Calendar
The 2011 Commonwealth Cobia Challenge, hosted by Back River Outfitters and Chris? B&T, July 9 & 10. The Captain?s meeting will be held at both locations at 7 p.m., Friday, July 8. The entry fee is $50 per angler. A portion of the tournament fees will go toward the charitable work of Monitor Lodge No. 197, Hampton, Virginia. Call Kathy Brauer, Back River Outfitters, at 757-851-9732.
SALTWATER FISHING
Middle Chesapeake Bay ? Queens Creek Outfitters (804-725-3889): Captain Jerry Thrash reports that flounder fishing is inconsistent in the Buoy 42/Cell area. We did weigh two citations this week from that area. Some anglers have had near limit catches while others struggle. Cobia are being caught at York Spit on live eels and should be available in the Silver Beach area by now. Croaker and spot fishing has been good in the Piankatank, around Gwynn Island and in the creeks. They continue biting bloodworms, squid and FishBites. There are spadefish at Wolftrap and the Cell but no citation fish reported. In fact, as of 6/29, there had been only one citation spadefish caught state-wide.
Ocean Eagle Charters, Downtown Hampton (Call 757-868-FISH(3474) for reservations): Captain Brett Bissett on the Ocean Eagle out of Hampton VA reports that the bottom fishing in the Hampton Roads Harbor and lower bay is in full swing. The Croakers as a given, Have been in good numbers ranging in all different sizes with a few good size Spot in the mix. The Flounder fishing also has improved over the past week. The particular areas that seem to be producing are the edge of the Thimble Shoal channel, Hampton bar and the anchorages inside the Hampton Roads Harbor.
Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman?s Association: Dr. Ken Neill, III reports it is tournament week. We will start offshore where we have the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament July 6-9. The red-hot tuna and dolphin action that we have been having took a breather over the 4th of July weekend. Fish were still caught but it was more of a yellowfin and a few dolphin instead of boxes full of fish kind of bite. The marlin bite remained good for both blue and white marlin. The inshore bluefin tuna action also slowed down a lot over the weekend. We have the big tuna tournament going on this week; expect to see some impressive catches. With bluefin, yellowfin and bigeye tuna around and big money on the line, these top tuna boats will round up the fish. Back inshore; we have the Commonwealth Cobia Challenge July 9-10. This event is hosted by Back River Outfitters in Hampton and Chris? Bait and Tackle on the Eastern Shore. There will be weigh stations at both locations making this a convenient tournament for most cobia anglers. Cobia catches are still not at the torrid pace of last year but fish continue to be caught both by chumming and sight fishing. With anglers from both sides of the bay competing in this 2-day tournament, it will take a big cobia to win. If cobia is not your thing, the Boys and Girls Club of Gloucester Flounder Tournament is on July 9 with a captains meeting July 8 at Crown Pointe Marina. Big flounder are being caught around the structure of the CBBT, around the Cell/buoy 42 area, 36A, and around Back River Reef. Some nice flounder are also being caught at the HRBT. While most anglers will be targeting flounder, cobia and tuna this weekend, there are other fish out there to be caught. Spanish mackerel are plentiful along the Virginia Beach oceanfront and in the lower bay. Sheepshead are providing good action along the pilings and over the tubes of the CBBT. Amberjack are thick around the southern towers. The inshore coastal wrecks are holding some nice sea bass and triggerfish.
Southside: The spadefish bite along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) has been super this past week. Several 4 fish limits were reported. Several flounder limits were also checked in. The majority of the anglers working the CBBT for flounder used either a lead head jig (3-ounces), with a 7-inch jerk shad, tipped with a 1-inch strip of cut bait, or live spot. One group of 3 anglers worked the CBBT on an outgoing tide and had their limits in a very short time. This past week, the outgoing tide was the best producer.
FRESHWATER FISHING
BEAVERDAM RESERVOIR (804-693-2107): The Park Supervisor reports the lake is about 6 inches below normal pool, clear, and has a water temperature of 80 degrees. Largemouth bass have moved into deep water and are being caught on plastic worms, crankbaits and spinner baits. Catfish are b being taken on cut bait and night crawlers by anglers fishing the edges of the deeper portions of the lake.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR (566-1702): The lake is about 2 feet below normal pool, slightly stained, and has a water temperature of 88 degrees. The most exciting ?catch? news is that Walleye, weighing up to 4 pounds, on live minnows and crank baits. The striped bass bite has really improved with one angler landing 13 with the heaviest fish to hot the scales weighing 10 pounds. Anglers using live bluegills and night crawlers, caught catfish, weighing up to 15 pounds. Small largemouth bass have been caught using top water lures in the shallows while the larger fish were taken on soft plastic lures and crank baits, fished in water at least 15 feet deep.
LOWER CHICKAHOMINY LAKE, Ed Allen?s Boats and Bait (804-746-2475): Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat Guide Service reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid 80's in the lower lake and up some of the creeks on Wednesday. Temperatures were higher up the creeks over the weekend. The lake level was slightly above the top of the dam and the water was stained but not really muddy in the lower lake and creeks. Small numbers of medium bluegill, and a few white perch and crappie and some nice yellow perch were in lower and mid-regions of the major creeks. Small bluegill were scattered along the shoreline and larger bluegill, yellow perch, white perch, blue cats, and a few crappie and channel cats were widely scattered over the shallow to mid-depth flats and around deeper wood cover in the lower and middle regions of the main lake. Bass were in weeds (especially lily pads) and on wood cover in the creeks and in the main lake. One and two inch curly tail grubs, tubes, small swim baits, and live minnows have been the most effective baits for bluegill, perch, and crappie. Bass have been hitting topwater lures just before and after sunrise, and stickbaits, swim baits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits later in the morning.
WALLER MILL PARK (259-3778): The Park Manager reports the lake is down about 30-inches below normal pool, clear, and has a water temperature of 78 degrees. White perch continue to provide the most action with bream and an occasional crappie showing up. The largest largemouth bass was brought to the scales by 9 year old Will Finnery.
NOTABLE CATCHES
Wt/Lgth Angler/Hometown Where Caught
Blueline Tilefish
19-8*Tony Levinson, Poquoson*Offshore Waters
13-5*David Glaus, Virginia Beach*Offshore Waters
Blue Marlin
Jordan Frankos, Virginia Beach*Offshore Waters
Dolphin
29-5*Zach Dye, Gloucester*Norfolk Canyon
28-0*Justin Bogan, New Kent*Offshore Waters
27-0*Thomas Dulke, Virginia Beach*Offshore Waters
25-0*Scott Shirk, Newport News*Offshore Waters
Flounder
8-0*Christopher Kidd, Dutton*Buoy 42
7-3*Grady Baker, Hayes*Buoy 42
Red Drum
55-In.*Charles Mitchell, Jr., Windsor*Local Waters
50-In.*Nicholas Mitchell, Smithfield*Local Waters
48-In.*William Barcroft, Ivor*Local Waters
47.5-In.*Henry Pulley, Windsor*Local Waters
Sailfish
Release*Justin Moore, Poquoson*Norfolk Canyon
White Marlin
Release*Michael Buehler, Norfolk*Norfolk Canyon
Don Lancaster
Fishing Tidewater
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874-4970-Home
869-7164-Cell
465-6700-Radio
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