8/24/2017 Southern Chesapeake and Virginia Fishing Report Update:
Bayside, flounder have been around the bridge, however not in huge numbers. Oceans East reports that Fishbites and clam have been the flounder bait of choice, and many have been smaller in size. Fortunately kingfish and snapper bluefish have been bountiful bayside, as well as ocean side in the surf. Both cobia and red drum are being found in fewer and fewer numbers ocean side, however some small pods of the fish are still being spotted.
With a week of rain disrupting fishing on the bayside, surf fishing has actually been the most productive means of catching fish lately. The blowfish bite has been excellent, and many croaker are mixed in with the catch as well.
Inshore trolling, Spanish mackerel and small blues remain the name of the game with a few king mackerel also prowling around the shoals and lumps. Offshore remains slow for tuna but fortunately, the billfish bite has picked up quite a bit. Some of the offshore boats are coming home flying three, four, or even five white marlin release flags, mostly from Washington and Norfolk canyons. There are also mahi in the mix plus an occasional wahoo.
8/18/2017 Southern Chesapeake and Virginia Fishing Report Update:
Oceans East reports a small remaining cobia bite offshore, from Sanbridge to Cape Henry. Most fish seem to have moved from the area, however fishing could simply be disrupted by changes in water salinity and temperature due to storms this week. Same goes for the schools of large drum that have been in the area; the bite has dropped off but it's impossible to know if this is due to weather, or the fish leaving the area and heading for greener pastures - the next few days will fill in this blank. Spanish mackerel were affected by the change in weather, too, and seem to have thinned out, but bluefish are still keeping inshore trollers active. Those working shoals and lumps have also lucked into a few king mackerel, though not yet in numbers high enough to truly target them. Anglers running farther offshore have found an improved white marlin bite, as the waters have shuffled around a bit since the rather slow fishing during the White Marlin Open.
Kingfish were abundant in the Virginia surf this week, as were bluefish, some croaker, and the occasional flounder. Bloodworms and squid have been the surf fishing bait of choice, and some anglers have also reported catching fish using clam.
Bishops reported that mahi mahi have continued to hang around floating weed beds and other offshore structure such as the lobster pots, and many have been gaffer size. Around tower reef, the sea bass bite has held strong, with peeler crabs the bait of choice.
Fishing along the CBBT is active but not red-hot, with a wide variety of species jumping on the hook. Flounder, bluefish, spadefish, and sheepshead are all present plus a cobia here and there.
8/11/2017 Southern Chesapeake and Virginia Fishing Report Update:
Oceans East Tackle Shop has reported that cobia are still bayside, however not in the numbers that they were in previous weeks. Most cobia are offshore versus in the Bay, from Sandbridge up to Cape Henry. On the ocean side sight-casting is the way to go, but in the bay chummers who are willing to put up with the sharks are doing better. In addition to cobia, large red drum have also been in the area just outside the Bay, as well as Spanish mackerel. Trollers working a few miles off the beach with planers and small spoons are doing best on the mackerel, including some very nice catches with small blues mixed in, measured by the dozens.
Flounder have been around the Bridge Tunnel and Rudee Inlet, however, the bite has slowed down a bit from what it was earlier this summer. Most have been hitting live spot and mullet. Kingfish are mixed in with the catch, as well, for bottom fishermen using bloodworm and squid.
Bishops reports a strong sea bass bite around tower reef. Most of the sea bass are biting cut clam and peeler crab. There are also some spadefish and triggerfish around inshore structure and at the CBBT.
Mahi mahi have been abundant offshore, especially around flotsam and commercial fishing gear floats, but the tuna bite has been hit or miss. A few white marlin pop up at the canyons every day but this hasn't been reliable and with the White Marlin Open going on this past week, the ocean has been crowded whenever the weather allowed.
8/3/2017 Southern Chesapeake and Virginia Fishing Report:
Oceans East Tackle Shop reports a strong flounder bite around the Bridge Tunnel on live spot and mullet. Flounder are also biting around Rudee Inlet, where red drum and kingfish have been mixed in with the catch.
Cobia are in the bay, however, these days the ocean bite off the beach is much stronger, and anglers have been finding pods of cobia offshore around the three mile line from Sandbridge up to Cape Henry. In addition to the cobia, large red drum are being caught in the area. Trollers pulling small spoons through the same basic area and a bit farther out are finding Spanish mackerel in excellent numbers, plus some snapper blues.
Offshore, sea bass fishing has been stellar around tower reef. Bishops reports that sea bass are biting cut peeler crab and clam. Trollers leaving sight of land have been finding that dolphin fishing has been good as well, and many gaffer size dolphin have been caught in the past week. That's a nice bonus for those in search of marlin, which are at the canyons in good numbers. The tuna bite hasn't been as steady, but a few boats are getting into them either chunking or trolling.