PIER and SURF VA - NC

August 11, 2008

Virginia Piers:  Anglers at the Ocean View Pier have been catching spot, croaker, and flounder this week. Over the weekend, 2 citation pompano were weighed in at 2 pounds, and 2 pounds, 4 ounces.

At the Lynnhaven Pier, there are reports of numerous spot, sea mullet, taylor bluefish, and flounder. Several keeper flounder were caught during the week. Spanish mackerel were hooked as well.

The catch at the Virginia Beach pier included spot, and sea mullet. The weekend produced croaker, Spanish mackerel, and legal-sized striped bass.

At the Sandbridge Pier, there were several impressive catches this week. Yesterday, a 26.5-inch Spanish mackerel was hooked along with spot, sea mullet, and bluefish. Several large king mackerel also came in (two at 25 pounds at one weighing 33 pounds). Other fishing included small bluefish, spot, silver perch, and skate.

OBX, NC 

Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Spotted seatrout and flounder were most prevalent with most specimens being caught in the early morning hours throughout the area.  Keeper ratios have been very good for both flounder and trout.  High numbers of croakers were caught on a daily basis with a few kingfish mixed in.  Sheepshead, tautog, and black drum were caught around the bridge structure at Oregon Inlet. 

Piers/Shore: Anglers had similar success to the inshore boaters.  Spanish mackerel catches were the best I have seen in recent memory, with limits being caught by everyone targeting them.  King mackerel catches off piers were very good, with a few citation size ones being recorded this week.  Bluefish were caught in short-term high-volume numbers.