Way South Fishing Reports

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.