Date: 7/15/10
Chesapeake Bay: Flounder anglers are having good success from many places around the Bay. Craig Slack of Mechanicsville had fish up to 24” at Buoy 42. Drifting live bait and squid strips on Flounder rigs are good, as well as bucktails with Jerk Shads. The Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Cell and Back River Reef have been good also. Nice Croaker catches have been coming from Point Lookout and between Smith Point and Tangier Island. Several customers report fish 16” to 18” from these areas. The Rappahannock has been good around Urbanna. The York River is another good body of water to catch Croaker. These same areas that are holding Croaker are holding Spot as well. The CBBT, Cell and Chesapeake Light Tower have been producing nice catches of Spadefish. Clam is the bait of choice. Red Drum are hanging around the CBBT also. There’s still some Cobia being caught from the shoals near the Eastern Shore. Cut bait still seems to be most productive.
Ocean: Spanish Mackerel action is increasing, especially around Cape Henry. Garry Oliver of Fishing Unlimited in Nags Head reports good catches of Spot and Croaker from the Outer Banks Pier and the little bridge in Manteo. Inshore boats are catching mostly Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish. Offshore boats are scoring well with Dolphin and a few Tuna.
Freshwater Rivers: 18lbs won a weekend Bass tournament on the Potomac River. Punching mats of grass with heavy weights, swim baits and grass frogs are all productive. 16lbs won a weekend Bass tournament on the Lower James recently. Top waters, crank baits and soft plastics are staples. Also biting strong on the James are the Blue Catfish. Night fishing is by far the better bite. The James River offers many angling opportunities for many different species. One can stay within the city limits and catch both Large and Smallmouth Bass, 3 species of Catfish, Gar, Carp and many others. The Upper James level is 3.72’ at the Westham Gauge. This is still a great level for wade fishing.
Freshwater Lakes: Trolling Red Fins for Stripers at Lake Anna is still productive. Live baits is reliable as always. Bass are responding to deep cranks, shakey heads and big Texas rigged worms. The elevation at Kerr Reservoir is 299.16’. Crank baits and Texas rigged worms are working here also. A big spoon is a good lure to have ready for any lake.
Freshwater Ponds: Big top water lures, soft plastics and buzz baits are taking quality Bass mostly at night and first thing in the morning. Big worms are also productive both day and night.