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Home , Atlantic mackerel, Bluefish, Blue Crab 11, Bottom fishing, Chesapeake Bay, Fishing bait

How, When & Where to Catch ’s Saltwater Calendar

x – Available xx – Peak Season

Species January February March April May June July August September October November December

Amberjack x xx xx xx x

Atlantic x xx x

Black Drum x xx xx x x x

Blue x xx xx xx x

Bluefin xx xx xx x x xx x

Bluefish x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx x

Blueline Tilefish x x x x x x x x x x x x

Cobia x xx xx x xx

Croaker x x x xx xx xx xx x x

Dolphin x x xx xx xx x

Flounder x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx x

Gray x xx xx xx x xx xx x

King Mackerel x xx xx xx xx

Kingfish (Roundhead) x xx xx xx xx x

Red Drum x x xx xx x xx xx xx x

Sea Bass x x x x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx

Sheepshead x xx xx xx x x

Spadefish x xx xx xx xx x

Spanish Mackerel xx xx xx xx x

Speckled Trout x xx xx x xx xx xx xx x

Spot x xx xx xx x

Striped Bass xx x x x xx xx x x xx xx xx xx

Tarpon x xx xx x

Tautog xx x xx xx xx xx x x x xx xx xx

Wahoo x x xx xx xx

White Marlin x xx xx xx x

Yellowfin Tuna x xx xx xx xx xx x

11 Average Bait or Lure Method Location Seasons Weights State Record

Amber- Live bait (, croaker, Drifting and slow live bait over and waters over and around wrecks June — October; peak July 30 – 60 pounds 118 pounds; caught at the jack bluefish, , small around obstructions (wrecks, reefs, tow- & underwater obstructions; — middle September Tower in ); Artificial lures (spoons, ers, buoys); and trolling artificial Light Tower 1986 by J. Roberts surface plugs, diamond lures over and around obstructions jigs, white bucktails, plastic ) Black , , cut fish, , Bottomfishing, generally near and over Ocean waters; species less plentiful April — December; species 1 – 3-1/2 pounds 10 pounds, 4 ounces; Bass , diamond jigs, underwater obstructions (wrecks, reefs, (especially large individuals) in lower moves to waters offshore caught over offshore wreck metal jigs rocks and rough bottom areas) Chesapeake (20 fathoms and more) by Al Paschall in 2000 during winter, where they can be caught over wrecks and ledges Bluefish Artificial lures (spoons, tube Trolling, casting or to schools of Offshore and coastal waters; Chesapeake Middle April — July; October 8 – 16 pounds 25 pounds, 4 ounces; (large) , metal squids, surface fish with artificial lures; surfcasting with Bay; Eastern Shore surf — December caught at Bluefish Rock in plugs), cut bait (fresh cut bait or lures; while using Chesapeake Bay in 1986 by menhaden, , , cut bait; bluefish can be taken on streamer Gayle E. Cozzens spot), whole balao or Boston with a rod mackerel Bluefish Artificial lures (small spoons, Trolling or casting to schools of fish with Chesapeake Bay, coastal ocean waters, May — October 1 – 5 pounds (small) feather lures, metal squids, artificial lures; surfcasting and bottom ocean surf, inlets surface plugs) and cut bait fishing with cut bait; surfcasting with artificial lures

Blueline Squid, cut fish, metal jigs , generally over rough bot- Offshore ocean waters January — December; 4 – 8 pounds 20 pounds, 4 ounces; Tilefish tom in 300 feet of water or greater caught at Norfolk Canyon by David Akridge, Jr in 2009

Cobia Live bait (eels, spot, menha- Cast, drift or slow troll live baits around Buoys in lower Chesapeake Bay, at the May — September; peak 20 – 50 pounds 109 pounds, 8 ounces; den, mullet); artificial lures buoys, underwater obstructions and mouth of the Bay and along coastal mid-June — mid - Sep- caught at York Spit by (large spoons, white buck- schools of fish swimming on the surface; beaches; CBBT; Bluefish Rock off Hamp- tember Joseph F. Berberich, III tails, plastic eels, swimming anchor, chum and fish live baits, fresh ton, Cabbage Patch and Kiptopeake areas in 2006 plugs); cut bait (menhaden dead baits and cut bait in chum slick and off Cape Charles, and York Spit area; or spot) on bottom; cast and troll lures around coastal buoys and wrecks; Chesapeake buoys, obstructions and to schools of bull- Light Tower; Latimer Shoal; Inner Middle fish (rays) or schools, pods or individual Ground Shoal; York Spit area cobia swimming on surface

Croaker Peeler crab, bloodworms, Bottomfishing with bait, anchored or Chesapeake Bay, rivers of the March — November 1/2 – 2 pounds 8 pounds, 11 ounces; cut bait, squid, shrimp drifting from boats, and also caught from Bay, coastal ocean waters, inlets caught at Newpoint Light by piers, docks, shore and surf Norman T. Jenkins in 2007

Dolphin Artificial lures (offshore Trolling with lures, balao and squid; Offshore ocean waters May — October 2 – 20 pounds 71 pounds, 8 ounces; trolling lures), balao, squid, casting to schools of dolphin around caught off VA Beach in 1991 cut bait weedlines and floating debris with cut bait by Don Dorey (fish or squid) and lures (bucktails, surface plugs, streamer flies) Black Whole clam, peeler crab, Bottomfishing with bait on “” ; Chesapeake Bay along shallow portion of May — September; peak May 40 – 60 pounds 111 pounds; caught off Drum whelk, peeler crab/clam running and late afternoons and eve- channel ledge running from ’s — early June along Eastern Cape Charles in 1973 by “sandwich”, bucktail and nings considered best; occasionally caught Island to north of Cape Charles, especially Shore bayside and seaside Betty Hall leadhead jigs on bucktails or metal squids by casting or off Kiptopeake, at Cabbage Patch and inlets; peak late June— early jigging to a school of fish buoys C-10 & C-12; around middleground August at 2nd & 3rd Islands bars of Eastern Shore seaside inlets; 2nd of & 3rd Islands of Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Tunnel Live bait (minnows and Drift fishing with live or dead natural baits Seaside inlets of the Eastern Shore; March — November; peak 1 – 3 pounds 17 pounds, 8 ounces; small fish), frozen min- fished on the bottom; slow trolling natural Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area; lower May — July on Eastern caught at Chesapeake Bay nows, fresh strip baits baits on bottom; casting from beaches and Chesapeake Bay; Rudee Inlet; the Cell and Shore seaside; July — Octo- Bridge Tunnel in 1971 by (bluefish, flounder and piers; trolling small bucktails dressed with eastern end of the “Cut” Channel in the ber in Chesapeake Bay C.E. Cross belly, squid), minnow/ strip baits (especially for big fish along middle Chesapeake Bay strip combination, artificial Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel); casting lures (bucktails); big strip bucktails baits and live spot or small mullet often used for big fish at Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Kingfish Bloodworms, shrimp, small Bottomfishing with bait Surf zone of coastal waters from Sand- May — October 1/2 – 1-1/2 2 pounds, 13 ounces; (Round- pieces of cut bait, squid, bridge to Assateague Island; ocean piers; pounds caught off Sandbridge by head, sand fleas lower portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Chip Waters in 2002 Whiting) including lower bay piers

Mackerel, Small tube and jigs Jigging to schools of suspended fish Coastal and offshore ocean waters, from Mid - February – mid April 1/2 – 3 pounds None; 3 pound minimum for Atlantic 5-35 miles offshore peak March — early April initial state record (Boston Mackerel)

Mackerel, Live bait (menhaden, mullet, Slow trolling, drifting or anchoring with live Coastal and offshore ocean waters, par- June — October; peak Sep- 5 – 20 pounds 63 pounds, 1 ounce; caught King spot, small bluefish); artifi- bait; trolling with artificial lures, strip bait ticularly around wrecks, towers, obstruc- tember — middle October off Sandbridge by Susan cial lures (spoons, feather and balao tions, ledges, lumps and other “structure”; Smith in 2007 lures, nylon jigs); strip baits mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and off and small whole balao ocean inlets

Mackerel, Small artificial lures (spoons, Trolling; casting to schools of fish Coastal ocean waters, particularly off June — October; peak June 1 – 3 pounds 9 pounds, 13 ounces; Spanish metal lures, feather and inlets, along tidelines, and over coastal — September caught off Virginia Beach in nylon lures), small live baits wrecks; lower Chesapeake Bay 1993 by Everett Cameron (menhaden, mullet)

Blue Whole dead fish (balao, Trolling Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak 150 – 400 pounds 1093 pounds, 12 ounces; Marlin mullets, ), middle June — September caught off Virginia Beach in squid, artificial lures (off- 1978 by Edward A. Givens shore trolling lures), and live baits (small dolphin, and tuna

12 Average Species Bait or Lure Method Location Seasons Weights State Record White Whole dead fish (balao, mul- Trolling; occasionally casting live baits to Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak August 40 – 60 pounds 131 pounds, 10 ounces; Marlin let), squid, strip baits, eels, marlin “balling” bait or swimming on surface — September caught off Virginia Beach in artificial lures (offshore trolling 1978 by Rudolph D. Van’t Riet lures), live bait (pilchards, cigar minnows) Sailfish Whole dead fish (balao, Trolling; also, sailfish seem to be attracted to Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak July — 20 – 40 pounds 68 pounds, 8 ounces; caught small mullet), strip baits, slow trolled live baits fished in similar meth- September off Virginia Beach in 1977 by squid, artificial lures (small od as used to slow troll for P.J. Murden offshore trolling lures, live bait (small fish)

Sharks Whole dead fish and cut fish; Anchor, chum and fish dead and live fish Offshore and coastal ocean waters, particu- June — October 50 – 250 pounds 1099 pounds, 12 ounces; live bait (fish) baits in chum slick and on bottom larly around and over obstructions (wrecks, caught off Virginia Beach in reefs, towers), ledges and lumps; Eastern 1981 by John Thurston Shore seaside coastal waters and inlets Sheeps- Fiddler , mole crabs near the bottom (suspended Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel; wrecks May — October 3 – 8 pounds 20 pounds, 12 ounces head (sand fleas), off the bottom) near submerged structures in nearshore coastal waters and lower caught from the Seagull Chesapeake Bay Fishing Pier (CBBT) by Arun Nhek in 2005 Spadefish Pieces of fresh and Fish visible schools of fish around obstruc- Coastal ocean waters and the lower Chesa- May — September 3 – 8 pounds 14 pounds, 14 ounces; clams; pieces of jellyfish tions (buoys, towers, etc.) with small (#1 or peake Bay; Fish consistently found at the caught at the Cell by Roland #2) double strength hooks Cell, Plantation Light, York Spit Light, Tiger E. Murphy in 2009 wreck, 4A-buoy, Chesapeake Light Tower, and CBBT Spot Bloodworms, peeler crab, Bottomfishing with bait; anchored or drifting Chesapeake Bay and Bay tributary rivers, June — October; peak 8 – 12 ounces 2 lbs., 6 oz.; caught at the clam from boats, also caught from docks, piers, coastal ocean waters, inlets — all inshore July — September for Chesa- Egg Island Bar in Chesapeake shore and surf; big runs of fish in the fall in coastal waters peake Bay and tributary Bay in 1980 by Nathan lower Chesapeake Bay and in surf and piers rivers; peak middle August - Dryden of Virginia Beach middle October in lower Bay and coastal ocean areas Striped Artificial lures (spoons, plas- Troll artificial lures around bridges, piers, All coastal inshore and Chesapeake Bay January — December; peak 5 – 25 pounds 73 pounds; caught near the Bass tic eels, bucktails, surface Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, jetties or waters (tidal waters, including Bay tributary for large fish in November 4A-Buoy by Frederick Barnes plugs, swimming plugs), troll in vicinity of schools of fish (where rivers and Eastern Shore bayside creeks); and December; peak fishing in 2008 peeler crab, bloodworms, gulls diving and slicks on the water); cast best of fish in main portion for school fish generally in eels, cut bait, live bait bucktails and plugs around bridges, piers, of Chesapeake Bay and around Chesa- spring and fall jetties and CBBT; bottomfishing with peake Bay Bridge Tunnel; large fish most bloodworms in deep holes, creeks and often found along CBBT, main portion of rivers that flow into Chesapeake Bay during Chesapeake Bay and off the winter months and in Assateague surf at the mouth of the Bay; Assateague surf in during late fall and early spring; peeler crab late fall and early spring baits fished in tributary rivers and creeks near shore during summer Whole dead squid and fish Fish at night from a drifting boat using Offshore ocean waters April — October; peak 381 pounds, 8 ounces; natural baits with chemical lightsticks, with August — September caught at the Norfolk Canyon baits weighted to maintain specific depths in 1978 by J.D. Alexander

Tarpon Whole dead fish (spot, Anchor and fish live bait under floats, fish Inlets, interior marsh areas, and ocean Late June early September; 40 – 80 pounds 130 pounds; caught on East- croaker, menhaden); live bait dead bait on the bottom and at various waters along the beaches of Eastern Shore peak July — August ern Shore seaside in 1975 by (spot, croaker, menhaden, depths; cast artificial lures to rolling fish seaside barrier islands; fish deep holes on Barry Truitt mullet); whole squid; artificial low tides and shallow areas on high tides lures (plugs and weighted streamer flies) Tautog Crab (blue, fiddler, green and Bottomfishing with bait over underwater Wrecks and reefs in ocean waters off the January — December peak 3 – 6 pounds 24 pounds; caught off Wacha- mole crabs); clams; whelk obstructions (wrecks, reefs, rocks) coast and in lower Chesapeake Bay; along March — June and October preague in 1987 by Gregory Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel — December R. Bell

Trout, Artificial lures (bucktails, lead Jigging or casting artificial lures to schools Large fish: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, May — November; peak at 1 – 8 pounds 19 pounds; caught at the Gray jigs with plastic tails, metal of fish on bottom or suspended above the Chesapeake Bay over deepwater rocks, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tun- Chesapeake Bay Bridge () jigs), live bait (spot and small bottom; bottomfishing with live and natural and along channel edges, and occasionally nel May June and October; Tunnel in 1983 by Philip W. mullet), peeler crab, squid, baits from anchored or drifting boat; surf- in Eastern Shore seaside inlets, Small fish: peak in Chesapeake Bay, Bay Halstead cut bait casting with cut bait or squid Coastal ocean waters and inlets of Eastern tributary rivers, and Eastern Shore seaside, Chesapeake Bay along Shore seaside inlets June - channel edges and over deepwater rocks, September; peak in ocean Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (especially waters off Eastern Shore between 4th Island and High Level Bridge), from middle September Chesapeake Bay tributary rivers (especially -November James, York and Rappahannock) Trout, Artificial lures (mirro-sided Spring method: peeler crab baits fished Spring: Bay area (North, Ware, April — Middle December; 2 – 4 pounds 16 pounds; caught at Speckled plugs, bucktails, plastic tail near shore of marshy or grassy areas on East, Piankatank Rivers); submerged grass peak May — middle June Mason’s Beach on Eastern jigs), peeler crab, live bait flooding tides; Fall method: casting artificial flats and marshes of northern Eastern and September — November Shore bayside in 1977 by (small spot, mullet); live lures; also some live bait fishing, trolling Shore bayside, Rudee Inlet with lures. William Katko shrimp and jigging Fall: Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet; Eastern Shore bayside creeks, area, Windmill Point and Gwynn’s Island; Poquoson Flats Tuna, Whole dead fish (balao), Trolling Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak late 100 – 175 pounds 285 pounds, 12 ounces; Bigeye squid, artificial lures (feather June — July caught at the Norfolk Canyon lures, cedar plugs, offshore by Melvin Bray in 2003 trolling lures)

Tuna, Artificial lures (cedar plugs, Trolling, chunking and chumming Offshore ocean waters, especially the June — September; peak 30 – 70 pounds 573 pounds; caught off Bluefin feather lures, spoons), Southeast Lumps, the Fingers, 26 Mile Hill, June — August; big fish occa- Virginia Beach by Frederick squid, small fish 20 Fathom Finger; off Chicoteague sionally found around Chesa- “Bo” Haycox in 2007 peake Light Tower in late November and December Tuna, Whole dead fish (balao), Trolling, chunking and chumming Offshore ocean waters May — October; peak June 30 – 70 pounds 203 pounds, 12 ounces; Yellowfin squid, artificial lures (feather — September caught at the Norfolk lures, offshore trolling lures, Canyon in 1981 by Bruce cedar plugs) Gottwald, Jr.

Tunny, Artificial lures (small Trolling, can cast small metal lures to Offshore and coastal ocean waters; May — November 6 – 14 pounds 25 pounds, 4 ounces; Little feather and nylon lures, schools of fish on surface occasionally in lower Chesapeake Bay caught off Virginia Capes (False spoons, cedar plugs), in 1964 by Jack Sparrow ) strip baits

Wahoo Artificial lures (offshore Trolling Offshore ocean waters June — October 20 – 40 pounds 109 pounds; caught off trolling lures, feather lures, Virginia Beach in 1994 by spoons, large plugs), small Delmo Dawson dead fish (balao)

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