Virginia Marine Resources Commission's THE SALTWATER REVIEW

Funded by NOAA and VMRC.

July 30, 2010 

Wachapreague -

Staff at the Wachapreague Marina report that 20 dolphin, a few bluefin tuna, and the occasional yellowfin tuna were caught last week (a 31.2-pound dolphin was weighed in on the July 3.). Inshore, the flounder bite has slowed, but there are still keepers being caught.

At Captain Zed’s, local anglers caught flounder last week. One citation was reported (7 pounds, 6 ounces) around Drawing Channel on July 20. Croaker were also in the area, and most were caught around Cedar Island Cove (north and east of the inlet). A few have also been found in the Green Channel (near the north end of the island).

Cape Charles -

Chris’ Bait and Tackle reports that croaker fishing was doing well near Oyster and around the Concrete Ships at Kiptopeke this week. Sea mullet were found around Buoy 13 and Oyster with a few croaker mixed in. Flounder were hooked around Buoy 42, the High Rise, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Good catches of cobia were reported at Buoys 16, and spadefish were hooked around the 3rd and 4th islands.

Captain Ray Cardone, of Cherrystone, reported catches of sea mullet, croaker, and puffers this week. Small cobia were hooked as well, and Captain Ray reports seeing larger ones lurking around local waters.

Lower Bay/Bridge Tunnel

Staff at the Sunset Boating Center reported nice catches of flounder in the area. Headboats did really well last week with small croaker.

No citations were reported from Salt Ponds Marina last week. However, everyone seemed to find keepers at last weekend’s flounder tournament, even if there weren’t any whoppers. The tournamentwinning fish was 6 pounds, 5 ounces.

Kathy, at Wallace’s Marina, has seen a few more cobia coming in this week. She also reported keeper flounder at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, along with nice-sized spot and croaker catches. Spadefish were trickling in from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and speckled trout were reported from the river.

At the York River Fishing Center, staff reported that the croaker began getting bigger last week in the York River. As the temperatures heated up, so did the flounder fishing, especially around the York Spit Reef. Cobia were also caught this week around York Spit.

Ken Neill, of the Peninsula Anglers Club and IGFA representative, contributed the following:

Flounder fishing has been good in the Buoy 42/Cell area. Some large flounder were falling to live bait fished along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in the deeper areas. Back River Reef was also producing some nice flatfish. Cobia anglers just keep catching. Sight-casters were working the Baltimore Channel and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Chummers caught fish at York Spit, the Inner Middle Grounds, Bluefish Rock, and near Buoy 18. Spanish mackerel were available along the coast and throughout the lower Bay. The waters from Back River Reef to York Spit have been productive lately. Small bluefish were everywhere, which made the Spanish a challenge. Larger croaker were available in the York River near the Coleman Bridge and near the Cell. Some nice sheepshead were being caught along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and a few were coming from Back River Reef. Spadefish were also caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Amberjack were thick at the Southern Towers. There were also some at the Chesapeake Light Tower and nearby wrecks. Offshore anglers were hampered by windy weather. When they got out, there were good catches of dolphin and billfish. A few bluefin were still being caught on the inshore hills along with some nice dolphin and king mackerel.

Virginia Middle Bay -

Johnny, with Jetts’ Hardware, reports that the Spanish mackerel still have not shown up in good numbers in their area. Bluefish are much more likely to bite than mackerel. Small spot and croaker were available to bottom fishermen, and some flounder were being caught in the usual places like the Potomac River jetties and the Light.
Dan, with Smith’s Point Marina, reports the best fishing has been on the Maryland side of the line for striped bass. Lots of croaker were caught along with small spot. Flounder were hooked as well. The bluefish bite was still strong, but the Spanish mackerel were still mysteriously absent since the water temperature and salinity were right for people to start catching them. Butch, with Garretts’ Marina, reports there are 12- to 14-inch croaker being caught in the early mornings as people look to escape the daytime high air temperatures. There are still rumors of flounder in the Rappahannock River.

Jerry Thrash, of Queen’s Creek Outfitters, contributed the following:

Flounder cooperated for some anglers fishing in the Buoy 42 and Cell areas this week, and small spadefish were available at the Cell and at Wolftrap Light. The croaker bite is moving into the Bay, and spot were being caught off Gwynn’s Island, Butlers Hole, and the Spike. Schools of small taylor bluefish were everywhere in open waters and could be trolled up at 3–5 knots. Spanish mackerel arrived and could be caught trolling Clark spoons or small Drone spoons at 6–8 knots in the vicinity of Windmill Point bar south to Wolftrap Light.

Cobia continued to be caught around New Point Light and on York Spit. We weighed one caught near Buoy 42 on Friday. Shallow-water fishermen continued to catch a mixed bag of spot, croaker, sea mullet, and small flounder.

Virginia Beach -

Inshore anglers caught numerous bluefish and Spanish mackerel last week, according to staff at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center. They were also doing well with spadefish, cobia (a 45-pound cobia was brought in), and shark (blacktip). Nice amberjack were found a little further out. Offshore, bluefin and yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and mako shark were reported with scattered white and blue marlin.

Paula, at Fisherman’s Wharf Marina, reported that there was a good white marlin bite last week near the Triple Os. Three white marlin and several gaffer dolphin were hooked.

Virginia Piers -

Spot and croaker were reported from staff at the Ocean View Pier, along with small flounder.

Staff at the Virginia Beach Pier reported that spot and roundhead have been caught recently, along with a few Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and the occasional flounder. Crabbing has been good as well.

Spot, a few roundhead, small croaker, and blue crabs were reported from the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier last week.

At the Buckroe Pier, anglers were catching a lot of nice spot, puffer, taylor bluefish (day and night), grey trout (night), and croaker last week. Cobia have been sighted but not hooked this week. Both the number and size of spot have really picked up over the past week.

Outer Banks, NC -

Offshore fishing out of Nags Head continued to produce limits of dolphin. Tuna have been continuing their good show with yellowfin, blackfin, and skipjack tuna. Wahoo and king mackerel were around but not in very good numbers. Bill fishermen saw most of their catches comprised of blue marlin with a few white marlin and sailfish in the mix. Bottom-droppers caught blueline tilefish, grouper (snowy, gag, and yellowedge), vermillion snapper, red snapper, sea bass, and triggerfish. Eight to ten miles offshore, anglers hooked striped bass, red drum, and cobia. Near shore, surf and pier fishermen had good luck with Spanish mackerel and bluefish, but the runs could be brief. Bottom fishermen in the nearshore zone were catching spot, croaker, pompano, puffers, sea mullet, and rays. In the sounds and inlet, numerous flounder were being caught, but a large number of them were throwbacks. Speckled trout could be caught around the Washington Baum Bridge and Melvin Daniels Bridge but only in the early morning and late evening. Sheepshead, spadefish, and black drum were around the Oregon Inlet Bridge.

South of Oregon Inlet, the surf fishing has been good with spot, croaker, and sea mullet being caught in copious quantities. Ramps 43 and 44 were hotspots for the sea mullet, but you better have fresh bloodworms on your hooks. Avon had bluefish and sea mullet in the area. The National Park Service has opened up a corridor on the beach, east of Ramp 44, to ORV traffic for people to access the Point. People making that trek found bluefish and puppy drum (juvenile red drum).