SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
Now that the weather is cooperating, anglers are experiencing a great introduction to the fall fishing season. The latest blow was the hallmark of dropping water temperatures, which means the summer favorites are lining up to exit the area, while the cool water species are taking up residence.
The fall red drum procession is gaining momentum, as good catches continue to come from the lower bay and coastal waters. Big channel bass are thrilling surf and pier anglers with dozens of bulls gracing the Little Island Fishing Pier, as well as the Seagull Fishing Pier, where Jeremy Severcool of Norfolk released a 49-inch red this week.
Although cobia are cruising out of the bay, anglers still have a shot at intercepting their journey south as the fish pause on buoys and form small pods along the ocean front. Sight casting jigs and live bait will do the trick.
The latest fall species will debut this week as the bay striped bass season opens on the 4th of October, but be sure to check the new regulations carefully. Schoolies are waiting to take top water plugs at all the bridge tunnel complexes, especially at night in the light lines.
The spot brigade is marching right along with lots of decent fish available all over the lower bay and the ocean front. Anglers are finding plenty of 12 to 14-ounce spot in the lower bay rivers, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, off Sewell’s Point, and within Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. These fish will only get larger as the season progresses.
Puppy drum are still a sure bet in the shallows, inlets, and shorelines using cut mullet or casting jigs. These juvenile red drum offer great action on light tackle. Speckled trout are beginning to make a showing in the Eastern Shore creeks, while Rudee Inlet action is improving with scattered fish averaging 22 to 24-inches. Connie at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reports that amongst all the pups and spot within Lynnhaven River, a few specks were also caught this week up to 22-inches, but he expects the size to improve as the water continues to cool.
Horse croaker are still hanging on the Hampton Bar, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and the Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel, where shrimp is the favored bait. The lower bay inlets are also holding some nice hardheads, where fish raging up to two-pounds were hooked near the Lesner Bridge this week.
Flounder are easy pickins along the lower bay channels and shoal edges. The Baltimore and Thimble Shoal Channels, and buoy 36A, and Kiptopeke are productive areas for drifting for big flatfish. Nice catches, with fish up to 26-inches, came from working the CBBT structure after the water cleared this week. Offshore and inshore wrecks are also producing keeper flounder. The crew aboard the Rudee Angler out of Rudee Inlet, encountered good flatfish action at the Tower Reef, with some fish exceeding 5 pounds. The Triangle Wrecks also provided decent seabass and flounder this week.
King mackerel are still a good possibility trolling around the Chesapeake Light tower and down to False Cape. A few nice Spanish are still lingering in the same areas, and false albacore are available closer to shore and around the tower. Big barracuda are also circling the Tower right now, along with Jack Crevelle.