Fishing Report

JAMES RIVER

Castaway Sporting Goods (804 706-9100) reports George Sawyer caught a 9.5-pound largemouth bass caught at a private pond. Everything kind of sloppy. The river still is high and a little bit muddy, but people still are catching fish.

CHESAPEAKE BAY/OCEAN

Capt. Jerry Thrash of Queens Creek Outfitters (804 725-3889) reports the striper run is on. Stripers were caught from the Potomac south to Milford Haven this week with the area near R2, R1 and Buoy 41 producing the best fishing in several years.

Gulls of all stripe, and thousands of gannets are everywhere and the fish ranged from schoolies to more than 40 inches and a lot of fish in the 28to 34-inch prohibited slot range. Good numbers were caught trolling and casting to fish on top under working birds.

Trollers pulling double bucktail rigs and umbrella rigs armed with 6-inch Calcutta shad baits or Storm shad did well as did anglers fishing larger 9-inch shad baits and swimming plugs. There is not much action in the southern area of the bay, indicating that these fish are arriving from the north. The water temperature at Stingray Light Buoy on Monday was 55 degrees.

Dr. Julie Ball reports anglers are still awaiting the arrival of the larger class of rockfish. With water temperatures still hovering on the warm side, the influx of the 50-pounders may occur a little later this year. But the good news is that the fish that are available are biting.

Anglers are scoring with striped bass ranging from 18to 45-inches in the lower bay. School-sized fish are available to casters working the pilings and structure of any lower bay crossing. The tubes of all four islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are giving up dozens of fish on a moving tide. Many anglers are hooking up to 50 fish in an outing. Plenty of 34-38 inchers coming from the James River are making a good showing for casters using pearl colored Storm and Calcutta shads around the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. Folks casting from the shore near the Lesner Bridge are finding fish ranging to 30 inches. Bubble gum colored Zooms are the ticket for this area. Schools of fish in open water can provide good action for casters and trollers. Some larger fish are coming from the schools.

The speckled trout bite is decent, but slowed a little. The largest fish are coming from Rudee Inlet, where Mirrolures and shad lures are working best. Bill Wild (Virginia Beach) had a 7-pounder, along with about five other fish while working a Mirrolure in Rudee. Lynnhaven River, Little Creek Inlet and the Elizabeth River are providing spotty action right now. Some hefty puppy drum are hitting in these locations, with many fish taking the lures intended for trout.

The inshore tautog bite has slowed. Once the waters settle, expect a rebound on lower bay and inshore structures. The west Great Neck road bridges are giving up some keeper togs.

Offshore wreck fishing is good. Nice seabass are hitting most anything, but remember to toss them back until the spring. Respectable flounder, with many in the 5-pound range, are taking drifted baits if you can find a fresh wreck. Trigger fish are around, with a few fish rounding out flounder catches. Chopper bluefish ranging from 30 to 33 inches are prowling around many local wrecks, with the Triangle Wrecks a favorite.

Deep droppers are faring well, with plenty of nice blueline tile fish and golden tilefish filling coolers. Boats still are scouting for bluefin tuna. Although there have been some unconfirmed sightings, no reported catches are available. If targeting these big fish, be prepared with the appropriate class of heavy gear and tackle.

The offshore fall tuna bite is on. Virginia boats finally got in on the action. Warm water near the Triple 0's area provided very good tuna action. Most boats returned to the dock with multiple yellowfin tuna in the 20to 30-pound class. Swordfish still are a possibility for overnight trips.

OUTER BANKS

Leonard Nuchols reports surf fishing is slower than before the last storm but fish are being caught up and down the beaches. The Cape Point area reports puppy drum, flounder, sea mullet, sharks and skates. A few speckled trout, flounder and puppy drum have been caught at the Buxton jetties.

Hatteras Village Beaches report puppy drum, big drum, stripers, speckled trout, flounder and sea mullet. Ocracoke Island reports flounder, black drum, puppy drum, sea mullet, sharks and skates.

Northern beaches report puppy drum, black drum, sea mullet, 1 49-inch citation drum at Salvo and stripers to 43 pounds. The southern beaches report sea mullet, puppy drum, flounder, sharks, skates and speckled trout on Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive Natural Shrimp.

Offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report yellowfin tuna, wahoo, tile fish, king mackerel, dolphin, albacore and blackfin tuna along with the release of one blue marlin. The inshore boats report puppy drum.

Offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin along with the releases of white marlin and sailfish. The inshore boats report sheepshead and stripers up to 36 pounds.