The following Virginia Fishing Report is courtesy of Dr. Julie Ball:

Fishing Report


Weekly Sportfishing Rundown
17 May 2013

The weather is heating up, and the influx of the warmer water species into the area is showing promise of a good season.

The red and black drum scene continues to draw anglers to the Eastern Shore side of the Bay. With the weather the biggest influence on catches, reports can be hit or miss. When anglers can get out, folks are finding very good drum fishing off Fisherman’s Island. Although the breakers within the inlet are hosting good numbers of big reds, it’s not necessary to sit in white water to get in on the action. The fish are now dispersing to other areas of the lower Bay, and comingling with some big black drum in the same areas. The best luck is coming from near buoys 13 and 16 off Cape Charles, and around buoys 8 and 10 off Fisherman’s Island. Offering a mixture of both clams and crabs in your spread will give you a good chance at both drum varieties. By-catches of an assortment of trash fish will also keep you hopping, so the folks at Chris ‘Bait and Tackle recommend taking along extra bait in anticipation. Nice trophy striped bass are also patrolling these same areas, taking bait intended for drum.

Anglers are still finding good striped bass action along the CBBT, where a variety of top water lures thrown along the spines at all four islands is getting the job done, especially at first light and at dusk. Nice stripers are taking live bait presented over the tubes this week, with some fish pushing to over 38-inches. The current Bay guidelines allow anglers to keep two fish per person ranging from 18 to 28-inches, with one of those fish allowed to measure over 32-inches. But read the regulations, since you must report the larger fish.

Folks are talking about the big bluefish invading the lower Bay and inlets. For a few weeks, schools of both snapper and chopper-sized fish are surprising anglers targeting other species. Hoards of blues ranging in the 24 to 26-inch range, with many pushing to 34 and 38-inches fish are shredding baits and lures within Rudee, Lynnhaven, and Little Creek Inlets. Striper anglers fishing the lower Bay crossings are also encountering huge bluefish, with several going to over 38-inches this week. Remember, you can only keep ten bluefish per person.

The Bay flounder bite is still not on fire, but the action continues to improve. Nice sized flatfish are starting to respond to offerings of live bait and jigs presented around the structure of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Keepers-sized flounder are also available within Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, as well as the seaside inlets and backwaters of the Eastern Shore this week. Speckled trout anglers are also excited with catches of nice keeper fish within several of these same backwater locations, especially Rudee Inlet. Puppy drum are still dominating lower Bay inlets and shallows, with plenty of hungry pups pushing to over 30-inches competing for lures intended for trout. Some folks are targeting pups within the Elizabeth River with good success.

Nice-sized croaker, small spot, decent sea mullet, and even a smattering of smallish red hake are making local fishing piers very popular lately. A few keeper sized grey trout are also rounding out catches, but check these regulations carefully as you can only keep one fish at 12-inches.

Seabass season reopens on the 19th of this month, which could revive some interest in offshore wreck fishing, with the Triangle wreck area and the Chesapeake Light Tower Reef areas good areas to try. Anglers can keep 20 fish per person at 12.5-inches long. Spadefish have also been spotted at the Chesapeake Light Tower, but the water is still too chilly and dirty to entice any bites as of yet.

Deep dropping is still a good bet, with blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, blackbellied rosefish, wreck fish, and a variety of grouper still on the menu for those willing to make the run. With black seabass season reopening this month, anticipate an increase in deep dropping interest.

The Carolina blue water bite is still going on with yellowfin tuna, bull dolphin, and good numbers of nice wahoo dominating the scene. A few billfish are also still a possibility.

Tony Lucisano, a superb castnetter and fine angler, has passed away after a short battle with lung cancer that spread rapidly and took his life at just 64. Gene Graman of Middletown received that sad information this dreary morning from Tony's...

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Jim's Tackle in Cape May reported the first mako shark of the season in that town. Warden Pass brought in a mako over 200 pounds that was hooked at night in Baltimore Canyon along with blue sharks and other makos. Surprisingly,...

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Went yesterday morning (5/18) for stripers (no luck!) and ended up with all the blowfish you wanted!! A couple logs of chum, small pieces of clam and squid on a #8 long shanked snapper type hook and it was drop and reel!! Brought home 30 and had an awesome dinner!! Could've caught a 100 or more!!
If you want some good eating...go get em they're there in big numbers!!

The stakes at Graveling Point is the place to be!!

CBass

When I arrived at the parking spot for my favorite area of the Casselman River I was disappointed to see another car already there. Since this area includes two major pools and some productive riffles

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Nothing great was expected for opening day of fluke fishing, and that was probably the case considering the lack of reports. Capt. Stan Zagleski started a half-hour early at 7 a.m. for Saturday and Sunday of the opener on Elaine...

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Surf fishing remains very good, with big rockfish taken from Herring Point to Three Rs Road. The best action has been early in the morning with clam or bunker the top baits. Black drum to 30 pounds, bluefish to 30 inches and the occasional red drum have been mixed in with the rock.Indian River Inlet has also seen pretty good rockfish action. On Thursday night of last week between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., the bite was ...

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The*weather and the fishing are finally beginning to cooperate with each other.* Last week we had*reports and catches of Rockfish and Tog.* With*the closer of Tog May 11th it seems to be*Rockfish on the menu.* Offshore there have been reports of Mako’s and*unlimited Blue Sharks.Don Benjamin, of Ocean View, DE. Harry Lewis, Kenny Vincent both [...]

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As Maryland takes part in National Safe Boating Week (May 18-25), Natural Resources Police spokesman Sgt. Brian Albert has a number of suggestions and warnings for those planning to be on the state's waterways this spring and summer.

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Fluking begins on Saturday with the same 17 1/2-inch limit as last year with a five fish bag. Sea bass fishing follows on Sunday. The Fishermen's Conservation Association's 15th annual Manhattan Cup, for the benefit of Wounded Warriors and Jacob's Team...

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Doesn't it seems as though we have been anticipating this weekend for a long time?

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CHESAPEAKE BAY – The second half of the bay Rockfish season opened May 16th. The minimum size is 18” and maximum size is 28”. 2 fish per angler is the limit, however 1 fish kept may be over 32”. Fish over 32” must be reported to the Va. Saltwater Journal. Anglers continue to catch Rockfish in all of Va’s tributaries of the bay. The James and York have been especially good and the Potomac is also a good destination. The Potomac adheres to Maryland regulations. Speckled Trout anglers are having ... Read More »

The Berkeley Striper Club will be holding its 10th Annual Spring Tournament 5/31/13 - 6/8/13. The tournament will be for striped bass and bluefish. The boundaries have been expanded this year to include all New Jersey waters. The only restrictions are that no fishing is allowed from piers, bridges or boats.
Merchandise prizes having a total value of over $10,000. will be awarded. The fees to enter are $15. for the bluefish category, $20. for the striped bass category or $30. to enter both. There will be 1st to 20th place prizes for bluefish and 1st to 20th place prizes for striped bass. Those not interested in the merchandise prizes may opt to enter the various cash categories. Of course you may enter all the categories if you prefer. The door prizes and food that we will have at our awards ceremony will make your entry fee well worthwhile even if you don't weigh in a fish. All those who enter the merchandise categories are guaranteed to win at least on door prize.The awards ceremony will be held at the Seaside Park Municipal Building on 6/9/13 from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM.
All the money raised is earmarked for our Fisheries Defense Fund and is then donated to organizations that protect or enhance our recreational fisheries. To date our club has donated over $25,000. to these organizations. Stripers Forever has been our biggest beneficiary. For those who may not know, SF is the Internet group seeking to make striped bass a no sale or game fish along the entire east coast rather than just in certain states like New Jersey. We have also donated a large amount of money to the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance and lesser amounts to other organizations.
Those interested may download an application, check out the prize list, rules registration and weigh-in stations as well as and obtain other information by visiting Berkeley Striper Club or by contacting Paul Haertel at (973)943-8201 or anglerpmh@aol.com. Mail in registrations are currently being accepted but you may also register at various tackle stores from Long Branch to Brigantine.

The following New York Fishing Report is courtesy of the NY Daily News:

Fish abound from South Shore to Long Island Sound* - NY Daily News

Delaware Fishing Report: When, Where, What and How They're Biting

By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: May 17, 2013

DELAWARE BAY

We continue to get good reports on rockfish caught in the upper bay. Fresh bunker is the prime bait and the Yellow Can, 6L and 4L buoys are the most frequently mentioned locations.

The Coral Beds showed signs of life with the first reported drum catch made over the weekend. Fresh clams have been the top bait and fishing is best in the evening and after dark. Right now the action is in water as shallow as 10 feet.

Flounder fishing has been fair in the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal and the Broadkill River. Some anglers are catching a limit white others are skunked. Live minnows, squid, shiners and smelt are the top baits. A Speck Rig and Gulp! swimming mullet has been the most productive artificial. The current 18-inch minimum size will drop one inch to 17 inches on June 11. The four-fish daily bag limit will remain.

There have been several weakfish caught in the canal and the Broadkill River. These fish have been up to seven ponds and while not numerous, they do give us hope that trout are coming back.

The Cape Henlopen Pier has seen decent numbers of flounder. Speck Rigs with Gulp! swimming mullet has accounted for many of the keepers. The most productive time to fish has been after dark.

INDIAN RIVER INLET

We have reports of very good rockfish action from the jetties at night. The magic time has been between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., but that can change with the tide and current. Shads and bucktails have been the top lures.

Blues to seven pounds have been caught during the day and at night. They just love shads and bucktails and the local tackle shops love bluefish, but it may be more cost efficient to throw metal lures when blues are in the area.

Recent windy weather has made drifting for flounder difficult with a few fish caught in the VFW Slough. The pier at Massey’s Ditch can be a good flounder location when the winds howl. Try casting a bucktail or Speck Rig with a Gulp! swimming mullet across the ditch and allowing the current to work it back.

INSHORE OCEAN

Nothing to report here as we are in between tog and sea bass season. Sea bass will open on Sunday, May 19, and while I have been waiting anxiously for this day, it looks like I will have to put off plans to fish as the forecasted marine conditions call for five-foot seas. I am sure the larger head and charter boats will still sail, but a 22-footer and five-foot seas are too much for old people.

SURF FISHING

The beach has been the place to be for keeper rockfish with cut bunker or clams the best bait. Fish to 40 inches have been reported from Herring Point down to Fenwick Island. As always, the best action is early in the morning or late in the evening. An east wind is another positive factor.

Blues to seven pounds have been caught along with a few kings and croaker. Black drum to 30 pounds have been taken on clams at Broadkill Beach on down to Three Rs Road.

FRESHWATER

The trout in New Castle County will be harder to catch now that they have become accustomed to life in the wild, but live bait, spinners and Gulp! trout bait should draw a few to the hook. Fly fishers have the section from Thompson’s Bridge to the Pennsylvania line to practice their sport.

Bass fishermen working the ponds are finding good numbers of takers on shiners, buzzbaits, plastics and crankbaits. If the warm weather continues, it won’t be long before the bass go into their summer pattern.

Bass have been caught in the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek with jigs a favored bait. Fishing close to structure on a falling tide is the best technique. Crappie have been caught at the spillways in Laurel and Seaford and the Bethel Hole. Live minnows are the top crappie attractor.

Crappie remain available in several other locations, but the size of the ones caught out of Noxontown Pond continue to amaze. Citation-size fish to over two pounds were caught there last week and hardly a week goes by without someone catching a big crappie out of this private pond.

Catfish and white perch are available in the tidal rivers and creeks on both sides of the state. Bloodworms for the perch and cut bunker for the cats.

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT

With black sea bass season opening on Sunday I am sure many people will be out there trying to fill their 25-fish bag limit with fish over 12.5 inches. On the first day this should not be a big problem, but I do ask you to take only what you need and save a few for those of us who won’t make it out until later in the week.

Sea bass are seldom picky so clam, squid or any type of cut bait will usually draw strikes. While it is good to be close to the bottom it is not necessary to maintain contact as you do when fishing for tog. Drop the rig down until you feel bottom then crank up a few inches. This will put the bait in the strike zone and save a few bottom rigs.

I use a top-bottom rig armed with circle hooks. When I feel a bite I let the line go slack for a few seconds then crank it up until the line comes tight. This allows the fish to get the bait into its mouth where the circle hook will do its job on the way out. With such a large minimum size there will be a lot of released fish and the circle hook insures a better survival rate than J hooks.

The larger sea bass in a school will hit first. Once you begin to catch nothing but small fish it is time to change locations.

While the vast majority of sea bass anglers will us bait, some of my biggest fish have come on lures. Metal jigs are great as are the new style large leadheads made by Shimano and Tsunami. Bucktails have too much water resistance to be effective in depths over 50 feet.

Some boats will anchor over structure while others will drift. I prefer to drift because I am too old to be pulling in anchors. An anchored boat will have constant action while drifters will catch when the boat is over the structure then have to run back and make another drift. One exception to this is fishing rough bottom such as found at the Old Grounds. Here the fish are spread out and drifting is often more productive than anchoring.

Head and charter boats will be running from Lewes and Indian River, so if you are like me and don’t want to take a small boat out in big seas give one of these captains a call. I suspect reservations will be required on opening day. Good luck!.

*Eric Burnley Sr. is a native Delawarean who has fished the waters of his home state for more than 60 years. He has been a full-time outdoor writer since 1978, with articles appearing in most national magazines as well as many regional publications. He has authored two books, Surf Fishing The Atlantic Coast and The Ultimate Guide To Catching Striped Bass.