 | Weekly Sportfishing Rundown
21 October 2011
We are well into the fall saltwater season, and anglers are having no problem finding the action.
Most are focusing on the incredible speckled trout bite, which is over the top lately. Although most of the specks are on the small side, enough of keepers ranging mostly from 16 to 21-inches are keeping anglers content. Any usual trout spot, most any style jig or lure, and most any color combination seems sufficient to interest the speckled trout right now. The most consistent action is happening in Rudee Inlet, Little Creek, Lynnhaven River, Back River, the Eastern Shore shallows, the Poquoson flats, and the Elizabeth River on a moving tide. Bigger fish ranging to over 5-pounds are coming from Rudee Inlet, Little Creek Inlet, and the Elizabeth River this week. A few puppy drum are also around in the same areas. Surf and pier anglers are also enjoying a run of speckled trout, with reports of fish coming from the surf from Fort Story to Sandbridge.
As water temperatures continue to cool, striped bass are becoming more active. Casters are scoring with schoolie-sized rockfish between 18 to 22-inches along the Monitor Merrimack, the James River Bridge, the HRBT, and the CBBT. The bite is especially good during the night time hours along the light lines. A few larger fish pushing over 34-inches are responding to live bait at the Bay Bridge Tunnel and the MMBT. Wire liners are also boating fish ranging up to about 21-inches from the tubes of the CBBT this week. Lots of snapper bluefish are rounding out catches.
Decent sized spot are still around. The folks at The Virginia Beach Fishing Center claim that nice fish are still coming from near the mouth of Rudee Inlet, although some days are better than others. Lynnhaven Inlet, the HRBT, and Ocean View are also productive lately, especially close to the tide change. Croaker catches are slowing, but a few big heardheads are still providing some action in Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet, and near the lower Bay Bridge Tunnels.
The inshore and Bay tautog activity is picking up, with nice fish ranging from 5 to 7-pounds caught along the artificial islands of the CBBT this week. Scattered late season sheepshead are also mixed in with the tog along the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Inshore wrecks are also harboring nice tog, along with good numbers of respectable trigger fish and seabass. You must wait a little longer to keep the seabass, though.
Although the big red drum won’t be around for much longer, anglers are taking advantage of the action while they can. Red drum are still a possibility along the ocean front, along the Eastern Shore shoals, and near the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBBT. Many are hooking bulls by accident while targeting other species.
Even though anglers are finding cooperative fish, the flounder bite has room for improvement this week. Drifting strip baits along the Baltimore Channel, near buoy 36A, and along the small boat channel are most productive lately. Working bait and jigs around the CBBT structure is also enticing a few big fish. These fish are plump right now as they fatten up in preparation for their migration offshore. Some of the deeper water wrecks are also giving up a few decent flatfish mixed in with many shorts.
Amberjack are still available at the South Tower, but not for long. Chopper bluefish have also been available on the offshore wrecks for two weeks now, with the Triangle wrecks a favorite. Deep droppers are finding good sized tilefish and rosefish when they can get out.
Offshore, it has been difficult to get out due to the weather. When boats can make it out, the action is slow. Wahoo are around, along with a few yellowfin tuna, and scattered bailer dolphin. The tuna bite further south out of Carolina is going strong this week. Once overnight trips resume with more regularity, swordfish are a possibility.
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