Way South Fishing Reports

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 31 Update:

The speckled trout bite is going strong in the southern tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Hotspots right now include the lower James River, Lynnhaven Inlet, the Elizabeth River, and Rudee Inlet. Fall is an excellent time to fish for speckled trout in the Way South region, and now is when we often see anglers encountering big fish and big numbers of fish. We had a report from an angler who caught over three dozen specks during a recent trip on the Elizabeth River. The hot lures were chartreuse colored paddletails. They kept a limit of fish between 20 and 22 inches. Specks will still be hanging out near grass beds and marshy shorelines in the less developed tributaries. In areas that are more developed, docks, rip rap, and drop-offs are places to seek out specks and other inshore gamefish species.

Schools of bull red drum are still staging at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and other bridge structures in the area. These fish will only be around for a few more weeks at best, and many have already moved out of the Bay to overwinter south of our waters. The islands of the CBBT will be one of the best places to locate these drum while they are still around. These islands have also been the scene for tautog fishing recently. The tog have moved inshore with cooler water temperatures and can now be found at various wrecks, reefs, and other cover. Fall is also a great time to fish for striped bass on the Chesapeake Bay. The stripers are being caught in the tidal rivers, and the migratory fish will soon arrive in late November or early December. One of the best striper reports we heard of came from a boat fishing the Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel last week. They caught dozens of fish while night fishing in depths of 20’ to 25’. Soon the big fish will arrive to the main stem of the Bay, but they are still up the coast right now.

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 24 Update:

The wind has been blowing, and blowing, and blowing this month, which has not made for the best fishing conditions. Anglers have had to rely on smaller tidal tributaries and wind-protected shorelines lately, but there has still been some very good fishing despite the weather. The striped bass bite has been going very strong in the lower James River and in the Elizabeth River. Night fishing has been especially productive around lighted docks, bridge pilings, and industrial areas with building lights illuminating the water. Swimbaits and shallow diving jerkbaits work very well for this style of fishing. On the main stem of the James River and in the Bay, slow trolling live eels have also been working for stripers. One angler trolling near Newport News reported that he and another angler were able to catch a few striped bass while trolling live eels along the bottom. Most of the fish were slot sized.

Bull red drum are exiting the Bay as they migrate south for the colder months. There are still some schools hanging around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and other bridge structures in the Way South region. An angler fishing near the Merrimac Monitor Bridge Tunnel reported an excellent day on the water this week. They were able to land over a dozen red drum ranging from low 30s to mid-40s. The drum school was hanging in 28’ to 32’ of water. They were also able to catch three striped bass up to 28”. As water temperatures are dropping, tautog are moving to inshore structure at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. These fish can be caught at the rocky islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Kiptopeke concrete ships, and at various other reef structures in the Way South region. These fish prefer crab baits like fiddler or green crabs and are very good at stealing the bait. Bottom sweeper jigs or tog jigs are what many anglers use to fish for them. The bite should continue to get better throughout the fall.

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 17 Update:

The wind machine was ramped up last weekend as a Nor’easter moved up the coast. It brought rain and strong winds, essentially making much of the Way South waters unfishable. Needless to say, our reports from this region were slim this week. Striped bass are being caught in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach tributaries this week. One angler checked in after fishing a few nights and said that the stripers were hanging around docks with lights. He caught fish up to 33” and several slot sized fish. Specks were in the mix too. Anglers looking to catch some stripers should spend some time fishing the lower James River and the Elizabeth River. Anglers fishing right around Norfolk are having good luck catching speckled trout, red drum, and striped bass. There is a lot of industrial and shipping infrastructure in the area, so many areas of the river are deep. This makes it a great location for fish to spend the fall and overwinter. Anglers should have plenty of opportunities for inshore species throughout the rest of the year in the area.

There are still some sheepsheads hanging around the CBBT and other bridges in the southern Chesapeake Bay. They won’t be around much longer, and the latest cold front may start to push these fish south. Red drum, both bulls and slot sized fish, are also schooling around the CBBT islands and pilings. Anglers fishing with croaker, spot, and crab are having luck with fish finder rigs. Light tackle anglers are also catching some with the help of good marine electronics. Anglers fishing at the Virginia Beach fishing pier had to take a few days off because of the rough surf, but things should have calmed down by now. Before the blow, they were catching a mix of spot, croaker, pompano, speckled trout, bluefish, flounder, and even a few sharks. Most of these species have been on the smaller side, but the variety can make for a fun trip.  

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 10 Update:

Better numbers of slot reds have been making a showing up and down the ESVA in recent days, with scattered reports from Craddock Neck down to Old Plantation Creek. One reader noted that a gold Johnson spoon fooled the fish into biting. We also heard reports that the slot reds are feeding in the shallows in the marshes near Fisherman’s Island on the lower Eastern Shore. The red drum action has also been consistent at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The reds are staging around the bridge islands and pilings as they get ready to make their migration south for the colder months. One boat fishing the bridge pilings this week caught several redfish, ranging from slot sized fish up to trophy sized. Artificial lures and live croaker worked to get bites. Sheepshead are also still hanging out around the bridge pilings. The water temperatures are cooling down, and the bite has been very good. If you are in an area with sheepshead, they should hit your bait fairly quickly. Anglers are catching them at the CBBT, Lesner Bridge, Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and at several reef sites in the Bay. Tautog are also showing up more at inshore structure including the islands of the CBBT.

Three of our main inshore species - rockfish, red drum, and speckled trout, have been very active in the shallows. There is an abundance of baitfish and shrimp that they are trying to fill themselves with to build up their body reserves before the colder months. A few hotspots have been the lower James River, Elizabeth River, Lynnhaven Inlet, and Rudee Inlet. One angler fishing on the James reported that the striped bass have been abundant on shoreline docks. Trout, red drum, and the occasional flounder have also made appearances, but the stripers seem to be thick right now. This is good news for Virginia anglers as the striped bass season is open. Anglers may keep one fish per person between 19” and 24”. Another angler fishing an unspecified grass flat said that the specks were abundant, but on the small side during their trip this week. Most of his fish were between 12” and 14”, with several fish short striking his lures.

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 3 Update:

October has arrived, and many anglers are looking forward to the fishing opportunities in the southern Chesapeake Bay this fall. After a long catch and release period, Virginia’s fall striped bass season will open on October 4th. The creel limit is one fish per person, with a slot limit of 19’ to 24’. The bite has been good in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach with anglers catching stripers near docks and rip-rap shoreline. We had a report from one boat fishing near the mouth of the James River that had a great trip, catching a mix of striped bass, trout, and red drum. Nearshore cover and structure was the key, with most of the fish hanging around docks. A popping cork paired with a Vudu shrimp was the hot bait. Other anglers are reporting that the stripers are in the Elizabeth River and other tributaries off the James.

Red drum are making their way south as the water temperatures cool. There had been a good bite in the surf near Sandbridge. The ocean water was churning this week as two hurricanes moved off the East Coast, so surf fishing was put on pause for a few days. It should be starting to clear up now, and the drum should be right where they were before the surge. Speckled trout will be a hot topic this month as they are being caught throughout the southern Chesapeake. The specks get very active this time of year, feeding on baitfish and shrimp in the shallows. Grass beds are the perfect place to target them right now. They can also be found near marsh shorelines, docks, and in smaller creeks. Hotspots for the trout include Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, the Elizabeth River, and Broad Bay. The shrimp are getting thicker in the tribs, so adding shrimp-style soft plastics to your arsenal is a good idea. You can also cast net some to use as bait, which can be very effective for several species. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is still holding some bull red drum around the islands. The pilings throughout the bridge have been productive for sheepshead this week. We are also seeing increasing numbers of tautog around the bridge and surrounding wrecks.