Striped bass fishing has been smoking red hot! Charter and private boats have been finding large stripers in waters south of Rudee Inlet to the North Carolina state line and beyond. As ocean waters have dropped below 40 degrees, it has become necessary to run farther south to find a fishable temperature break. Anglers have enjoyed good success in an area between Currituck Light and Duck Pier. Due to unseasonably cold weather, many striper schools have been holding from 8 to 20 miles off Virginia Beach. With anticipation of warmer weather, it is hoped large schools of stripers outside the three-mile limit will move closer to the beach where they can be legally caught. In addition to stripers, tautog should remain available and hungry for those fishing offshore wrecks and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). Sea bass fishing remains closed by federal order and may not reopen for several months.
Results of the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout were excellent. With lots of available rockfish, there were many excited fishermen including the winning group that landed a 47 pounder as part of the best overall weight score. The biggest striper boated, an impressive 56 lb. 12 oz. fish, was landed by the team placing second. Each of the top scoring boats had one or two bass over 40 pounds! In addition to this tournament, several rockfish in the 40-pound range have been registered for citations including a 44-inch release from the Corolla area.
Speaking of Big Stripers: Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Director Lewis Gillingham is convinced the next world record striped bass may very likely come from Virginia’s bay or ocean waters. When asked why, Lewis said that most of the largest striped bass caught on the East Coast have been post-spawn bass. With stripers in local waters currently gorging on hoards of menhaden and eels, these rockfish will gain excess weight in preparation for spring spawning. That extra weight could easily result in a new record. As most of the largest stripers are female breeding stock, consider releasing any bass over 44 inches (release citation) if not a potential record. Nothing beats the great feeling that comes from releasing a large game fish and watching it swim away.
Big striped bass have a liking for big baits even though elephants do eat peanuts. “Who’s Your Daddy?” stripers didn’t get huge just nibbling on peanut bunker! With schools of good-sized menhaden now in the lower bay and just off Virginia Beach, try to catch some for live baits. Menhaden can be snagged by rapidly reeling a weighted treble hook rig through the school. Some anglers will fill live wells using a cast net. Failing live bait acquisition, try large bunker spoons, mo-jos, umbrella rigs with chartreuse imitation shads, bucktail jigs with large artificial swim tails, and diving plugs. Storm lures of 4 to 6 inches and Tsunamis will also attract solid strikes. Be sure to set the drag properly and hold on tight or use tackle safety lines in anticipation of powerful strikes from the larger class of bass now foraging in Virginia Beach waters.
Why not start the new year with a vacation in Virginia Beach? If there is an ardent angler in your family, now is prime time to live the fishing life. Consider fishing with one of our highly experienced local charter captains. You will maximize the chance of landing a trophy bass of a lifetime while enjoying the amenities that a large comfortable charter boat provides. While the family anglers battle striped bass, the rest of the family can enjoy museums, whale watching, and dining at our oceanfront. Additional shopping, dining and entertainment options beckon at our new Town Center including the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.
Upcoming posts:
- Whale watching boat trips in Virginia Beach- check out Whale Watching Packages from local hotels at www.vbfun.com
- The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament angling recognition program-open to all visitors who fish our waters
