What's Happening Now in Virginia Fishing

A look at current Virginia fishing action as of May 1st, 2013 and a glimpse into the next 30 days

Current Fishing Conditions in Virginia Waters

In late April water temperatures at the CBBT were at a chilly 55.9 degrees with ocean water temperatures off Virginia Beach hovering in the mid 50s also.  Its been a very cool and occasionally downright cold springtime so far.  The spring season may be a little late starting this year with the cool water.  Let's hope a warm up starts in earnest later this month.  If it does, expect salt water fishing opportunities to improve rapidly later this month.

Late April /Early May Virginia Regional Fishing Reports

Virginia Fall Line Fishing Report - Richmond, Tri-Cities, Fredericksburg

Blue, channel and white catfish are all active in the tidal James River below Richmond.  Back in tidal creeks off the main rivers largemouth bass, crappie, pickerel and bream are available.  Rockfish will also be in the river  from Richmond down to Williamsburg.  Remember the Virginia rockfish season doesn't open until Saturday, May 4th.

West of the Fall Line, smallmouth should be on the spawning beds until the end of the third week in May.  At that time they will be hungry and aggressive when they come off the beds.  Late May can be one of the best times of the year to capture these aggressive, post spawn bronzebacks.  Look for flathead catfish in the same area on live bream.

Northern Neck / Middle Peninsula Fishing Report - Smith Point to York River

Currently, most anglers are pursuing rockfish in Maryland waters until the Virginia striper season opens early in May.  There should be plenty of rockfish up to 35lbs available on the Virginia side of the Bay when the season opens.  Croaker are in but results are sporadic because of the cool weather.  Look for action on these bantam weight brawlers to improve when the weather returns to normal.  Later this month blues, flounder and some grey trout should be caught in the lower tidal rivers and out in the Bay.  Tautog are on structure like the Cell.  Fiddler or blue crabs will get their attention.  Look for speckled trout and maybe a few puppy drum in southern parts of the region like Mobjack Bay, the lower Piankatank River and Gwynn's Island.

Lower Peninsula / South Hampton Roads Fishing Report - York River to Bay Mouth

In the rocks along the CBBT tautog are still active.  Anglers drifting along this span continue to score on flounder.  Red and black drum are available on the shoals at the north end of the CBBT as well.  Croaker are all over the lower Bay, tidal rivers and creeks.  With warmer weather returning, they will be easy targets.  Bluefish have started to move into the lower Bay area and will become abundant as the month wears on.  Nice catches of speckled trout are still coming from the Elizabeth River but the specks are starting to move into the lower Bay near the shoreline.  Action on flounder, speckled trout and puppy drum is good inside Lynnhaven Inlet.  Cobia could appear in the lower Bay by month's end along with the first spadefish.  When the season opens in early May, some hefty rockfish will be taken over and around the tubes of the CBBT.  Surf and pier jockeys will take croaker, puppy drum, speckled trout, blues and whiting along lower Bay beaches.

Atlantic Ocean Virginia Fishing Report - Chincoteague to the N.C. Border

Offshore fishing for yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin should start late this month.  In the mean time, "Deep Drop" bottom fishing to offshore ledges will keep anglers busy with tilefish, grouper, rosefish and barrelfish.  Further in, wrecks anywhere from 10 to 35 miles offshore are loaded with big sea bass and tautog.  A huge tautog in excess of 19lbs was caught recently on one the Triangle Wrecks.  The area 25 to 35 miles off the beach will be swarming with big blues later this month.  The toothy critters will irritate offshore fisherman in late May and June.  Big bull red drum and black drum are in the surf along the beaches of the lower Barrier Island of the Eastern Shore Seaside.  Inside the Barrier Islands, in the marsh channels, flounder, grey trout and croaker will be there for the taking.  Rudee Inlet has numerous puppy drum, speckled trout and bluefish.  Pier and surf fisherman will take bluefish, puppy drum, croaker, whiting and a few flounder from the ocean surf.