CATCHES OF THE WEEK Amberjack releases
- Thomas Barclift, Virginia Beach, 50.5 and 52 inches, Navy Towers.
- James Koracs Jr., Virginia Beach, 51.5 inches, Navy Towers.
Blue marlin releases
- William East, Chesapeake, off Oregon Inlet.
- Don Malkowski, Virginia Beach, Norfolk Canyon.
Cobia
- Don Schnare, Virginia Beach, 58-0, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Lemon shark releases
- Chris Donnelly, Chesapeake, 84 inches, off Virginia Beach.
- Charles Smith Jr., Chesapeake, 80 inches, off Virginia Beach.
- Douglas Smith, Chesapeake, 81 inches, off Virginia Beach.
Sailfish releases
- Samuel Adsit, Norfolk, off Oregon Inlet.
- Brian Bell, Suffolk, off Oregon Inlet.
- William Rector, Chesapeake, off Oregon Inlet.
Short-billed spearfish releases
- Steve Lassiter, Portsmouth, off Virginia Beach.
White marlin releases
- Scott Gontarek, Chesapeake, off Oregon Inlet.
- Don Malkowski, Virginia Beach, Norfolk Canyon.
- Melvin Queen II, Chesapeake, Norfolk Canyon.
- Herman Terry, Portsmouth, Norfolk Canyon.
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 12, 2012
The greater amberjack will likely never earn "favorite" status with many in the angling community.
But for those who have given the species a try, the amberjack has won more than a few hearts.
The species is found in good numbers off Virginia and North Carolina during the summer and have a reputation as a bruising battler that provides exciting strikes and tackle-breaking fights.
Amberjack can be found around offshore navigational structures and over wrecks. The Navy Towers off Oregon Inlet have been a favorite location for years. The Chesapeake Light Tower is another haunt. It produced Virginia's record of 118 pounds in 1986.
North Carolina's record is a 126-pound, 7-ouncer caught in 2008 from a wreck off Swansboro. Evidence of the range and size of amberjack - the largest fish in the jack family - is the 156-13 fish caught off Japan in 2010.
Most amberjack in the mid-Atlantic average around 20 pounds. But fish topping 40 are very common, and quite a few heavier than 50 are caught every year.
They can be taken by live fish, eels, jigs, spoons and topwater plugs.
Most are released and few people eat amberjack - a species that is high on the list of tropical fish suspected of causing ciguatera poisoning, a foodborne illness found in fish that feed on certain reef dwellers. However, many love the meat from amberjack.
And nobody can question their value as a sport fish.
FORECAST
Hampton Roads
With last week's reported arrival of king mackerel off the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, all of Virginia's summer species are in place. And all are providing decent action.
The best inshore catches have been provided by flounder, with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel being the favorite location. But several fish up to 7 pounds are being reported along channel edges, smaller rubble piles, along Ocean View and inside Rudee Inlet.
Cobia is another favorite this time of year. Plenty are being seen by sight-casters, but most have been smaller than usual. Chummers also are enjoying success.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been abundant all along the Oceanfront and in the tidal rips around Cape Henry. Captains trolling for them were the first to spot kings airing it out off Sandbridge.
Spadefish are available at the Chesapeake Light Tower, over coastal wrecks, around many inshore navigational structures and along the CBBT. Anglers working for them also can expect triggerfish. Along the CBBT, sheepshead also are showing.
Red drum continue to roam the lower Bay, with sight-casting opportunities just about anywhere. Look for black drum around the islands of the CBBT. Anglers surveying the mouth of the Bay also can expect to encounter large schools of crevalle jacks.
Croaker and bluefish are available throughout the lower Bay, with some good croaker action taking place around and near the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
Inshore wrecks are holding good numbers of triggerfish and sea bass.
Offshore catches have been off and on, but have been excellent when on. Yellowfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo, shark and billfish all are showing. Tilefish and grouper can be found by bottom-bouncing the Norfolk Canyon.
Eastern Shore
Flounder get the nod around the peninsula, with catches being reported from Oyster all the way around to the Cell. Some good action has been reported off Kiptopeake, along the edges of Latimer Shoal, around the Cape Charles Reef and at the Cabbage Patch.
Look for spadefish around most navigational structures.
Tarpon are roaming the barrier island backwaters, but hook-ups have been hard to come by. Shark numbers in the same area are good.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are available along the coast.
Anglers venturing to the 26-Mile Hill are encountering some tuna, dolphin and wahoo.
Outer Banks
Billfish action has been outstanding out of both inlets, with blue marlin, white marlin and a few sailfish showing nearly every day. Dolphin numbers are fantastic. Anglers also can expect yellowfin tuna, wahoo and plenty of shark.
Inshore wrecks are holding triggerfish, sea bass and some spadefish. Navigational towers off Oregon Inlet are holding plenty of jacks.
Along the coast, Spanish mackerel, kings, bluefish, cobia and red drum can be found.
Around Hatteras Inlet, lots of gray trout have been showing, along with speckled trout and bluefish.
In the sounds, look for speckled trout and puppy drum around deeper marsh shorelines and channels.
Pier and surf
Coastal piers have been yielding a few Spanish mackerel for anglers working plugs. They also can expect bluefish and possibly a cobia or red drum. Coastal piers on the Outer Banks also could yield a few kings.
Aside from that, expect plenty of small stuff like croaker, spot, flounder, puppy drum, pompano, sea mullet and shark.
Crabbing inside the Chesapeake Bay has been outstanding.
Freshwater
Bluegill likely are the only good bet, with water temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s.
The good thing is that westerly winds over the past few days have pumped water into most tidal systems and into Back Bay and Currituck Sound. That means bass fishing could be better than the summer usual when attempted early and late. Unfortunately, forecasts are for northeasterly winds the next day or two and that could lower water levels. Bass fishing can, however, be fantastic when waters first start to fall.
Tidal bassers also can expect plenty of action from hard-fighting bowfin.
