Each week I will try to start this thread .... it will give everyone a chance to add to our weekly report and share commits and how to tips on whats hot ... ect.!




INSHORE REPORT - Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Waters Out To The Towers

By Dr. Julie Ball
VBSF.net fishing report contributor and
IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach

April 2, 2009

Spring is here and fish are available, but intermittent windy weather is keeping many boats close to shore lately. Flounder have invaded all corners of the lower Bay, and with striped bass now off limits, folks are happy for the chance at something new. When boats are able, drifters are finding good numbers of respectable flatfish over the 19-inch minimum size requirement. The best luck is coming from using the old stand-by, squid and gudgeons, near the bend at the third island of the CBBT. The Waterman, captained by Steve Richardson out of The Fishing Center, had a decent flatfish day this week. His crew boated 20 flounder, with six fish making it into the cooler. Flounder catches are also coming from buoy 36A to the bayside and backwaters of Cape Charles. This bite will pick up as the water continues to warm.

While overshadowed by the spring flounder run, tautog is still a great target right now. Plenty of these bottom fish are available on most any lower bay and coastal structure. Most boats are returning with keeper fish, with a few pushing over the 9-pound minimum size for a state citation. Nice fish ranging from 4-6-pounds are coming from the structure of the CBBT and the Concrete Ships this week, with fiddler crabs and blue crabs working well. Offshore and inshore wrecks are also producing good numbers of nice fish when boats can reach them. Look for bluefish also to show soon in the deeper water, especially on the inshore sea mounds.

Surf anglers near Ocean View and Willoughby are still reporting catches of smallish croaker on squid and frozen peelers, with small grey trout now entering the scene. Croaker action is still heating up in the Lower Bay's contributing rivers.

Puppy drum are still hitting in both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets where anglers are catching fish on Gulp Grubs. Speckled trout had a boost this week. Keeper-sized fish are mixed in with the puppy drum in Rudee Inlet and the Elizabeth River, with top water lures still working best. One angler reported catching 10 fish ranging to near 4-pounds near the Discharge area in the Elizabeth River. Richard Capps of Norfolk also scored with a 5-pound, 7-ouncer he tricked with a Mirrolure in the River this week. Most of the specks that winter in the Hot Ditch area are on the move, and the best place to catch them now is in the River areas as they head north. The folks at Ocean's East 2 predict that the specks will make their migratory stop at the HRBT within the next week or so.

The next meeting of the PSWSFA will be on April 21. Lou Rajnys will be speaking to us about vertical jigging. This technique has proven both fun and productive for multiple species.

The bay water temperature has reached 55 degrees, the dogwoods are blooming, and the April moon is full. These are signs that it is time to start thinking about big drum. The bite really won’t be in full swing until May but the first big blacks and reds will be caught this month. The seaside surf of the Eastern Shore and inside Magothy Bay are the normal areas of the first bull red catches. We usually will hear of some early black drum catches in commercial gear by the middle of April. While we have drum in our near future (some big reds are already being caught out of the Hatteras surf ) but right now, we have flounder. Flounder are being caught along the CBBT, especially at the curve near the 3rd island. Flounder have also been caught at 36A, on the Hump, and at Back River Reef. Tautog are active on structures inside the bay and on the coastal ocean wrecks. Some croaker are being caught up in the rivers and this bite will heat up quickly now. Offshore bottom fishing is still producing as long as you are willing to fight through the dogfish. Some really good news is coming from a little south of us. Yellowfin tuna are being caught, in good numbers, out of the Outer Banks. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna are being caught out of Hatteras. Yellowfin and bluefin tuna are being caught out of Oregon Inlet. Tuna are being caught on the troll and when that is not effective, vertical jigging is producing. Some dolphin and wahoo are also being caught.