Flounder action remains hot
The flounder action continues to be hot in the lower bay this week, especially at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel where multiple citations were reported. Several Saltwater Review partners suggest that this has been one of the best fishing weeks all summer.
Along with flounder, sheepshead, and spadefish, some triggerfish were also reported. Spanish mackerel continues to keep anglers busy in the area, and a few offshore anglers were rewarded with blueline tilefish citations last week.
Chincoteague
Donna at Captain Bob’s Marina reports that croaker in the 15-inch range have arrived in the area. They have been caught at marker 17 in the Canal, and the action is really hot with 13- to 15-inch fish at the north side of Queen Sound. Kingfish have also shown up, particularly outside of the inlet. It has been a good week for flounder, with two or three dozen fish caught at the Chincoteague Channel, near Daisy’s Dockside, and the Black Narrows Marsh. A few nine-pounders were found at the Subway Cars at Blackfish Banks where anglers were also maxing out on spadefish and black sea bass. A huge mako shark (220 pounds) was brought in from the Norfolk Canyon, where most of the offshore action is located.
Onancock
According to Captain Wil, fishing is slow in Onancock. Croaker are around but small this week. Large croaker have been showing up after midnight for anglers that are speckled trout fishing at the local islands. The flounder catch has been very slow.
Wachapreague
At the Wachapreague Marina, staff reported numerous croaker with a few keeper flounder mixed in. Offshore has been slow except for the Wrecks where flounder, black sea bass and triggerfish were found.
Nice flounder and croaker were caught near Bulls Head, in Dawson’s Shoals, and at both sides of the Wachapreague Inlet, according to staff at Captain Zeds. Croaker have been concentrated in Green Channel and in the waters across from the Coast Guard Station. There has been good clamming and crabbing in the area as well.
Cape Charles
At Chris’ Bait and Tackle, croaker were reported near Buoy 262 and Oyster. Flounder catches were reported at the high-rise of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and buoys 36A and 42. Cut bait, minnows, and squid attracted the most catches. Cobia hookups were scattered between buoys 16 and 13, and red drum were caught in the same area by anglers fishing with bunker and peelers. Small black drum, sheepshead, and spadefish were reported from the fourth island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Captain Ray Cardone, out of Cherrystone, reported a nice flounder bite over the past few days. Several keepers were caught, and the largest was 22 inches. Trout and croaker are also biting, along with small blacktip shark and cobia.
Lower Bay/Bridge-Tunnel
Several flounder citations were reported at Cobb’s Marina last week including a 9-pound, 8-ounce fish caught at the fourth island and a 9-pound, 5-ounce fish caught at the first island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Overall, the flounder and cobia action has been good, with spot and croaker catches reported as well. At the Sunset Boating Center, two large flounder were caught at the Hampton Bar lately. Other than flounder, there has been little activity.
Staff at Salt Ponds Marina reported two blueline tilefish citations (13 pounds, 4 ounces, and 11 pounds, 3 ounces). Both were hooked on the 12th at the Norfolk Canyon. Inshore, the flounder bite was good at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and one group reported 4 citations in two days.
Several flounder citations in the 7-pound range were reported from the York River Fishing Center. Several were caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge- Tunnel, and one was reported from Cape Charles. At 9-Foot Shoal, a 70-pound, 8-ounce citation cobia was caught. Overall, it was a good week for flounder fishing, which has finally picked up at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Spanish mackerel, flounder, and cobia were at the mouth of the York River, and croaker and spot were found in the rivers. This is reportedly the best fishing week of the summer thus far.
King mackerel are beginning to show promise. Sighting of schools of kings, along with a few landings of snake-sized fish, is bringing hope that the fishery will light up soon. A good easterly blow could jump start the king bite.
According to local charter captains, the Spanish mackerel fishing along the coastal Virginia Beach is hit and- miss right now. Plenty of Taylor bluefish are taking up the slack. With the large number of sharks showing in local waters, these toothy critters are becoming a targeted species lately. Several varieties of sharks such as sand tigers, tigers, hammerheads, blacktips, and spinners are sniffing out chum slicks all over coastal and lower Chesapeake Bay waters. Some of these fish are pushing to over eight feet.
The great puppy drum (juvenile red drum) action is still going on within most any skinny water location in Tidewater, with steady action within Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. These young reds will hit a variety of baits, with fresh cut mullet and Gulp mullets the top choices lately.
Interest in spadefish is waning, but some decent sized fish are still available along the northern span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the four artificial islands, and many inshore structures. Sheepshead are cooperating lately. Crab, clam, and fiddlers presented along the pilings and tubes of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel can entice a sheepshead bite. Triggerfish are everywhere on lower bay structures and inshore wrecks. These little fish will take most any offering.
Croaker are everywhere, and the bigger hardheads are now moving into lower bay waters. The larger fish are coming from the deeper areas north of the third island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the Monitor Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, Back River Reef, and the Cell. Many fish are ranging from 1 to 1.5 pounds. Anglers fishing Oyster are also still filling coolers in the backwaters. Spot are hitting within Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets on bloodworms, with good numbers of fish still coming from off the concrete ships.
The rekindled tarpon action on the Eastern Shore is still holding this week. According to the folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle, with a few fish jumping off this week and many sightings, the silver king hunters are content right now. A few more hot days are needed to maintain this pattern. It is rumored that tarpon are also frequenting the coastline near Sandbridge recently. Amberjack are providing good opportunities on offshore wrecks and at the Southern Towers. With the slow offshore action lately, many bluewater trollers are hitting the South Tower. Some boats are even bringing AJ’s home to try. Tuna are scarce, and there are few dolphin around. Scattered white marlin are available further south.
