Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 3 Update:
October has arrived, and many anglers are looking forward to the fishing opportunities in the southern Chesapeake Bay this fall. After a long catch and release period, Virginia’s fall striped bass season will open on October 4th. The creel limit is one fish per person, with a slot limit of 19’ to 24’. The bite has been good in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach with anglers catching stripers near docks and rip-rap shoreline. We had a report from one boat fishing near the mouth of the James River that had a great trip, catching a mix of striped bass, trout, and red drum. Nearshore cover and structure was the key, with most of the fish hanging around docks. A popping cork paired with a Vudu shrimp was the hot bait. Other anglers are reporting that the stripers are in the Elizabeth River and other tributaries off the James.
Red drum are making their way south as the water temperatures cool. There had been a good bite in the surf near Sandbridge. The ocean water was churning this week as two hurricanes moved off the East Coast, so surf fishing was put on pause for a few days. It should be starting to clear up now, and the drum should be right where they were before the surge. Speckled trout will be a hot topic this month as they are being caught throughout the southern Chesapeake. The specks get very active this time of year, feeding on baitfish and shrimp in the shallows. Grass beds are the perfect place to target them right now. They can also be found near marsh shorelines, docks, and in smaller creeks. Hotspots for the trout include Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, the Elizabeth River, and Broad Bay. The shrimp are getting thicker in the tribs, so adding shrimp-style soft plastics to your arsenal is a good idea. You can also cast net some to use as bait, which can be very effective for several species. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is still holding some bull red drum around the islands. The pilings throughout the bridge have been productive for sheepshead this week. We are also seeing increasing numbers of tautog around the bridge and surrounding wrecks.