By Julie Ball, IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach
As the fall saltwater fishery escalates into October, anglers will depend on breaks in the weather to access the action.
October hosts the big finale for local drum anglers, as large schools of big red drum begin to stage for their migration southward. Many big red drum will take offerings from anglers bottom fishing around the artificial islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel this month. The arrival of bull reds in the surf lines is the local surf angler’s rite of passage. Surf casters anticipate this event all year, as folks flock to the beaches with hopes of tangling with a big red in the wash. And most aren’t disappointed, as big drum rush the beaches off Sandbridge and the Wildlife Refuge. The top offering is fresh cut bait this time of year. A mix of puppy drum, speckled trout, small black drum, sea mullet, spot, croaker and bluefish also provide some diversity along the shorelines for both surf and pier anglers this month.
The king mackerel run has been unparalleled this season, with some of the largest kings seen in years smoking reels. Both live bait and trolling with lures will attract hits off Damneck and False Cape, with some of these smokers weighing in at over 50 and 60-pounds. Accessory catches of scattered Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and false albacore are also possible in the same areas.
Speckled trout usually begin their rise into the limelight about this time of year, but this fishery is still recovering from the severe fish kill two seasons ago, making this trend somewhat unpredictable. Although some lower Bay creeks and inlets produce better than others, anglers can expect a smattering of fish ranging from dinks to around 23-inches, with a few fish larger fish showing up. Puppy drum will continue to hit in lower Bay inlets and surflines, with some pups pushing to over 30-inches.
Spot have had a good year, with nice fish available off Ocean View, the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, and the Lynnhaven River, especially after a Northerly blow. Good catches also come from off the Virginia Beach oceanfront and from Rudee Inlet, with bloodworms the bait of choice.
Flounder fishing can be good this month, with the best catches within the Chesapeake Bay happening along channel edges and structure around the Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Deeper water wrecks also provide good catches of nice flatfish this time of year. Decent sized sea bass will also hit in the same areas, but you can’t keep them until the 22nd of October.
Chopper bluefish should show up on several offshore wrecks by about mid-month.
Tautog are back on again this month, with plenty of keeper sized-fish available to respond to offerings on most any lower bay structure. And as the water cools, deep water wrecks will begin to provide more opportunity for larger fish, with blue crabs the top bait.
Sheepshead are still around, with most catches occurring over the tubes of the artificial islands of the Bay Bridge-Tunnel in October. Plenty of triggerfish are also on these same structures, and nearshore wrecks.
As water temperatures continue to drop, the striped bass activity will continue to rise. Although the bigger rockfish are still on their way, anglers will be content with a mostly smaller class of resident fish for now. Be sure to review the new bay and coastal regulations for these popular game fish.
Amberjack are still available at some deeper wrecks and at the South Tower in October, but they will not be around for much longer.
Deep dropping is a good option as the bluewater season winds down this month. Catches of nice grouper, golden tilefish, and blueline tilefish are available along the Canyon walls when the weather allows.
Offshore, wahoo will likely be your reward. Some nice bailer-sized dolphin, and yellowfin tuna will also round out catches, with straggling billfish also a possibility. Bigeye tuna are still around, and swordfish are available for boats making night or day trips.