bass season is proving limits to those running offshore to wreck fish. Bluefish and sharks are in the mix as well. The sea bass season will be open until the end of the month with a minimum size of 13 inches and a 15 fish limit per day. The Virginia capture citation is 5 pounds. And the state record is 10 pounds 4 oz, caught in 2000 by Allen P. Paschall.

Tautog fishing has also been great out of Virginia Beach when the weather cooperates. Anglers targeting them on the nearshore wrecks are catching quality fish. Blue crabs or Fishbites Blue Crab flavored strips are the favored baits. Tautog season in Virginia will be open until May 15th with a four fish per day limit at a minimum size of 16 inches. Virginia’s capture Citation size is 9 pounds and release citation size is 23 inches. The State record is 24 pounds, caught in 2012 by Dr Ken Neill.

red drum

Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports anglers are finding some puppy drum inside Lynnhaven Inlet.

Decent catch and release striper action is occurring in the rivers and inlets. Night fishing under dock, bridge and pier lights is your best bet.

Stan Simmerman, nice trout

The Elizabeth River on the Southside and York River tributaries on the Peninsula side are your best bet for mid-winter speckled trout. They’re mainly be in deeper waters but as the weather warms, they should move into shallower areas.

blue fin

Boats fishing out of Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet North Carolina are getting into some nice bluefin tuna action. Charter boats fishing to the south have found lots of smaller bluefin, with a larger class of fish being caught to the North.

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/02/13/virginia-beach-fishing-3/

Feb 01 2023

Virginia Beach February Fishing Report

February 1, 2023

Big tautogs are being caught on the ocean wrecks. Dr. Ken Neill successfully fished the triangle wrecks with Johnny Boyd over the weekend. They kept a few big ones and tagged and released the rest. Four already had tags in them. The largest weighed 10 pounds. I’ve heard anglers are finding FISHBITES E-Z CRAB strips effective.

Our February black sea bass season returns for 2023, last year we didn’t have one. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted to open a special recreational season from February 1-28. Interested in participating? You can read more about the permitting and reporting requirements by downloading VMRC’s pdf file and you can acquire your free permit here.

Rockfish anglers are still finding some large stripers. This is all catch and release now.

The speckled trout action has slowed. It should get better if it warms up, but the weather forecast calls for colder temps’ in the near term. Water temps are around 47 degrees now.

Afishionado, Captain-Jack-Graham

Outer Banks North Carolina anglers are picking up some giant bluefin tuna offshore. The bite hasn’t gotten red hot yet, but some boats have managed to find some. Along with the bluefin, there have been reports of blackfin tuna, king mackerel and an occasional wahoo.

Inshore fishing has been good on the western side of the sound with plenty of nice trout and a few puppy drum being caught.

In the surf, fishing has been slow for those fishing the beaches north of Oregon Inlet, however to the south from Buxton to Ocracoke there has been a decent amount of puppy drum, scattered black drum, and large sharks.

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/02/01/virginia-beach-february-fishing-report/

Jan 25 2023

Fishing News – Black Sea Bass Season

January 25, 2023

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has voted to open a special recreational black sea bass season from February 1-28, 2023. Interested in participating? You can read more about the permitting and reporting requirements by downloading VMRC’s pdf file and you can acquire your free permit here.

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/01/25/black-seabass-season-feb-2023/

Jan 04 2023

January, Virginia Beach Fishing Report

January 4, 2023

water

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!

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2023/01/04/january-virginia-beach-fishing-report/

Dec 11 2022

December Fishing Report

December 11, 2022

speck

December has been productive for anglers and the trend should continue. Speckled trout continue to be available, small rockfish and a few puppy drum are being caught as well. The waterways inside Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet, Little Creek and the Elizabeth River are all holding fish. MirrOLures and soft plastics work great for specks, rockfish and drum. Popular colors include white, pearl, chartreuse and the pink and green combo.

Slot size rockfish are hanging around the CBBT. The best bite is at night under the lights. The big rockfish should be arriving, there has already been a few 40 inch fish reported. The larger fish are usually located first in deepwater off Cape Charles and eventually near the CBBT High Rise area. Live eels are the favored bait for the larger one. Trolling lures like the Manns Stretch are also effective. Lead heads with plastic tails work well around bridge pilings. The best bites usually occur when the tide is ripping. Rockfish season in Virginia waters is open through December 31^st for fish in the 20-to-36-inch slot.

Tautog are available on Bay and Ocean structure, the bay water temperature is 54 degrees. Fiddler crabs and quartered blue crabs are the preferred baits.

bluefish

Jumbo sea bass are available on many ocean wrecks. The open recreational seabass fishing season closes December 11. Some big bluefish and trigger fish are on the same structures. Flounder can also be found around offshore structures. Fresh strip baits are best flounder.

When boats can make it out to deep drop, they are finding good numbers of tilefish and sea bass. Anglers have successfully targeted swordfish. This is the time of year boats are on the lookout for giant bluefin tuna rolling. They are feeding in shallow water off the Morehead City North Carolina coast now.

Our next report will be in January.

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2022/12/11/december-fishing-report/

Nov 21 2022

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

November 21, 2022

Lynnhaven Trout

We have a pretty good weather forecast through Thanksgiving Day. Lite winds, 60-degree highs and the water temperature at the CBBT is 57 degrees.

Fishing for speckled trout and puppy drum continues to be good in the shallows. Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River have all been good. Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle registered a few citations recently. Randy Morton had a 24 1/2″ speckled trout release, George Kotarides a 24 1/2″ release, Todd Sturtevant a 24 1/2″ release, Jordan Elliott a 24 1/2″ and 26″ releases, Michael W. Noe a 24 .75″ release and Matthew Gutterman a 26″ release. Congratulations.

Smaller stripers are in the same areas. The islands on the CBBT are holding keeper size fish. Night fishing has been best.

There’s a good sea bass bite going on when weather conditions allow boats to fish the ocean wrecks.

Tautog are hanging around the ocean wrecks and inside the bay. The bridge tunnel is a good place to target the tautogs

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

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2022/11/21/virginia-beach-fishing-report-39/

Nov 07 2022

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

November 7, 2022

trout

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!

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2022/11/07/virginia-beach-fishing-report-38/

Oct 24 2022

Virginia Beach Fishing Report

October 24, 2022

Speckled trout fishing in the shallows is good right now in rivers, inlets and along the oceanfront in the surf. Richard Parmelee released a 25″ and a 24 3/4″ speckled trout and Randy Morton a 26″ speckled trout.

Rockfish and puppy drum are being caught by those seeking trout.

A few big red drum are still available, but most are moving south. Kylie Hajek had 48″ red drum release, Brad Bittmann a 47″ release, Robert Perez a 48″ release and Jeromy Teeter a 52″ release.

Tautog and sheepshead are still being caught in the Bay along CBBT structure and on the artificial reefs. Thomas Czaplicki caught a 12 lb. 1 oz. sheepshead, Raymond Dodson Jr. a 11 lb. 8 oz. sheepshead and Michael Bouquet a 9 lb. 11 oz. Tautog.

Black seabass fishing has been excellent, boats are catching limits of jumbos. The Triangle Reef is a popular spot.

Permanent link to this article: https://vbsf.net/2022/10/24/virginia-beach-fishing-report-37/

Oct 04 2022

Virginia Beach Fishing Report.

October 4, 2022

flounder

The flounder bite has been good. The CBBT is as good a place to start. Pictured is a 10 lb 5 oz fish caught at CBBT this week by TyAlan Martz.

Large spot are on the move, netters are catching plenty inside the first island.

Stan Simmerman

Speckled trout are firing up inside the Lynnhaven Inlet. Look for them in all the local inlets now. Puppy Drum are in the same areas. The CBBT is also good place for the red drum. Drum of all sizes are showing up in the surf along the Oceanfront to Sandbidge.

Sheepshead continue to be caught around structures inside the bay.

Those targeting sea bass on the wrecks were rewarded with some nice fish.

Outstanding catch onboard the High Hopes!

Captain David Wright and crew onboard the High Hopes had an awesome day offshore. They landed a limit of blueline tilefish, one a citation. They added two citation bigeye tunas, one at 170 pounds and the other at 129 pounds. And topped the trip off with an 80 pound swordfish.

Next report in two weeks. Be sure to book a VBSF sponsor boat and then send us your pictures for our next report!