CHESAPEAKE BAY/OCEAN
School-sized fish are available to casters working around structure and pilings of most of the lower bay crossings, with the first island of the CBB-T and the nearby small boat channel providing good action. Folks working the Monitor Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel are finding schoolie action casting grubs and shads along the light lines and pilings. Surf casters are faring well within Lynnhaven Inlet near the Lesner and Great Neck Road bridges. More boats are reporting bait and pods of working birds along the Virginia Beach ocean front, where trollers are picking up scattered fish around 40 inches.
A kayaker fishing Rudee Inlet and a tog angler fishing at the CBB-T lucked into nice late-season black drum by mistake.
Tautog are making a good showing for those fishing crab and clams on most any lower bay structure. All four islands of the CBB-T, as well as lower bay wrecks, are productive. Deeper water wrecks are producing very good results, with some hooking dozens of fish averaging around 5 to 8 pounds. Jumbo sea bass and chopper bluefish are available on the ocean wrecks.
Flounder are active on deeper water structures, with some flatfish of more than 8 pounds coming from the Triangle Wrecks. Triggerfish are a possibility on these same wrecks.
Deep droppers are finding blueline tilefish, with big seabass mixed in along the 50 fathom curve off Virginia.
Dr. Ken Neill III reports the northern section of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is where most striped bass are being caught. The open waters on the Eastern Shore side of the bay are producing large rockfish. Live eels have been the most productive baits. All of the area crossings are holding fish. There is a lot of bait and bird activity along the coast and in the lower bay. Open-water trolling is picking up as more of the coastal migrants move into our waters.
Large bluefish seem to be everywhere in the ocean waters. All wrecks can be associated with them. You will find them in open waters feeding on baitfish schools. The working birds will show you where. We have been running into them from right off of the beach to the Norfolk Canyon. Speckled trout are providing some great action inside protected waters. Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets are holding speckled trout. The Elizabeth River is producing the largest fish. Puppy drum are being caught in these same locations.
Boats running out of the Outer Banks are catching some yellowfin and blackfin tuna along with the occasional wahoo.
Hank Sibley Bluewater Yacht Sales 