<b>Fishing</b> Forecast: Week of Aug. 9 - 15

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Amberjack releases

- Patrick Lewis, Chesapeake, 55 and 70 inches. South Tower.
- David Ross Jr., Chesapeake, 55 and 60 inches. South Tower.
- Chris Vitovich, Virginia Beach, 55 inches. South Tower.
- Christy Vu, Chesapeake, 55.5 inches. South Tower.

Blue marlin release

- Bryan Austin, Virginia Beach, off Virginia Beach.

White marlin release

- Scott Wade, Chesapeake, off Virginia Beach.

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 9, 2012

The tarpon is a fish most anglers venture far south to do battle with. Waters of the tropics from Key West to South America are far more productive for tarpon than those of northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

But since we are at the northern-most stretch of this spectacular game fish's range, there is a limited fishery that takes place during the hottest months of the summer.

At one time, it was highly-secretive fishery with just a handful of guides taking only their most-trusted clients into the backwaters of the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore to give tarpon a try.

This summer fishery in Virginia now is well-known. But it still gets very limited pressure because catches remain rare. Landing a Virginia tarpon is a very big deal because not many people do it. Even fewer tell anybody when they do.

The one thing you can count on while fishing for a tarpon on the Eastern Shore is a good chance of doing battle with big shark.

Along the coast, sight-casters looking for cobia or red drum sometimes happen across a tarpon or two as the fish migrate north. The Silver King also is spotted - and sometimes caught - by anglers working ocean-side piers. Tarpon also have been caught in the sounds of the Outer Banks.

Wherever you encounter one - either on the Eastern Shore, the Outer Banks or somewhere in the Caribbean - landing a Silver King is supposed to be the thrill of an angling lifetime.

FORECAST

Hampton Roads

Near-shore wrecks have been producing excellent numbers of flounder, triggerfish, sea bass and some spadefish the past couple of weeks, allowing anglers a variety of choices in one location. Expect amberjack to pop up at many of these locations.

Out in blue water, dolphin and tuna catches have been pretty good. Billfish, wahoo and shark are joining in. Deep-drop bottom-bouncers working the Norfolk Canyon have been experiencing excellent blueline tilefish action.

Along the coast, the most productive catches have come by trolling for Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Anglers also have been getting in on exciting light-tackle action for an abundance of blacktip shark. Keep a rig ready for cobia or red drum that can show at any time. There is a slim chance of a king mackerel.

The big news in the lower Chesapeake Bay is an abundance of small puppy drum that are showing from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel to Rudee Inlet. Lynnhaven Inlet has been a hot spot the past few weeks. Most of these fish, however, are measuring less than the 18- to 26-inch slot limit and must be released. Even so, they are a blast on ultra-light tackle. Most are being caught on peanut bunker (tiny menhaden).

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel continues to produce good catches of flounder and sheepshead, with anglers also finding spadefish, triggerfish, black drum, red drum and cobia.

Eastern Shore

Flounder are the top choice along the peninsula, with fish available from Oyster all the way around to the Cell. Many areas in between have been productive lately. Also look for flatfish around many inshore wrecks and artificial reefs.

Croaker numbers have been on the rise around Oyster.

Tarpon and shark can be found in the backwater areas of the barrier islands.

Look for cobia and red drum to pop up just about anywhere. Spadefish and triggerfish should be available around many navigational structures and buoys.

Anglers traveling to the Washington Canyon and the 26-Mile Hill have found good numbers of dolphin and tuna, with a few wahoo and billfish mixed in. As always, shark will show.

Outer Banks

Dolphin are plentiful out of both Oregon and Hatteras inlets. Bluewater trollers also are finding scattered tuna, wahoo, shark and billfish.

Offshore wrecks and weather structures are holding amberjack, triggerfish and sea bass.

Along the coast, sight-casters continue to find some cobia and red drum. Trollers can expect plenty of Spanish mackerel and bluefish, but should keep an eye out for king mackerel. Shark - especially blacktip - also are plentiful along the coast.

Anglers working the inlets are finding good numbers of flounder, along with bluefish, trout and puppy drum.

Speckled trout and puppy drum are the top choices in the sounds. But flounder-gigging at night has been productive. And clammers are returning with full coolers.

Pier and surf

Action on most fronts has been provided mostly by small stuff, and catches usually are best at night.

Cary Jarvis at Oceanview reports that there has been lots of action from big ribbonfish (cutlassfish) at night. This strange-looking fish with the fierce set of teeth is supposedly good to eat. Croaker also are on the menu at most piers. Also expect some spot, small flounder and a few pigfish. At ocean piers, catches are much the same, but with an exception of the possibility of cobia, king mackerel, red drum or tarpon.

Along the Outer Banks, chances for the bigger species are much better. But most catches have consisted of croaker, spot, flounder, sea mullet, pompano, bluefish, trout and puppy drum. Big shark will show from time to time.

Freshwater

Recent heavy rains likely have freshened up most freshwater lakes, ponds and tidal streams. And this time of year, that usually spells an increase in largemouth bass action because waters are at their seasonal hottest and the rain helps them cool.

In fact, if you have the chance to bass fish during heavy rain, the action can be outstanding - especially on small farm ponds.

Otherwise, fish early and late - including at night - for bass.

Bluegill and shellcracker still can be found along most shorelines, but give the deeper ones a try. If the fish you are catching are small, back off into deeper water and bottom- bounce worms and crickets to find bigger fish.

Look for catfish in deep holes.

And look for white perch around duck blinds in the sounds and Back Bay.

Lee Tolliver, 757-222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

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<b>Fishing</b> Forecast: Week of July 12 - July 18

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.

By Lee Tolliver
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.

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<b>Fishing</b> Forecast: Week of April 12-18

The Pilot's Sunday fishing feature, Off the Hook, tells the tales (fact, not fiction) of Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina anglers. So pass along your ideas. Send pictures and thoughts to Pilot outdoors writer Lee Tolliver at lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com, or call him at (757) 222-5844.

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 12, 2012

Today marks the return of The Pilot's Fishing Forecast. As many anglers already know, the waters of coastal Virginia and northeastern North Carolina form one of the best fishing areas on the planet. In these waters, there are a multitude of year-long opportunities.

While the area's reputation rides mostly on its saltwater fisheries, there also are many outstanding freshwater lakes and rivers to fish.

Our waters also offer the chance to catch true trophies in a variety of species.

This time of year, we usually start things off by talking about largemouth bass - America's most revered species. Because the bass can be found throughout the continental United States, anglers spend more hours targeting this fish than any other.

Locally, largemouth can be found in water supply lakes, private ponds, neighborhood water retention ponds and throughout an expansive span of tidal rivers and creeks.

Because of the mild winter and early arrival of spring, there have been many reports of fish already guarding shoreline spawning areas.

This is the time of year when the species can be at its most vulnerable, as it feeds in preparation for the spawn.

Shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits all are good choices this time of year to find fish roaming shorelines in search of mates and food.

Topwater lures - both slow-moving and fast - worked around shoreline cover also will produce.

Be sure to have a second rod rigged with a soft plastic bait to toss in the direction of a missed strike.

Where fish are found on or around their beds, big creature baits cast softly around cover also will produce.

FORECAST

Hampton Roads

While school-sized striper have kept anglers busy for the past few weeks, growing attention is being paid to an earlier-than-usual flounder bite along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the Baltimore Channel, around Buoy 36 A and in the Back River near Poquoson. Many keeper-sized flatties also are being caught along Ocean View and inside Lynnhaven Inlet.

Still, the top producing area this time of year is the third island curve of the CBBT.

Tautog action has been outstanding recently, with catches coming from the CBBT tubes and pilings all the way out to the Triangle Wrecks. Many fish are topping 10 pounds, like the new state record 24-pound, 3-ounce giant caught recently by Ken Neill of Seaford. There is little reason to think this fishery won't continue to be strong, at least until waters get too warm.

Speckled trout are the other strong possibility, with the waters of the Elizabeth River and around the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel being two of the best locations. Rudee Inlet also has been producing, but the big news there has been the number of gray trout up to 5 pounds that have been caught. Many anglers, out of respect for the species' limited numbers the past few years, are choosing to release grays.

Croaker are starting to bite around Ocean View and the mouth of Little Creek Inlet. Look for a few hardheads around the CBBT and over many old oyster beds.

Anglers working offshore can expect good action from tilefish, grouper and rosefish. They might even find a few yellowfin and bluefin tuna.

Eastern Shore

What else is there to say except flounder? This is the time when droves of anglers head to Chincoteague and Wachapreague for the first runs of these tasty flatfish. And because of the mild winter, action appears to be ahead of schedule. Many fish - some topping 5 pounds - already have been encountered in backwater sloughs, especially around Wachapreague and Oyster. And things are simply going to get better as Virginia's new 16.5-inch size limit will permit anglers to find more keepable fish than in years past.

Big red drum also are starting to show along barrier-island sandbars, signaling that anglers can expect some outstanding early spring action. Fisherman's Island has been an early hot spot.

Tautog also are being found around coastal wrecks and artificial reefs up and down the Peninsula, with better action coming from deeper waters.

Outer Banks

Bluewater action has been off to an early start this year.

Out of Hatteras Inlet, there has been an outstanding run of wahoo to go with scattered tuna and dolphin. A few billfish can be expected.

Out of Oregon Inlet, yellowfin have provided most of the action so far.

Inshore anglers working the coast are starting to find incredible sight-casting opportunities for big red drum from south of Ocracoke north to the state line.

Anglers looking for drum should keep a close eye out for the first run of cobia.

Bluefish also are becoming more abundant and the first Spanish mackerel have shown.

Look to the sounds for speckled trout and puppy drum.

Pier and Surf

The biggest news on this horizon is the continued closure of fishable beaches along the Outer Banks from Bodie Island spit south to Ocracoke. That's not great news, especially since more and more big red drum are being encountered by nighttime anglers working around Cape Point.

Anglers still wanting to venture to the islands can expect small shark, skate, blow toads, sea mullet, a few croaker and some small flounder. Some speckled trout and red drum will be caught in the inlets.

Along Virginia's beaches, some red drum will be found as schools of fish move north. Anglers working several piers are starting to catch some croaker, sea mullet and small founder.

Freshwater

While largemouth bass are going to be the most sought-after species, there are plenty of other offerings.

Most notable is a continued run of large blue catfish in many tidal systems, especially the James, Chickahominy and Northwest - the latter of which has produced several of its biggest-ever blues.

Lakes, ponds and streams also are yielding good numbers of crappie, white perch, yellow perch and increasing numbers of bluegill and shellcracker.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

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