Way South and Virginia Fishing Report, 4/27/2018 Update:
Oceans East let us know that the CBBT has been a hotspot for both flounder and bluefish recently, with live gudgen being the bait of choice for the flatfish. Many anglers are also trolling or jigging bucktails with Gulp Swimming Mullet and Shrimp tails. There are also tog being caught at the CBBT on crab baits, and although the bulk have been small, some keepers are coming into the boats. Go after these fish soon if you want to keep 'em, since they go out of bounds in a couple of weeks. The inlets have also been hot, particularly for flounder anglers using these same tactics. Better yet, drum are also being caught in the inlets - both puppies and some blacks. Clam baits have been best for the drum, but flounder anglers are also picking them up here and there on the jigs. Chesapeake Bait and Tackle had a few reports of stripers caught in deeper water this week, by anglers using eels as bait. Remember that stripers are out until May 1 in VA waters; check the VMRC web site for the full details.
We've also heard the first reports of croaker inside the Bay, coming from Buckroe. Although they're still not around in big numbers as the waters warm up in the next week or two we'd expect bottom fishing to pick up significantly.
Many area anglers have been focusing on shad, which are providing a strong bite in traditional up-river areas like Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock and Richmond on the James. Darts and small one- to two-inch plastics are getting the job done, with the best fishing when the water has been running clear (it's been back and forth lately, particularly in the Rap). Catfish and white perch are biting in the same areas on cut bait and bloodworms.
Way South and Virginia Fishing Report, 4/20/2018 Update:
Although high winds the past few days have kept most boats off the water, earlier this week boats were able to get out and enjoyed a lively tautog fishery. As per usual, Oceans East reports the tog are taking peeler and green crab on bottom rigs, as well as sand flea when they're available. Inshore, a few small flounder are in the inlet and bayside. Most have been hitting jigs bounced off bottom. Like what we learned in the Coastal Report, however, the flatfish have been few and far between with the coastal bays on the DelMarVa (Wachapreague, Quimby, etc) providing slightly steadier action. There are good reports of redfish plus a few big spring blues coming from North Carolina's beaches right now, and these fish should be heading up the coast into our waters as we speak. In the next couple of weeks if we can get some decent weather (for once!) fishing should improve dramatically, and rapidly.
In the bay, the tog at the CBBT have finally begun shaking off the cobwebs of winter, with water temperatures creeping up and holding in the low 50's. Most that are being caught have been on the smaller side, but there are some keeper fish around. Stick with green crab and sand fleas, fished on bottom and snafu rigs. We're also hearing of a few small stripers being caught and released at the HRBT, mostly by jiggers and kayakers trolling plugs. Beyond that most of the anglers on the Western Shore who have found good action have been probing the upper areas of the rivers for catfish and shad. Catfish are showing a preference for cut gizzard shad, fished in deep holes and channels. As usual, Hopewell was mentioned as a good area and there were rumors of a fish over 50 pounds caught in the Chickahominy last weekend.
Way South and Virginia Fishing Report, 4/13/2018 Update:
Weather conditions were finally calm enough this week that offshore travel was a possibility so this past week a number of anglers headed out to the Triangle wrecks, where they found tautog willing to bite green crab and soft crab. A few flounder were even in the mix, however Ocean's East reported that they have been undersized. There were also a few scattered reports of a redfish here and there for anglers soaking baits in the inlets, plus a few flatfish being caught. The flounder have shown up here and there in the coastal bays as well, but still in very low numbers. Fishing just outside the inlets has been a bit better, but only a bit.
Bayside fishing has undeniably slow, however, the warmer weather should change this very rapidly. The first (unconfirmed) report of tog "waking up" at the CBBT has come in, though we also heard from readers who gave it a shot and had no success at all. Water temps are still under 50 degrees but this should change very soon!
At the piers an interesting early harbinger of spring has showed up - the Virginia Beach pier has reported that the first (small) croaker have arrived. Up the rivers and around the HRBT small male stripers are being encountered by catch-and-release anglers, but we didn't hear of anyone bringing in trophy-sized fish.
Anglers heading way up the rivers have been encountering the first shad of the season (we heard the James near Richmond mentioned more than once,) and as expected, the blue catfish bite continues in all the usual hotspots. Cut gizzard shad is reportedly the best bait.
Way South and Virginia Fishing Report, 4/6/2018:
Although the weather has been warmer than in previous weeks, high winds have kept up making it near impossible to venture out on the water. You can check the Coastal Report for more info on what's happening on the sea side but be warned, the report will only depress you. Fortunately, flounder season finally opened on the first of the month, and a few reports of slow but successful outings have come in to both Ocean's East and Bishops. Most flounder have been caught in deep water, just outside the inlet. Still no more word on the reds that showed up a few weeks ago, likely the result of our still chilly water temperatures. However, a few days of warm sunny weather could change things around in a hurry. We also didn't hear of any more drum from the Outer Banks, although both bluefin and yellowfin tuna are still hitting, for anglers willing to travel down that way and head offshore.
On the bayside, some schoolie stripers have been hanging around the CBBT, and have been picked up by trollers. There were also a couple reports of small stripers being caught and released at the HRBT. Anglers throwing jigs and trolling in the James and Rappahannock have also reported some catch-and-release action on small stripers. The more reliable tributary fishery, however, has been up the rivers for blue cats. Cut gizzard shad on bottom in holes and in channels is the best bet, in areas like DC on the Potomac, Port Royal on the Rap, and Hopewell on the James. No confirmed word yet on shad action, but this should also be in play very soon after a few warm, sunny days hit the area.