Virginia Fishing Report: Covering the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Inshore and Virginia Offshore, and Freshwater Fishing Reports
Julie Ball brings us these reports:
The water temperatures dropped into the mid forties this week in the lower Bay and coastal waters. With some days better than others, boats are finding big fish with a few ranging over forty pounds. Plentiful, large pods of bait should hold fish, so once the waters clear and the weather permits, the bite can be very good.
Both eeling and trolling are effective methods right now, but another technique not usually considered for targeting larger stripers has caught the attention on the angling community; fly fishing. Fly anglers usually drift quietly along the pilings of the CBBT, mostly keeping clear of boats using other fishing techniques. Although most catches on the fly tend to be school-sized, occasionally fly rod anglers are rewarded with trophy catches. This was the case when Richie Keatley of Norfolk tricked a 51-pound, 5-ounce monster with his hand-tied fly at the high rise section of the CBBT. His outstanding catch is big enough to submit as a new pending IGFA World Record for the 20-pound tippet Male Fly Rod category.
Dropping eels at night along the High Rise span of the CBBT is still enticing some big fish. Many of the larger fish are ranging between 40 and 50-pounds.
Nice rockfish are also still coming from eeling on the Eastern Shore Bay side, where drifting eels at various depths from buoys 18 and 36A, down to Kiptopeke State Park and on to buoy 10, is producing some fish over 40-pounds. Folks trolling in these same areas are also catching some of these same fish.
Many boats trolling oceanfront waters are finding schools of nice rockfish. The schools are hallmarked by huge beehives of diving birds and acres of bait. A few chopper bluefish are also still in the mix. The trick is finding the fish within the 3-mile demarcation. Remember that targeting striped bass past 3-miles off the beach is off limits.
If light tackle is your desire, many school-sized rockfish are available just off the bridges under working birds and all over the lower Bay. Top water plugs or jigs are perfect for casting into these schools. Jigging with most any 4-inch shad style lure along the pilings of the lower Bay crossings is an effective method for enticing fish up to around 27-inches.
Tautog are available on lower Bay structures and the Bay Bridge Tunnel proper. Good numbers of tog are also concentrated on inshore and offshore wrecks, when boats can venture out to reach them. Plenty of nice seabass up to around three pounds are available at the Triangle Wrecks, but the season is closed. Flounder are also biting on some of these same structures, where one boat lucked into a nice 9-pound flattie while jigging at the Triangles this week.
According to the folks at Ocean’s East 2, the speckled trout action in the Elizabeth River slowed up some this week. Anglers are picking away at few specks, where fish are spanning from 2 to 5-pounds lately. Rudee lnlet is still a possibility for specks, while Lynnhaven is still at a stand-still. Casting jigs, live bait fishing, and trolling are all productive methods. Wayne Barfield of Virginia Beach scored with a huge 8-pound, 10-ounce speck while casting a Gulp lure in the Elizabeth River this week, while Darryl Barnes of Norfolk took a nice 5-pound citation while fishing with live bait at the Hot Ditch.
Once anglers can find a break in the weather, boats will head for the edge of the Norfolk Canyon in search of deep water species such as tilefish and grouper. Swordfishing is also an option, but calm weather is a must for this predominately overnight activity. Bluefin tuna could still be around, but there are no reports of sightings or hook-ups, which is not promising. Giant bluefin are providing limited action off Morehead City.
Until next week, good luck fishing!
Julie
Dr. Julie Ball
IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach
Charlie Taylor sends us these Virginia Saltwater Fishing Reports:
The annual fall sea run of striped bass is in full swing. Limit
catches of stripers over the 40 inch mark are the rule for anglers trolling
umbrella rigs and bucktails in 30+ feet of water. The big fish are found
throughout the lower Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to the
mouth of the Bay and around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel complex.
Ken Neil brings us these Saltwater Fishing Reports:
Merry Christmas! I hope you and your family have a happy safe holiday season. Santa has brought us all large rockfish! Actually, the pattern has been the fishing getting is better every day and then we get a big blow and a lot of precipitation. The water turns muddy, rough and cold and the fishing drops off for a few days and then it picks up and gets better than before. A few days of stable weather is all we need for some of the best fishing on the planet. Other than rockfish, speckled trout action remains very good in the Elizabeth River. Tautog are available on the coastal wrecks though not many are fishing for them. Large bluefish can be found mixed in with rockfish out around the Chesapeake Light Tower on out to the Triangle Wrecks. Yellowfin tuna action is good out of Oregon Inlet. Blackfin tuna are being caught out of Hatteras Inlet. Further south, boats fishing out of Beaufort Inlet are finding giant bluefin tuna.
Jerry Thrash brings us these reports from the middle of the bay:
Weather has precluded most Striper fishing this week. A few boats ventured into the bay on Friday and had fish around Cape Charles and the Concrete Ships, as did those fishing in the York and Rappahannock rivers. Water temperature on 12/21 was 43.8 at Stingray Point. That is a 3 degree drop from last week. The great majority of citation fish caught in the past two weeks have been caught on live eeels in the lower bay, so we are seeing ocean fish enter the bay from the south. Warming weather over the Christmas holiday may bring a big rush of fish, and fishable weather, the last week of the bay season.
Charlie Taylor also brings us these freshwater fishing reports:
OVERVIEW - With temperatures running much colder than normal, the fish have finally headed for the wintertime haunts, in deep water. Lots of good fish are being taken throughout the state by anglers who are patient. Plastic baits, fished at the base of channel dropoffs or on shallow gravel banks dropping off
into deeper water, will take bass, perch, crappie, striper and catfish. Warmwater discharges are holding lots of active fish. These fish are suckers for Silver Buddies, small Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits, and white grubs. Species range from catfish to stripers, carp, bass and yellow perch. Most sewage treatment plant discharges and power plant cooling water discharges are warmer than the water into which they are dumped.
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Largemouth bass are holding on dropoffs in 15-20 feet of water throughout the area. Small plastic grubs, liberally doused with fish attractants are taking these fish. The slower the bait is fished, the more successful it will be. Letting the bait sit on the bottom motionless will often produce better than moving it. The outflow from Blue Plains is still a local hot spot, giving up stripers, bass and crappie. The Spoils is another area that is giving up fish. The steep dropping banks should be the target for bass anglers, while crappie fishermen should concentrate on the concrete islands. Better choice of crappie baits would be live minnows and small tube jigs in 1/16 or 1/32 oz. sizes. Anglers wishing the ultimate in action should rig ultra-light equipment with 2-4 pound line and 1/4 oz. Silver Buddies. Cast
these into the discharge at Blue Plains, allowing the bait to fall, and lift the rod tip sharply. Almost every cast will produce gizzard shad, ranging from 1-3 pounds. Although some will be snagged, most of the shad take the baits on the fall, and have all three tines of the hook firmly embedded in their mouths. Allowing the bait to fall to the bottom and lifting it gently will produce both stripers and big yellow perch.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Main river dropoffs are producing good numbers and sizes of largemouth bass for anglers patiently fishing small plastic grubs and jig 'n pig. Some of the better dropoffs are located at the mouths of most of the creeks, where the creek channel meets the main river channel. Fish these areas with lipless rattling crankbaits and swimming grubs. The main creek channel of most of the major creeks are also giving up bass for anglers patiently fishing small grubs or other plastic baits on banks dropping into 10-20 feet of water. Small, wide wobbling crankbaits, fished just fast enough to impart vibration to the rod tip will also take bass in the same areas. Best time is on the end of the outgoing tide and the beginning of the incoming tide.
OCCOQUAN RIVER - Fish may be caught in the river when the water clears. Currently, it is cold and muddy. Lots of bass are located on dropoffs near the mouth of the river. Crappie are schooled up around the submerged brushpiles and boat docks. Yellow perch are showing near the mouth and are taking small grubs and minnows, fished on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. Most of the perch are bucks, but more roe perch are moving in daily. Occasional stripers are being taken in the area around Hoffmaster's Marina on Sassy Shads and live jumbo minnows. Bass are also being taken in the back end of the river, jigging Silver Buddies and Hopkins spoons at the base of the dropoffs, under the schools of baitfish.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Anglers fishing the main lake points with plastic grubs and jig 'n pig baits are catching fish. The bass are located in the deeper water off the points and are coming up on the points to feed. Crappie are thick in the submerged brush and timber. Small minnows and tiny jigs are the
ticket here.
POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Some nice smallmouth bass are being taken from the mouth of the warmwater discharge canal at Dickerson Power Plant. Lots of big channel catfish are to be found at the same place. Fish small smoke grubs on 1/8 or 1/16 ounce jig heads in the current. Allow the current to sweep the grub downstream, keeping the line taut in order to feel a strike. Live minnows and nightcrawlers are also tempting the fish. The main river is cold and muddy. As it falls and clears, deeper holes in the river will give up smallmouth, along with catfish. Try fishing small hair jigs, tipped with pork
rind. Also try fishing small topwater baits slowly along the ledges. When the sun has warmed the water in the late afternoon, try a 1/8th oz. buzzbait along the sunny shoreline.
FARM PONDS - Throughout the state, farm ponds that are not iced over, are giving up good sized bass to patient anglers. Jig 'n pig, plastic baits and jerk baits are the ticket for trophy sized bass. Good sized sunfish are also on the feed, taking small plastic grubs, small crankbaits and in-line spinners.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Some largemouth bass should be available in the tidal sections of the river for patient anglers fishing live minnows and jig 'n pig baits. The steeper dropping banks are holding the fish, although some nice fish should also come from the blowdowns along the shore. Above the city, the
smallmouth bass will also be taking live minnows and crayfish, fished in the deeper holes in the river. Catfish like cut baits, fished in the deeper outside bends of the river channel.
LAKE ANNA - Walleye action is good around the rocky points at Dike #3. Live shad is the better bait for walleye weighing four pounds or more. Stripers are also active around this dike, where the water temperature is a few degrees warmer than the balance of the lake. Surface activity is limited on the main
lake, but the stripers do surface. When they do, Cordell Redfins are taking the big fish. Better fishing is coming downlake, near the dam. Bass are located on the main lake points. Fishing small baits very slowly off the points, into the deeper water, is accounting for some good sized largemouth bass. Trophy hunters are using live jumbo minnows. Crappie are holding around submerged brush, bridge pilings and suspended over creek channels. The cooling ponds are loaded with small bass. Almost anything thrown in the water will take these aggressive fish. Schools of surface-feeding stripers and largemouth bass are common at dawn and dusk. Topwater baits, bucktails and live minnows will entice them. During the day, the stripers may be found along road beds and around islands, particularly in Elk Creek and the mouth of Mill Pond Creek. The canals are holding bass and walleye. Drifting live bait, small plastic grubs or jig 'n pig with the current, will take these fish. Jigging spoons will also take largemouth bass in the canals, particularly around the bridge pilings.
JAMES RIVER - Fishing is slow, but fish are being caught. The area around the Dutch Gap Power Plant has been giving up some good fish. Blue catfish in the 30 pound class were caught last week, along with some 3-6 pound walleye, plenty of crappie and 3-4 pound bass. The crappie and bass were taken from the old barge pits, while the walleye and catfish were taken from the main river. Smallmouth bass are also available on island dropoffs and rocky points. Catfish are taking cut shad, while the other species are taking small plastic grubs, live minnows and nightcrawlers.
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Crappie and yellow perch are the main attractions here. Although bass are being caught by skilled and patient anglers, most of the fishermen are after panfish. The mouths of feeder creeks and the steeper-dropping banks in the backs of the larger creeks are the holding areas for largemouth bass. Crappie and yellow perch are holding on wood cover in 10-15 feet of water. Live minnows and small grubs and jigs are the ticket for the panfish, while live minnows, small grubs and jig 'n pig baits will take the bass.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - A few bass and crappie are reported being caught on live minnows. Fishing pressure is very light and few reports are coming in.
SUFFOLK LAKES - Lake Prince reports some stripers, caught on light line and live minnows. Western Branch also reports some striper action on live minnows. Lakes Smith and Whitehurst are reporting a few crappie and white perch, along with some bass and an occasional large striper.
LAKE CHESDIN - Some crappie are available for patient anglers. Occasional bass and chain pickerel on live bait.
LAKE GASTON - Striper action is hot in the main lake around the mouth of Pea Hill Creek. Large schools of surface-feeding fish are marauding through the shad schools early and late in the day. Bass are confined to the deeper dropoffs, with the majority located in 25-40 feet of water.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Largemouth bass may still be caught in 3-4 feet of water on Speed Shads and Poe's RC3 crankbaits. A stop-and-go retrieve is working best. Crappie are hovering around deep brushpiles. Vertical jigging minnows over the brushpiles will produce the better fish. Striper fishing picked up, with most of the fish being taken downlake, trolling Cordell Redfins and free-lining live shad.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Striper action is hot. Lots of 8-10 pound fish being caught daily, with a couple over 20 pounds being caught this past week. Surface lures are taking the fish early and late in the day and live shad at other times. Most of the fish are holding at the 20-25 foot mark during the day, but
are coming up to feed on the surface in the backs of coves at dawn and dusk. A good depthfinder will locate the schools of shad, with the stripers among them. Live shad are also taking their share of smallmouth and largemouth bass from rocky points and brushpiles throughout the lake.
LAKE MOOMAW - Some anglers are out on the lake, catching some small trout. Bass anglers are consistently skunked, while crappie anglers are catching few, but large crappie.
PHILPOTT LAKE - Some largemouth and smallmouth bass are being taken, along with small walleye and large crappie. Live bait is producing better results, although plastic grubs, rattling crankbaits and jig 'n pig are also taking fish.
CLAYTOR LAKE - A few stripers and an occasional bass is the news here. Not many anglers out.
TROUT STREAMS - All streams are full and swift flowing, but fish are being caught by patient anglers, particularly in the larger streams.
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