Fishing report

JAMES RIVER

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.

CHESAPEAKE BAY/OCEAN

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.

Droves of spot are showing along lower Bay shorelines, rivers and inlets. Local fishing piers are reporting anglers toting coolers full of spot ranging to around a half pound. Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets are good bets for respectable spot action on a moving tide with bloodworms and Fishbites.

Horse croaker to 2 pounds have moved into lower Bay waters. Bigger hardheads are lurking in deeper areas around the lower Bay channels, inlets and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and are thrilling anglers at the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, Ocean View Fishing Pier, the concrete ships off Kiptopeke and just outside Lynnhaven Inlet near the channel.

Anglers working areas near the second, third, and fourth islands of the CBB-T with live bait found limits of keeper flounder, with live mullet proving more effective than small spot. Drifting the Thimble Shoal and Baltimore channels are good places to try. Flatties in the 22to 24-inch range are within Lynnhaven Inlet in about 20 feet of water. The offshore wreck flatfish action is a good alternative. Strip baits bounced over the structure work well.

Sheepshead are taking late-season offerings along the entire span of the CBB-T. A few tog and hoards of hungry trigger fish are in the same vicinity. Spadefish ranging to 4 pounds still are active around the 3rd and 4th islands.

Spanish mackerel are zipping through tide rips near the bridge-tunnel, along Cape Henry and the buoy lines at the mouth of the bay, where 20-inch fish are the average. Schools of false albacore are moving close to the beach and can prove sporting on light tackle.

Fall speckled trout are presenting on the Poquoson flats, Hungar's Creek and Back River. If puppy drum is your passion, casting jigs or offering fresh bait within Lynnhaven or Rudee will not disappoint.

Big amberjack are swarming around offshore wrecks, the South Tower and the Chesapeake Light Tower. Jack Cravelle could be a nice consolation prize.

Offshore billfish action was very good before the latest winds set in. The selection has shifted from sailfish to mostly white marlin recently, with the best action still centering on the triple 0's in 50 to 100 fathoms.

Capt. Jerry Thrash of Queens Creek Outfitters (804 725-3889) reports one cobia weight citation and several smaller catches. Cobia continue to bite very well at York Spit and off New Point Light. Menhaden chum combined with live croaker, eel or whole menhaden are the baits of choice. A lot of small bluefish are biting for trollers in the normal spanish haunts.

Creeks and rivers continue to produce keeper spot and croaker. No.2 and a few No.1 spot are available off Gwynn's Island, at the Spike (3R) and along the tugboat channel down to New Point. Good-sized sea mullet are scattered in with spot. Small gray trout have arrived in the Piankatank but keepers are few.

Speckled trout are biting well in the Piankatank and puppy drum have picked up, particularly around grassy areas. One speckled trout citation was registered this week from the Piankatank. Six other keepers were caught by the same fisherman. Flounder continue to bite in the New Point area. Norm Jenkins (Horn Harbor) caugt a 24-incher in the New Point area.

Citations: Tony Hudgins (North) speckled trout, 27.5 inches, 5-4, caught Friday in the Piankatank on Mirrolure Top Dog; James Ruliffson (Hudgins) cobia, 56, 72, Sunday, live eel at York Spit; John Hudgins (New Point) red drum release, 49 inches, at Cape Charles on flounder rig baited with squid and minnow.

OUTER BANKS

Leonard Nuchols reports the drum fishing is starting to pick up on the Outer Banks with a good bite Tuesday evening at Cape Point. The Point area reports puppy drum, blues, sea mullet, yearling drum, spots, Spanish mackerel, flounder and pompano.

The Hatteras Village Beaches report blues, flounder, puppy drum, yearling drum, spots, croakers, sea mullet and Spanish mackerel on various Glass Minnow lures when conditions are good. Ocracoke Island reports blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder, croakers, puppy drum, sea mullet and black drum. The northern beaches report sea mullet, spots, croakers, puppy drum, blues and pompano. The southern beaches report puppy drum, pompano, sea mullet, blues, spots and good catches of keeper flounder on Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive Chartreuse Swimming Mullet.

Offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report dolphin, wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjacks, grouper, tile fish and barracuda along with releases of sailfish. The inshore boats report Spanish mackerel, false albacore, blues, sea mullet, puppy drum, speckled trout, gray trout and flounder. Mark Robins (Richmond) caught a 44-pound citation wahoo.

The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report dolphin, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna and wahoo along with releases of blue marlin, sailfish, white marlin and spear fish and the inshore boats report blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder, false albacore and croakers.

Jim Kingsley , daughter Shelby and son Jim Jr. caught 12 puppy and yearling drum between 27 and 34 inches using fresh-cut marlin off the point in Buxton, N.C.