Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 25 Update:
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and welcome to the final fishing report of 2020. Considering how this year has been we’re thrilled to see it finally end, and we’re wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2021 filled with bent rods and slimy coolers. Due to the holidays (and some pretty lousy weather), gathering intel was difficult this week and the reports are a bit abbreviated. But rest assured, we’ll be back in 2021 ready to fish hard and bring you all the how-to, where-to fishing information possible. Thanks for staying tuned to FishTalk, and if you see the chance to do some fishing in the near future…
Readers hitting the lower rivers, inlets, and CBBT have reported encountering increasing numbers of stripers, and Tim R. sent in this pic of a perfect 24.5-inch slot fish he caught from the kayak this week. Anglers working the waters near the CBBT are doing well on larger ocean-run fish with eels, and while trolling a mix of tandems, Mojos, and Stretch 25s. Dropping crab baits up close to the structure is producing tog.
Reports of specks from the inlets and the Elizabeth have slowed significantly but not disappeared altogether. Considering how the weather’s been lately this is likely due to a drop-off in effort, as much as anything else.
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 18 Update:
Hampton Correspondent Chuck Harrison reports running out to the Triangle Wrecks and enjoying good bass fishing, although there were also spiny dogs present. He also noted that they had a nice mix of species by the end of the day, including a keeper flounder, a gray trout, and a slot-sized puppy drum along with the bass. Harrison’s report is in line with what we heard form Ocean’s East this week: there are plenty of species abundant. They mentioned that the CBBT is a hotspot right now. Last week’s flounder report is still holding up! Multiple catches of flounder were reported from late last week into early this week before the weather kicked up, docking many boats. Drifting squid off the bottom or bouncing jigs was a common way to get ‘em on the end of the line. Striper catches around the CBBT and just south of it are also on the upswing for trollers and jiggers. Jigging has been a hot option right now. We’ve noticed that many fish seem to be hanging around the bottom and slightly lethargic; bouncing jigs in front of them is a great way to get ‘em to bite; night fishing is also a good move.
Ocean’s East also had limited reports of speckled trout this week, indicating that the season may be wrapping up. The action for them is no longer kickin’ and instead has been replaced by tautog, which are biting everywhere from Lynnhaven to the wrecks and bayside. Crab is the fan favorite, as usual.
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 10 Update:
Glen and Warren at Run The Marsh are reporting a good bite for trout in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, with some very nice fish hitting MirroLures, Paul Browns, and swimbaits. Ocean’s East confirmed this and mentioned that the inlets have been holding a fair number of puppy drum, as well. While they aren’t around in the numbers we saw earlier this year, they’re being caught with some consistency. Run The Marsh also mentioned that stripers are biting in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area too, crushing the same lures plus jerkbaits run one to four feet below the surface. Ocean’s East added that the CBBT also has a striper bite going on right now, and expects it to pick up as fish from up north continue heading south.
Also around the CBBT, tog, sea bass, and flounder are all popping up with regularity. Tog and sea bass are commonplace — tog will take quartered blue crab, and sea bass are going crazy for salted clam. While that bite is pretty cool, we were beyond excited to hear from Ocean’s East that there’s actually a great flounder bite right now. They let us know that anglers drifting chunks of squid and jumbo shiners were pulling in flounder up to 26 inches — and that bite might make us reconsider our weekend plans!
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 4 Update:
Winds earlier this week depressed effort a bit, but oceanic stripers are in town. At least, they were prior to the weather passing through, but there’s no reason to believe this bite shouldn’t only get better. While most of the boats are focused on finding slot-fish, some large oceanic beasts were also photographed and released last weekend. Both trollers and jiggers have been having luck within sight of the CBBT, and in the lower James. Tossing jigs and Mir-O-Lures has been producing in the Elizabeth. Where light-lines are present, night fishing is a strong play.
Anglers hitting the islands are doing well on tautog, fishing sand fleas, crab chunks, and fiddler crab danger-close to the rocks (bring plenty of extra rigs and weights!) One reader reported picking up a slot redfish while tog fishing, but fishing the inlets with shrimp or four-inch soft plastics will be a better bet for both reds and specks. The Elizabeth also continues to hold trout. A few very nice specks in the mid-20-inch range have been regularly popping up. Although it’s getting late in the season don’t forget that last year specks could be had clear into January, so don’t winterize the boat or hang up that gear just yet!