Hi everyone,

Great site here!

I have some family coming down mid Oct and we will have an 18' Parker for use.

We are experienced fisherman, but have not done the CBBT thing in a while and we are looking for some help to get us pointed in the right direction. We are not looking for "secret spots" or anything like that.

Basically I would like to get the following info:

1. If the weather cooperates, we will fish the CBBT out of Lynnhaven. Where are the good spots to try along the route or near the CBBT to start?

2. Lures and/or bait? This is something that changes from day to day I know. What colors, sizes, weights, names of lures are good to start with?

3. Where would be a couple good "bail out" places to go in the event of nasty weather? The boat is trailered so we are willing to travel a bit. Mainly looking for places in protected waters and places to launch. We live in Portsmouth.

4. What else (besides stripers) should we find in Mid-Oct to fall back on?

Thanks in advance for the help,

Bob T

Welcome to the board!

1) if you are going out of Lynnhaven, on the way to the CBBT anchor out of the channel on the outside of the Lesner bridge (the one you go underneath getting out of the inlet) throw artificials in the tide rips and around the pilings. I have caught alot of keeper striper there. Then once you get to the CBBT same applies there. You can also chunk (cut menhaden) over the tubes

2) Get various size bucktails (white and Chartreuse), medium to large storms. Keep some menhaden for chunking. After Jan. 1 the bay season closes and the coastal season opens. You will want to get some umbrella rigs and mojos! Tomics are also nice to have.

3) The Elizabeth and James Rivers are good bad weather spots. Throw artificials around the shoreline and structure. Portsmouth city park is a great place to launch from.

4) Spot, croaker, puppy drum, flounder and specks are always a possibility in the fall.

Good luck! Tight Lines

Welcome to the board Coastie!

For stripers in Mid Oct, I'd work the islands of the CBBT. Cast top-water lures, storm lures, or live spot into the rocks on the side with the most wave action. Stripers will be hanging out in there waiting for bait to be washed around by the waves. You can also work over the tubes. Drop live bait down(spot/eels) or bucktails around any rips near the end of the islands.

Slow trolling can produce, too. Use a heavy 3-way swivel with about 3 feet of mono on the bottom for your weight(20oz-heavier depending on current) and then 15 or more feet off the top of the swivel and attach a spoon, light bucktail or storm lure and slow troll(3 kts approx) from shallow to deep bouncing the weigh on the bottom. You can do this a long the pillings too. Fish the upside of the current so your bait swings over/into structure.

If you're up for night fishing, work the light lines under the bridges. The shoals past the 4th Island are a good spot for this. the fish will be hanging up in the light line and busting bait. Look for the birds for the fish. Dropping eels down along the pillings at night can net you some bigger fish.

If the waters are too nasty at the CBBT, you can do the same around the HRBT. There are stripers being caught already at night over there. Topwater action is a blast.

I've never done it, but chunking for stripers can be fun, too. I think most guys fish further in the bay on the shoals and chunk menhaden.

Good luck and catch 'em up!!

--Don

Thanks a lot for the quick responses!

Sounds like we are pointed in the right direction now.

Just a few more questions if you don't mind.

You guys mention "top water" plugs. Any recommendations on name brands and sizes? We used to fish top water a lot back in the Chopper blue blitz days. Have not done it for stripers though. Sounds like a blast!

***Edit: Also, I have often found the treble hooks that come on most top water lures to be a pain in the butt! Do you guys recommend changing trebles to single hooks? If so, what size and style?

Any general preferences on best tides to fish and or wind direction?

Thanks again,

BobT

I like the MirroLure Top Dogs, from the Tog Dog, She Pup or Top Dog, Jr. Colors-- Blue/silver, Chartruse, Red/white, Dark Green/white, Brown/orange. I also use popper style topwaters once in a while.

As far as the treble hooks, they are a pain. I've never changed mine out to put J-hooks, but I think if you put a straight J, O'Shaughnessy, or even a Mustad 7691(Southern Tuna, may be 6/0) style may work. I've also seen it where guys will cut the hook section off of the middle treble, just keeping the shaft part on the lure, and keeping the back treble on the lure. This way it still has some of the weight of the "hook" so the lure will run the same.

Tides, I like a falling tide. Winds, stripers seem to really like a NE wind even though it may not be the best for us fishermen. Casting the rocks though, fish the wave action side.

i have found a cheap rig for stripers around the pylons of the cbbt. tie or attach a weight of appropriate heft to hit bottom (inline style). yes it will not hold bottom but you do not wont it to. run 3' of florocarbon ( 30' test minimum) to a good quality 4/0 hook and insert a white twister tail grub body onto that. cast the rig into the current around the pylones and let the tide pull it across the structure. you will loose some but the cost is small. you could use cheaper leader material in the bay if you need to due to the water clarity. caught a bunch last season like this arond the 2nd and 3rd island. good luck and tight lines

Welcome to the board Coastie. You've got some great info to work with in the preceding posts. I see you're working out of Portsmouth. On those really rough days, or if you only have a couple of hours, you can put in at the City Park ramp right there in P-town. The West Norfolk Bridge is a couple of miles away, holds some schoolie fish (12" - 24") and you're fishing quick. The ramp officially closes for launching at dark, but remains open for returning boats. You can get some bigger fish out by the end of the Portsmouth International Terminals piers, which are further down toward the Elizabeth River to your starboard as you head out. Just like at the CBBT, try topwater plugs at the light lines on the water and jigs with twister tails where the water drops off into the channel. Any topwater chugger will work, the noisier the better. My favorite is made by Cheasapeake Bay Lures and costs about $3. Storm type swim baits are real good just about everywhere. Tight lines.

Wow, You guys are great!

Skinnyskid, Thanks for the lure recommendations, I will pick up a few.
Regarding the treble hooks, I used to do the same with cutting two of the 3 hooks on the body, forgot about that one. But for the trailer, I always like to replace with a hefty J of some sort.

Vince, Great tip on the grub tail rig. We used to use very similar rigs for Gray trout a few years back because they like to hug the rocks on the bottom. We would tear them up like that while others wondered what we were doing. Basically, It was what they were NOT doing....getting on the bottom! Speaking of Grays, How is the run around here and when?

Marlin, Thanks for the tip on the PIT and the WNB. I will look for some of those Ches Bay Lures you speak of too.

I am in the Coast Guard so I will likely use the ramp on base if we get blown out. Especially now that you guys have given me some places to consider.

If anyone ever needs any advice of Nav rules or boat handling, give me hollar. I used to work as an instructor at Yorktown.

Great discussion here guys!

Be safe!

Retired Navy Here shipmate..... Welcome to the site.

You can also go out of NOB (HRBT) and Little Creek (CBBT). Puts you right on the bridges.

Hello Shipmate!

Yeah, we launch from LC when the wind is from the south and east. The CBBT gives us a little lee then and we dont get beat to crap heading out....as much!

Have not tried the NOB ramp yet. I will have to look that one up, Thanks.

Be safe!

Hey Coastie. I was a DC in the CG for 15 years. Just got out with my final tour out at Barbers Point, Hawaii.

Tours:
Red Beech, NYC
Sta Manasquan Inlet , NJ
Base/ISC Honolulu, HI
AirSta Barbers Point, HI

TAD stints:
CG Yards, Baltimore, MD
TraCen, Yorktown

Welcome to the board...Boats!

Coastie, Welcome to the Board. Keep us honest with the COLREGs. We may hit you up for Meet & Greet presentation on safety or something.
Tight lines.
Dave

Hey Nocturn,

I been to Manasquan, beautiful place with a treacherous little inlet. Never stationed there, but had to take a TANB there to get it bead blasted. We stayed the night so we didn't have to drive all the way back to baltimore. Loved that little town and the Deli's are awesome there!

Billable, I will do what I can to help the community. COLREGS are easy......Don't hit anybody!

Seriously, just ask and I will do my best.

Coastie,

It would be great if you could post some nav rules and boat handling skills in the general section. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to the meet and greet.
I'm fairly new to boating, but do know the basics from friends and the free handouts at the tackle shop, and of course getting the boat out every chance I get. I always like to know more, however (can't be too safe); and it could be a benefit to the whole forum.
Not asking for a book, but a few things you notice other boaters don't know when you're on the water would work.
Thanks,
Rob

I used to fish with my Grandfather out of Manasquan and you're right...can be nasty...so can Barnaget. And you nailed it on the deli...there's nothing like a NJ deli...nothing!!

[quote=skinnys-kid,Sep 19 2006, 05:34 AM][quote=Coastie,Sep 18 2006, 11:16 PM] I been to Manasquan, beautiful place with a treacherous little inlet. Never stationed there, but had to take a TANB there to get it bead blasted. We stayed the night so we didn't have to drive all the way back to baltimore. Loved that little town and the Deli's are awesome there!
[/quote]

I used to fish with my Grandfather out of Manasquan and you're right...can be nasty...so can Barnaget. And you nailed it on the deli...there's nothing like a NJ deli...nothing!!

[/quote]
NJ DELI.......you haven't experienced a sub until you had one from Mikes....(before they became a chain) many of weekends picking up some fat subs before heading out of Toms River growing up...

NOB will put you on the HRBT in about 5 minutes (about a mile) and it is generally a smooth ride. My brother goes out there alot in his Tracker deep V. Usually pretty calm. Lots of fish around the structure as well as the Hampton Bar and if the water is nice out to the Thimbol Shoals light house.

Welcome, Coastie
I've been in the area since 1979, stationed at NOB most of the time, and until 2000 never knew there was a ramp there. It can be hard to find. Go in Gate 3A, off I-564, go straight back to the end of that street, and take a left. Follow the road around, and you will see the yacht basin. The ramp is on the right side of the basin, but you have to go to the sailing center on the left side and pay your $5.00 (if they're closed there's a box for your money) before you launch. If you want to wash down there after you come back, you might want to bring your own hose, last time I was there there was a short hose with no fitting on the end.