Way South Fishing Reports

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 27 Update:

A few warm days this week teased us with what is to come with spring’s arrival. I think we speak for all the angling community when we say that we are done with this winter’s weather. The striped bass spawning migration will be kicking off soon. We typically see the first big push of fish in the spring during the month of March. When this happens, anglers will have a chance to catch big fish on the main stem of the Bay, but can also catch them in the tributaries, especially the larger rivers that these fish will be heading up to spawn. The James River is the main spawning tributary for striped bass in the Way South region. The stripers often follow closely with the river herring, shad, and menhaden that start arriving in March. Keep a close eye on water temperatures as these fish will begin arriving when we get main stem temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s.

The first few warming trends of the year can usually make for a decent bite in the shallow tributaries near Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Water temperatures on the main stem of the southern Chesapeake Bay are in the low 40s right now. The tidal tributaries and their branches will likely have warmer water than the main stem. The shallow mud flats usually warm up the quickest and attract fish seeking out warmer water. The outgoing tide typically has the warmest water in the shallows this time of year, while the incoming tide typically brings in cooler water that can cause fish to slide to slightly deeper depths. Anglers can expect water temperatures in the smaller creeks to be in the mid 40s, with some areas even approaching 50 on days that are warm and sunny. Now is a great time to search areas such as the Elizabeth River, Lynnhaven Inlet, and Rudee Inlet for puppy drum. Theres also a chance to catch some speckled trout and striped bass. Speck fishing is still very slow right now, and their population was hit hard again by another cold stun event this year from a prolonged stretch of cold weather.

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 20 Update:

Schools of puppy drum are starting to move onto the shallow mud flats during warm days to take advantage of the sun and slightly warmer water temperatures. They are also feeding on baitfish, which makes for a good opportunity to fish for them in the tributaries right now. The water temperatures are still very cold, so these fish are not always active. When we get days in the 50s or 60s, that’s when the bite can really turn on, especially if we get a few of those days in a row. A few areas worth checking out in the late winter and spring are Lynnhaven Inlet, Little Creek, Broad Bay, and Rudee Inlet. Mullet have been seen in the creeks and tribs, so match your lure profile with them. Paddletails in the three-to-five-inch range typically work best, but a slower presentation with a fluke-style soft plastic is sometimes needed to entice a bite.

We had a few reports of anglers catching a couple striped bass this week. One angler landed a mid-20-inch fish in Rudee Inlet, and another angler caught a 32” fish in an undisclosed location. Rudee Inlet is a popular tributary to fish in the winter, but it gets crowded because of its size and ease of access. Still, that shouldn’t deter anglers from fishing, as reds, specks, and stripers are usually moving around the marshes and shoreline docks. We did not hear of any speckled trout reports this week, but there were a few reports of dead fish scattered on marsh banks in some of the creeks in the area. The one angler we heard from said it looked like the fish had been there for a while, so they are likely from the deep freeze a few weeks ago. As long as we don’t get any more arctic blasts, we should be in the clear from cold stun events.

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 13 Update:

There have been some unfortunate cold stun events in Virginia and North Carolina this winter. Last weekend’s polar vortex of extremely cold temperatures did not help the situation, and several anglers have reported finding dead trout in the southern Chesapeake Bay tributaries. The good news is that it looks as though we are through the worst of the winter temperatures. We experienced a much-needed warming trend this week that looks like it should continue into next week. Ice on the tidal tributaries is melting, and some days in the 50s and 60s should help to make fish more active. We don’t have any reports from the Way South tributaries this week, but anglers should be getting back out on the water during the warm days ahead. There were a few rumored reports of anglers catching some puppy drum and the occasional speckled trout in Lynnhaven Inlet this week. Lynnhaven along with Rudee Inlet are historically productive tributaries for winter fishing. Reds and specks will likely be pushing into the shallows over mud flats that will warm up faster on sunny warm days. Target these zones for the best chance at catching some fish right now.

Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 6 Update:

Another winter of brutally cold temperatures is bad news for the resident speckled trout, redfish, and other species that are susceptible to cold stun events. The latest round of arctic air has hit the Virginia and North Carolina tributaries hard with fish kills. It even prompted North Carolina to shut down commercial and recreational harvest of speckled trout until July 1st. The fish in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach were not spared either, as we have reports of anglers observing dead fish in those areas over the past week. Last winter caused widespread cold stun events in these areas, so let’s hope warmer weather is on the way soon because the surviving fish are fragile at this point. Many of the creeks and tributaries are partially covered with ice, which has not made it easy for anglers to get out and fish. The overwintering reds and specks are likely to have lockjaw or be very lethargic at best. The reds tend to handle the cold better than the trout and may be more active, but this cold weather has really shut down the bite.

The special February black sea bass season offers an opportunity for Virginia anglers to fish for sea bass at the offshore grounds through the end of the month. It is a good time of year to catch some of the knotheads hanging around the wrecks and reefs in 150-300 feet of water. These fish can provide some of the most exciting bottom fishing action with fish ranging anywhere from three to 10 pounds. Vessel captains or operators must obtain a no-cost Recreational Black Sea Bass Permit through the VMRC’s online system and adhere to mandatory trip reporting requirements. Tautog are another species that offer winter opportunities at wrecks, reefs, and other structures. Anglers will need to monitor weather windows for both of these offshore species, because it is a decent run to get to the grounds.