Coastal Fishing Reports

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, January 16 Update:

It has been an incredible winter run for bluefin tuna along the beaches, but that bite may be coming to an end. Fish In OC reports that they didn’t have any boats check in with successful trips this week out of Ocean City which may indicate that the fish are pushing to the south. A few boats tried despite the bitter cold and wind but came up with skunks. There are still some fish hanging around off Virginia Beach and we did hear of one bluefin boated by Kraken Charters that measured 68” earlier in the week. Weather windows have been limited, but if you are trying to get on another tuna, heading south will likely be your best bet. The tuna run this past fall, and winter will be one that is talked about for a long time.

While the tuna bite is dying off, there are still plenty of tog to target this winter. Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star was out on Monday and reported a slower bite. He moved around to different bottom structure and found lethargic life everywhere, until the tide switched from north to more southernly. His anglers started getting more consistent bites towards the end of the day with some solid keepers. Monty put it best, “fish always bite when it’s time to go”. Chasin’ Tides Charters was also out this week and had a great trip putting his crew on a limit of tog up to 17.5 pounds. Tog will keep us busy for the meantime, but there will also be a special recreational black sea bass season in Virginia this February. Anglers interested in participating can find more information on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission website.

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, January 9 Update:

A little snow isn't slowing down the bluefin tuna action along the coast! Snow usually misses Delmarva, but they got in on the wintry precipitation early this week with several inches of snow across the region. The snow didn’t stop some boats from heading out to chase bluefin tuna and we heard of a few successful trips. Fish In OC had reports on Monday from Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin’ Tides Charters who quickly boxed their one bluefin limit and then went on to catch several nice tautog. A few days before the storm rolled in, Chasin’ Tides had another great trip targeting tuna where they hooked into a true giant. In just five minutes of trolling, the crew was hooked up with a 97” bluefin that took three hours to hit the deck. The fish weighed 442 pounds and filled their one “giant” bluefin tag for the year. Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star has also been getting in on the tuna action.  Last weekend, his crew went seven for nine while trolling for tuna. Each fish was landed with a tuna net and safely released. The two others that got away were the biggest fish that were hooked during the trip. A classic case of the big one that got away. These tuna are still providing action off Virginia Beach too. Playin Hookey Charters has landed several nice fish recently including a 150-pounder caught on a Nomad Design Tackle DTX Minnow 220. Since the snow hit, the winds have really ramped up, keeping most of the fleet of the water. When we get a reprieve from the wind, there will likely still be plenty of tuna and tog to chase. Just make sure to bundle up because it doesn’t look like the cold is going anywhere.

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, January 2 Update:

Happy New Year folks! Let’s make the 2025 fishing season another great one. Winter winds have made it difficult to get offshore at times this week, but there are still plenty of bluefin to chase when the weather allows. Several boats from Delaware, Ocean City, and Virginia Beach made it to the tuna grounds and found success catching “overs” and “unders”. Fish In OC had several reports from the Ocean City fleet with successful trips and it seems that if you have an opportunity to head offshore, you should take it. Chasin’ Tides Charters has been targeting tuna and tog on recent trips and earlier in the week his crew boxed a 66” bluefin and a limit of tautog up to nine and a half pounds. Foolish Pleasures also got in on the fun while trolling and caught one for the box along with three “overs” that were released.  

Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star has also been busy chasing tuna but shifted back to his normal business matters of chasing down sea bass this week. Monty said he and his crew put out the trolling gear for tuna on the way to the sea bass grounds but did not hook up, though they did mark plenty of fish. Once they got to their destination, he only had to anchor once as the sea bass bite was hot. One of his regulars had a limit of sea bass in only 35 minutes. The rest of the anglers on board had a limit of sea bass in just a few hours work. The sea bass also seem to be biting well off Virginia Beach as we heard of a few good reports from there as well. Playin Hookey Charters was dialed in on them earlier in the week and boxed a boat limit of 90 bass with some trophy sized fish in the mix.

Important Announcement: NOAA Fisheries recently announced that the Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit for recreational fishermen will revert to the default limit of 1 school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27” to <73” curved fork length) per vessel per day/trip. This limit will take effect January 1, 2025, and extend through December 31, 2025, unless modified by later action. The recreational “trophy” bluefin tuna fishery has also re-opened in all sub quota regions starting January 1, 2025. Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally are allowed one trophy bluefin tuna measuring 73” curved fork length or greater per vessel per year provided “trophy” category subquota in the respective region is available at the time of harvest.