What's Biting

Most offshore structures produce numbers of black sea bass, tautog, flounder, and triggerfish. The key to success is finding locations other anglers have yet to strike. Reports indicate that the Triangle Wrecks and the windmills specifically yield good numbers of quality fish The deep drop game has been on fire, with many anglers reporting quality catches of both tile and rose fish with grouper action. Catches like these will only improve as we approach fall. When planning your trip, look for several wrecks that are close together so you have options if your first pick is not available Good electronics and versatility are a must. The Chesapeake Light Tower reports great catches of spadefish with amberjack in the area. This fishery's peak is August, which will taper off in September.

The offshore trolling bite is a feast or famine by nature, where you search suspected hotspots for hours with no activity, and then suddenly, you are hooked up to one or more fish of a lifetime! Staying up to date with weather patterns, ocean currents, temperature breaks, and eddies on the fishing grounds can minimize the wait time between bites. Remember to look for any floating structure which can provide the slightest hint of shade or be the start of a small ecosystem Weed lines, boards, boxes, and lobster pot buoys are all prime real estate for offshore species The offshore bite between August and the beginning of fall in September can seem almost magical You have a fantastic transition period where every pelagic species frequents Virginia waters. Fish that have traveled north will begin returning down the coast, following baitfish heading for tropical waters They will hunt in packs and herd bait to the surface, which can be fantastic to witness Anglers trolling ballyhoo with colored skirt combinations and assorted plastics on daisy chains can have banner days on billfish, tuna, wahoo, mahi, king mackerel, and mako shark. A "green machine" on a shotgun rig way back has made a difference for many anglers Give it a try!

Flounder action inshore has been slow but look for fish to stack up in deep water near structure and channel edges as they begin preparing for their southward journey in October Drifting or power trolling cut bait strips or live spot-on "old salt" style rigs with 3-way droppers on the bottom can help locate feeding fish. Jigging bucktails with gulp baits against the pilings can be very productive as the tide breaks down. Tarpons have been seen in their usual haunts already and will be available to Virginia anglers until waters begin to cool in September. Red and black drum, cobia, spadefish, sheepshead,

Spanish mackerel, bluefish, albacore, and ribbonfish have been plentiful and will continue to be available through October. Trout, spot, croaker, roundhead, sea mullet, pufferfish, and pompano are also available Look for large schools of "golden belly" spots to show in September and October as they migrate south. Surf fishermen should experience an excellent fall run on most species this year. Striped bass is found in the bay and rivers near the structure, with night fishing around the James River Bridge being a top producer already. As the waters cool, the fishing will continue to improve. Fall rock season begins October 4th, but the size and creel limits are subject to change The limit is one per person, with the slot size being 20 and 36 inches

While it's often said, "the early bird gets the worm," don't scuff at the chance to fish the second shift With most freshwater anglers targeting their species of choice early before the summer sun gets too high, some anglers find the "evening bite can be quite a delight " As the afternoon sun dips behind the trees, shadows creep across the water's surface, providing much relief from the summer heat During this cool, calm stage of the day, schools of shade often can be found on the surface with predators lurking beneath them. Casting topwater or shallowrunning shad-type crankbaits can provide amazing action. Stripers, bass, crappie, white perch, and most other aggressive feeding fish prefer low-light feeding situations with the prey silhouetted against the lit sky, but the sun's glare diminished

Cloudy, overcast days can sometimes be so productive, especially for bass and stripers. The evening bite can be extremely aggressive as the fish know there is only a minimal window of opportunity before the light completely disappears Panfish can be taken more readily with small poppers and flies under these conditions because they mimic the bugs naturally available and are highly visible

At night, many bodies of water have docks that provide artificial lights that attract fish, so be bold and stay out a little late and see what happens As summer waters begin to cool with fall approaching, fish will naturally start to bulk up in preparation for winter Larger gamefish will become more aggressive, and species will work together to pin their prey against shorelines and points. Find the bait; find your target species. While watching the sun coming up on the water can be almost spiritual, twilight can be just as magical. Don't think someone ruined your trip because you weren't the first boat on the water. You may find that being the last boat off the lake can be just as rewarding.