Most of the offshore fleet out of Virginia Beach has transitioned over to catching big Stripers, so reports are few and far between. Just because many aren’t fishing, doesn’t mean they’re aren’t fish out there for the taking. This time of year, your targets can be harder to find, but the rewards are terrific.

Sword fishing over the Canyon walls or the deep side of the Cigar can give you “Purple Fever”. The addiction to catch one of these giants is life altering. Overnight trips or deep daytime outings have the potential for landing a Swordfish.

Deep-Dropping is also a possibility. Fishing the deep contours from 50 fathoms to more than 100 are the places to be. Grouper, Blueline Tilefish, Golden tiles and Sea Bass are all on the menu around the deep wrecks and seamounts off Virginia’s coast.

The big Bluefish that were holding over the Triangle Wrecks and Hot Dog, have now taken over the Chesapeake Light Tower and moved even closer to shore with the migrating Stripers. Many of the fish are citation size, both release and weight.

Oregon Inlet is still reporting good landings of Yellowfin tuna. Many of these tuna this time of year I believe are residence, holding around the Tuna Hole and the Point year round. Several Bluefin have also been landed recently, some topping 160 pounds.

Hatteras has seen an incredible catch of King Mackerel. There were some scattered Blackfin landed earlier in the report week, but that bit has slowed.

The story goes that Jack found his Giant at the top of a beanstalk. If we want to find giants, we only need to go to Morehead City. VBSF Commercial Subscriber, “Canyon Runner“, has been slaying giant Bluefin over the last two weeks. They’ve landed 7 Bluefin over the 73 inch giant mark. Six of those 7 have been over 80 inches. Their most recent hit the tapes at 82 inches.

As I’m writing this, I just learned that “Canyon Runner” has two more on the boat, one 86” and the other 87”. Check out their posts in the Offshore Forum here on VBSF.net and learn how they do it at one of their winter speminars, “Going Beyond the Basics“.

Get out There and Catch ‘em Up!!