Water temperatures have risen to 60 degrees in the Bay. The air temperature will be in the 80’s Wednesday, then drop into the 60’s and 70’s for the rest of the week. Winds are forecast to be 10 to 15 mph all week.

Tautog action continues to be good, especially on ocean wrecks. Catches along the CBBT and on Bay structure are improving. Drew Aladj weighed a 13 lb. 4 oz. tautog and John DeGruttola a 10 lb. 5 oz. with Long Bay Pointe last week. There are only a few days left in the Virginia season, it closes May 15th.

Red and black drum arrived on the Virginia shoals a couple of weeks ago and there are more on the way. Jeffrey Windsor registered a 51 in. black drum release and Collin Lewis a 50 in. red drum release at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle recently.

Schools of drum and now cobia are starting to migrate together along North Carolina’s Outer Banks heading for the Chesapeake Bay. The first Cobia of the season was landed off the OBX last week.

Sheepshead fishing is off to a great start. Fish to 10 pounds have already been caught in the bay.

It’s time for bluefish to become plentiful along the oceanfront. Later this month as water temperatures start pushing 70 degrees look for spanish mackerel to start mixing with the blues.

This is when nice speckled trout usually show up in local inlets. Anglers fishing the rivers have been catching lots of puppy drum and a few trout and stripers.

Flounder catches continue improving as our water temps warm, especially around Wachapreague and Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore. Flounder are also showing up in our local inlets and along the CBBT.

The Virginia Beach pier has been catching some spot, roundheads, gray trout and small blues.

Virginia offshore anglers are looking forward to the opening of the sea bass and tile fish season. Tuna catches are good to fair off Carolina.

We have a cool start to the week, air temperatures in the 60’s and low 70’s. Warmer air returns next weekend. The water is trying to warm up. There are some deeper, cold pockets near the CBBT that are still 54 degrees and then some warmer water south of Rudee Inlet along the beach that has hit 60.

Grandfather David (from Texas) and Grandson Porter with a nice Taug on Paige II Charters

Tautog fishing remains excellent. Look for them around underwater obstructions, wrecks, reefs and rocks. Many anglers like to pylon hop along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Blue crabs or fiddler crabs are the best bait, but some are caught using clam or whelk. The average size tog is 3 to 6 pounds, but in Virginia large ones can top 20 pounds. Dr Ken Neill, Stan Simmerman and Wes Blow ran out to the Triangle Wreck and caught a box of nice togs, tagged and released others, and caught four that had previously been tagged. They also caught some nice sea bass that should be there when that season opens May 15th.

Captain Peter Bregant’s favorite fish, really, really large Sciaenops ocellatus (red drum), in the 30 plus pound class are arriving on the shoals at the mouth of the bay, Latimer Shoal and the shallow water near the northern section of the CBBT. Their numbers will continue increasing into May and action will peak early June. Anglers are trolling spoons over and around the shallows or anchoring on top and setting out lines baited with peeler crabs, fresh spot or menhaden.

A few black drum are being caught along the shallow channel ledge running from Fisherman’s Island to north of Cape Charles. Good spots are Kiptopeake, the Cabbage Patch, the Concrete Ships, near the highrise and the 2nd & 3rd Islands of CBBT. Running tides, late afternoons and evenings and full moons are considered the best time to fish for them. Whole clam, peeler crab, whelk or a combination is the best bait. The average size Virginia black drum is 40 to 60 pounds, but they can easily top 100 pounds.

A few speckled trout and bluefish have been reported in Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. Numbers should increase. VBSF sponsor Capt. Jake Beck on Knot Wish’n Charters is still catching nice puppy drum inside Rudee Inlet. He said he has very few open charter dates left in April. So give him a call ASAP.

Flounder numbers are on the rise in seaside inlets. Some nice catches are coming from Wachapreague and Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore. Drift fishing with live minnows, or fresh strip baits fished behind bucktails are a good choice. Live spot or small mullet are best for big fish in deep water around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The average size flounder in Virginia is 1 to 3 pounds, and the state record is a whopping 17 pounds, 8 ounces. It was caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Offshore yellowfin and blackfin tuna action is picking up off the OBX’s. Boats out of Hatteras are picking up the first dolphin of the season.

Nice Tautog

March can be a busy month for anglers. Good fishing is right around the corner. Charter crews are working on their boats, tackle shops are servicing reels and replacing old line. Marinas are prepping for the season, Long Bay Pointe Marina patrons can look forward to new fish cleaning tables.

New cleaning tables

March will have some angling opportunities. Puppy drum should be available in Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, the Elizabeth River and other inlets and rivers. In fact Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports a few puppy drum coming from the back waters near the shop on warm days. Speckled trout could be in the same areas.

Tautog are available on ocean wrecks, which should be home to bluefish and Flounder as well. For sure sea bass, but they are out of season.

Deep droppers will be looking to put their crews on golden tilefish.

Bluefin tuna catches off the OBX have been good. Haven’t heard about any being hooked in Virginia yet.

Virginia anglers have a lot to look forward to over the coming weeks. By the end of March tautog action will pick up inshore. Local charter captains are taking advance booking for taugtog trips now, so if plan to go you should contact one asap. As April rolls around the taugtog action will continue approve and flounder will become a possibility. By mid April the big black drum roll in. Bluefish and gray trout will also be a possibility. The flounder bite should continue improving and speckled trout will become more numerous. By the end of May plenty of large red drum will have made their way into the lower bay. In June everything starts to peak, inshore and off! Black drum, red drum, cobia, croaker, flounder, gray trout, round head, sheepshead, spadefish, spanish mackerel, speckled trout, small striped bass, mahi, yellow fin tuna and school size blue fin tuna.

Once fishing picks up, we’ll return to posting weekly VBSF reports. Until then check back often for any fishing news we receive.

When anglers can get out, ocean wrecks are holding some really nice tautogs. Blue crabs are hard to find right now so most are being caught using fresh clam.

Rick Wineman and Wally Veal (above) checked in with VBSF. They had a weather window to get out and do some tautog fishing on 1-13-22. They fished some of the offshore wrecks in 100+ feet and managed to find some nice ones. Had several double digit (15lb 14oz / 17lb 9 oz} specimens and a few other very respectable ones that were tagged and released. They used left over crabs from last year as bait. They also had some bluefish in the mix. If you run into them and decide to keep any just remember bluefish are 3 per person these days.

The Chesapeake Bay rockfish season has closed but you can still practice catch and release.

Speckled trout and puppy drum will be a possibility in the inlets all winter. Most are being caught on Mirr-O-Lures and soft plastics.

We’ve been spoiled the past few years with a February black sea bass season. Not this year. The fishery is managed jointly by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.  At a recent meeting, it was determined that states would be required to reduce the recreational harvest in 2022 by 28% coastwide. Based upon the changes in the fisheries regulations, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission will be unable to open February for the species.  At this time, it is unknown when the season will reopen.

Some good catches of yellowfin and giant bluefin tuna are occurring out of Oregon Inlet NC.