Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports Frank Gibson caught a 34-pound bluecat from the bank at Dutch Gap. Last week was messy because of the storms, high water and abnormal tides. Most anglers went to ponds and lakes. Things are expected to turn around this week should the weather stay favorable. Dr. Julie Ball reports the northerly direction of the wind will continue to push the inshore water temperature down, encouraging larger rockfish to head our way. School-sized fish are keeping local anglers busy. Schoolies are available in lower bay waters, with the outgoing tide providing the best luck. Casters working the pilings of lower bay structures and the 3rd and 4th island tubes at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are hooking dozens of fish to 28 inches on Wind Cheaters and Storm Lures.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following blue cat catches: Mitchell Hughes (Colonial Heights) 33 pounds, Keith Wilkins 34, Frank Williams 31, Robert Waddell Jr. (Chester) 56. Crappie are schooling up in the river and striped bass fishing is coming on strong from Richmond down to the ocean. Stretch 25 and 30 baits are working.

Capt. Jerry Thrash of Queens Creek Outfitters reports that it is all specks, stripers, tautog and bluefish now. Water temperatures remain in the low 60s but should start dropping this week. Small stripers are schooling above Windmill Bar in Fleets Bay at first light and in late afternoon. Trollers had school fish to 24 inches Saturday. A few blues are mixed in.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following citations: Calvin Hunter (Chester) caught a 2½- and 2¼-pound crappie out of a private pond; Carl Breeden caught a 33-pound bluecat out of the river. Lots of spot still being caught in the river, primarily using bloodworms or Fish Bites. Bigger striped bass are in the bay. A lot of guys are getting their limit (two per day) pretty quickly.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following: Eddie Moore caught a 22¼-inch largemouth bass at Pocahontas State Park; Thomas Capps (Manassas) 51-pound, 10-ounce bluecat. A lot of people are starting to catch stripers in the river. Catfish should pick up soon, too, since one usually follows the other. In the past week, a number of anglers are starting to buy 5-8 dozen minnows as crappie begin to turn on the river, and they’re beginning to school up. Fishermen are catching a lot of good eating-sized crappie (three-fourths to 1 pound), but not the real big ones.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following catch: Thomas Hickman (Manassas) 33.2 blue cat. Striper fishing seems to be picking up on freshwater side of the river with some keepers being caught. There is a lot of action on the saltwater side with spot running hot and heavy with some speckled trout, gray trout and flounder.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804-706-9100) reports the following catch: Jesse McMillan (Colonial Heights) caught a 32-pound, 14-ounce blue cat. Starting to get a little bit of a shift from saltwater to freshwater fishing. Striper fishing began on Sunday, helping cause the shift. The saltwater side remains hot with spot. Crappie season is turning on in the ponds, lakes and James River. Start in the pits in the river.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following bluecat catches: Tim Jefferson (Richmond) 30, Donnie Conley (Richmond) 52-8. People are beginning to buy small and medium minnows as crappie fishing heats up in ponds, lakes and the James River. Bass fishing also is good. Big, nice spot are rolling on the saltwater side. A lot of freshwater fishermen are loading up on spot while they can.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports Keith Pearson (Manassas) caught a 41-pound bluecat. Striper season starts Oct. 4. Crappie are starting to pick up on the freshwater side. More minnows being bought, which indicates crappie fishing is on the rise. Results from the Castaway Classic last weekend at Osbourne Landing, 89 boats. Total of 332 fish caught and released with no dead fish recorded: 1. Ray Hogge-Johnny Ronky 5 fish, 15.85 pounds; 2. Adam La tham-Robert Latham ; 3. Jerry Taylor 14.02; 4. Bo Boltz- Mitchell Anderson 13.80; 5. James Ashton-Burley Lan gford Jr. 13.50; big fish: John Guzik-Michael Guzik 5.45. The top 50 in points will compete in the last tournament of the year Oct. 3 at Osbourne Landing.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following blue cat catches: Thomas Hickman (Manassas) 55 pounds, 8 ounces, 31-2; Pat Hood (Manassas) 36-12. The saltwater side is flying high. For the past two weeks, anglers have been catching some big croaker on shrimp and squid. Anglers also are stocking up on spot using bloodworms.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following catches: Keith Pearson (Manassas) 30-pound, 6-ounce blue cat, James River; Thomas Capps (Manassas) 44-pound blue cat, James River; Richard Mansfield 5-pound croaker, Rappahanock River. The Castaway Classic is Sept. 19 at Osbourne Landing. Dr. Julie Ball reports wind is keeping most anglers inshore. But when anglers get out, the fall heavy hitters such as spot, speckled trout and puppy drum are off to a good start.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the following catches: Thomas Hickman (Richmond) 44-pound, 4-ounce blue catfish, Chris Ashburn 49-2 blue cat, Roy Hensley (Midlothian) 3-6 croaker, Richard Mansfield (Midlothian) 4-14 croaker and John Baker (Charles City) 23¼-inch largemouth bass. Wednesday night mini series results: 1. Arick Johnson-Mike Saunders 9.57 pounds; 2. Donnie Meade-Brian Brooks 9.04; 3. Matt Wood-Joey Beluke 8.38; 4. Charles James-Cameron James 6.38. Big fish: Wood-Beluke 4.62.

JAMES RIVER

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the saltwater bite is best right now. Citation cobia were caught by Mike King (Richmond) 46.75, Mike Zervakis (Chester) 54.5. Notable catches include Keith Pearson , 34-2 blue cat, and Thomas Capps , 34-6 blue cat. Results from the Wednesday night mini series, 1. John Seay-Ralph Taylor 10.44 and big fish 2.98; 2. Eric Johnson-Mike Sanders 6.79.

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports the action isn’t slowing, but the people are. Saltwater fishing has really turned on. Spot action is hot, and bloodworms are the bait of choice. Different types of jigs and live bait work well for flounder. The freshwater bite is slow, partially because of the hot weather. The people who are going are catching fish. The river is producing a lot of bass. The last qualifier for the year is Aug. 22 at Osborne Landing, and The Classic will be held Sept. 19.