Coastal Fishing Reports

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, December 6 Update:

Winter is knocking on our doorstep and ranging from Ocean City down to Virginia Beach from 10 to 20 miles off the beach the bluefin bite remains excellent, with multiple boats reporting 10-plus bites per day when the wind lays down enough to hunt for them. Trolled ballyhoo are the ticket, but when birds and surface action are spotted casting surface lures on very large spinning reels (at least size 14000 but larger is better) spooled with heavy braid has made for some very exciting moments. The bluefin range anywhere from 40 pounds to 200-plus with many in the 100- to 180-pound class. Many of the boats out looking for them have been heading to lumps and shoals inside of 20 miles and spotting birds on the way or on the shoals. Fish In OC reported that several of the for-hire fleet boats had great success this week including Chasin’ Tides with a 182-pound fish and an “over” release, the RoShamBo boxed a 166-pound fish, and the Spring Mix II with another in the 150-200-pound class.

Surf fishing has slowed down on the coastal beaches with the colder temperatures, but there are still some dedicated anglers hitting the sand. The bite has been on the slower side but cut mullet and bunker has been catching dogfish and skate. There is still a lot of striped bass action up along the New Jersey coastline and we may start to see some of those fish push south. If they do, there will be opportunities to catch them in the surf from Delaware down to Virginia Beach.

Over at the OC Inlet, tautog have been hanging around the inlet rock jetties with several anglers landing keeper fish on recent trips. There has also been a very good tautog bite out of Virginia Beach with several inshore locations producing keepers including the CBBT and surrounding wrecks and reefs. Green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits are working well on bottom sweeper jigs. The fish are holding close to the rocks, so you will want heavy leader in case they run into or across the rocks. 50-pound fluorocarbon leader should be a god starting point when setting up your rigs.