Weekly Fishing Rundown
By Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach
20 June 2008
The saltwater action is heating up along the Mid Atlantic coast, and should continue to a sizzle. Cobia chummers are content, with many boats returning from the shoals with keeper fish along with a few trophies to 90-pounds. The area off Hampton, from north of the Rock pile to off of Buckroe Beach is producing fish, while the Nine Foot Shoal area and Latimer Shoals are also good locations to try lately. Cobia are also cruising on the surface and hanging around bridge pilings, but the majority of those are on the smaller side.
Although red drum catches are overshadowed by the cobia interest, reds are still available along Fisherman's Island and the Nine Foot shoal. Casters are also getting in a few throws to surfacing schools on Nautilus Shoal this week. Most of the black drum hook-ups are coming from the four artificial islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, where casters are picking at fish on bucktails and Storm Lures.
Spadefish action is still hit and miss around the Chesapeake Light Tower, the Cell, and the 3rd and 4th islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. A 13-pound, 4-ounce spade was boated at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel by accident on 15-pound test recently. The fish underwent processing at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle by IGFA representative Dr. Julie Ball, for consideration as a line class World Record, but a concern with the rig will likely foil approval from the IGFA.
Sheepshead action is also yet to transpire to a worth-while level, but after the 24th of this month, tautog are back up for grabs, which are often caught in the same vicinities. Remember for both tog and sheepshead, only four fish are allowed per person, and tog must stretch to at least 14 inches. Triggerfish are also in the same areas. Grey trout, decent croaker, and 3-pound bluefish are available at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, while croaker are also biting off Ocean view, and around the CBBT. Speckled trout and puppy drum are still available within the lower bay inlets, and within the back waters of Mobjack bay.
The flounder scene finally made an upward turn this week, with more keepers coming from the lower bay. A few doormats are coming from Oyster, the Cell area, buoy 36A, and the four islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel this week.
If Spanish mackerel is your pleasure, these fish are making a great showing along the ocean front, and on up to the Middle Bay areas. Plenty of Spanish, with many in the 20 to 24-inch range, are chasing trolled Drone and Clark spoons in about 20 feet of water. These fish offer good, fast action for kids and guests. Watch for their close cousin, the king mackerel to make its debut soon.
Amberjack are swarming on accessible wrecks and navigation towers. Some are reporting some sketchy action recently, but citation-sized fish are there if you put in the time. Deep dropping along the Canyon edges is giving up some good numbers of deeper water species, such as tilefish and grouper. Seabass are also still available on structures from about 30-miles out, and on out to deeper wrecks.
The Virginia offshore season is off to a good start, but the good early yellowfin tuna run has scattered. Good water continues to present for Virginia boats east of the Cigar area, where boats are finding great catches of gaffer dolphin to over 30-pounds, and an exceptional number of blue marlin hook-ups and sightings. Greg Herman of Chesapeake boated a nice 26.5-pound bull dolphin from the same area this week. Billfish action continues to improve, while the occasional wahoo is still on the prowl. Big bluefin tuna to over 500-pounds were caught recently out of Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
