Way South Fishing Report, March 26 Update:
Reports of redfish keep rolling in, with the inlets (Lynnhaven in particular), the lower Elizabeth and the James from 664 down, and Willoughby Bay all mentioned as producing fish. A few specks and stripers are popping up as well, but the best of this uber-fortunate run of early spring action is coming from the drum, which seem to be hitting with much better reliability — catches of over a dozen with up to eight slots in a day have been alleged (with four to a half-dozen being more common). Pumpkinseed and white paddle-tails worked slowly along bottom and shrimp are both getting the nod. At the CBBT a few tog have popped up on crab baits fished up close to structure; no word from the Cement ships as of yet, but last year at this time they began showing up there as well so it should be a good bet in the coming days. With the water temps now breaking the 50-degree mark, the next couple of weeks could produce some very good toggin’ action.
Down at the Northwest the perch bite is on for anglers fishing minnow and bloodworm bits on bottom rigs, darts, and under bobbers. One reader checked in to let us know that fishing between the 168 bridge and the park was a good idea, and resulted in a full stringer in the warm spring sun this past week.
Way South Fishing Report, March 19 Update:
As Bay waters begin to transition into their spring liveliness, we’re starting to see the first signs of fishing picking up. Ocean’s East let us know that plenty of species are showing up with greater frequency; the speckled trout and puppy drum are already hanging in the inlets, chopping up glass minnows. As waters warm up, they’re expected to make their way further north and move out of the inlets, showing up in shallows with greater numbers. Black drum are also making their presence known, and have been caught on blue crab and clams in deep water. Ocean’s East said that no hotspots have popped up for ‘em, but deeper waters are holding them. Anglers fishing around the CBBT are catching them with the greatest frequency. The same is true for tog, which have woken up from their chilly slumber now that water temps have crept back up into the upper 40s and are again being caught around the CBBT recently on cut blue crab. They’re also a steady presence on the wrecks, where the occasional flounder is biting alongside them.
The shad run is setting off anglers as well — and it’s come with an influx of large stripers. Ocean’s East also mentioned that Virginia’s freshwater fishing scene is on fire. Transition areas between two and 10 feet of water are producing plenty of yellow perch, white perch, crappie, and pickerel.
Way South Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
WOW: we heard reports this week that puppy drum have already begun to wake up and/or trickle up the coast from Hatteras, where they’re more consistently catching in the surf, to Virginia waters. While confirmed reports are slim, following the first signs of life that arrived in Willoughby Bay a couple weeks ago, the lower Elizabeth and Rudee have warmed up enough to trigger some bites on shrimp and slow-moving plastics. Things may also get off to an early start at the CBBT, where water temps are beginning to rise and have made it back above the mid-40-degree mark. We didn’t manage to find anyone who tried togging there this week but it’s a safe bet that these fish will be waking up in the coming days and when the water warms up another notch or two, dropping crab baits close in to structure will be effective.
The yellow perch bite up the tribs and down in the North and Northwest rivers is beginning to take off, with more and more steady reports flowing in as we finally move into spring. Minnow are the most reliable offering. Whites aren’t far behind, and can be located in slightly deeper waters a bit farther downstream by dropping bloodworm bits to the bottom.
Way South Fishing Report, March 5 Update:
The perch run may have been delayed a bit due to the chill in the air, still, it has begun to warm up with warming temperatures over the past week. We heard of more anglers catching this week, and in better numbers, too. Yellow perch are available in holes and channels down-river from traditional spawning locations (live bull minnow are the best bait), and we’re getting the beginning glimpses of a shad run in areas that support one. Catfishing in the upper tribs remained excellent, with some anglers heading to Hopewell and similar areas to target blue catfish in the 40-plus-pound range. Channel cats are also biting strong. Cut gizzard shad, bunker, chicken liver and chicken breast have been productive baits for catfish throughout the region, according to Oceans East. Just remember the stinkier and juicer, the more likely catfish are to take it.
We didn’t hear a lot from the inlets or coast this week — if you’re planning on heading out, always feel free to shoot us a report at [email protected]— we’d love to hear from you!