Fishing Forecast for week of June 12-18

THE COLORS and lines on a cobia resemble a brown tuxedo.

That's why the fish is known throughout the Chesapeake Bay as "The Man in the Brown Suit."

There is nothing, however, formal about this species' habits.

Cobia are both cautious and aggressive.

Sometimes they will swim slowly up to a bait and nose it around before disappearing without biting. Other times they will dart out from structure and crash a bait, yanking the rod out of the hands of an unprepared angler.

Their fights can be quick and easy. But bringing a relatively fresh fish into the back of a boat can result in chaos.

Cobia fights also can be long and tiring, consisting of heart-pounding runs.

The constant with cobia is this: it's one of the most revered species found in the coastal waters of Virginia and North Carolina.

A ction is off to a pretty good start in both states.

Cobia can be taken while trolling or sight-casting along the coast. They also are susceptible to live baits worked on the bottom or floated around structure.

Cobia get big in the waters of both states.

The International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record is a 135-pound, 9-ounce fish caught off Shark Bay, Australia, in 1985, and the IGFA's 80-pound-test men's world record is a 116-8 caught off Oregon Inlet.

That fish - caught in 2006 by Billy Ray Lucas - also is the North Carolina record.

Virginia's leader is a 109-pounder caught off the York Spit in 2006 by Joseph Berberich II.

It takes a 55-pounder or a 50-inch or longer release to earn a citation in Virginia. In North Carolina, a 40-pounder or a 33-incher will earn a citation.

HAMPTON ROADS

Name the species, and it's likely available.

Sheepshead and amberjack have joined the mix, just about completing the summer list of possible species.

Blue marlin recently have been caught by anglers searching for increasing populations of yellowfin tuna and dolphin. Lawrence Mauck of Richmond caught what was believed to be Virginia's first of the season.

Offshore, anglers can deep-drop bottom-bounce and find blueline and golden tilefish, along with snowy grouper and a mix of other wreckfish.

Closer to shore, bluefish and sea bass can be had from wrecks and rubble piles.

Down south, at the Navy Tower - also called the South Tower - good numbers of big amberjack have appeared.

The Chesapeake Light Tower, nearby wrecks, and most inshore structure and buoys are holding good populations of spadefish that finally are starting to bite.

Red drum and black drum continue to provide excellent action around Bay shoals, especially Latimer off Kiptopeke. Black drum have started to school around islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, with second and third the best spots.

Striped bass are abundant along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, with the best big-fish catches coming to anglers dropping live spot and croaker over the two tunnel tubes. Sunday marks the end of the keeper season.

Bluefish are everywhere. Croaker are abundant at many locations on the southern shores of the Bay.

Flounder action isn't great, but fish are available along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the edges of deeper channels. Croaker and flounder are hitting around Hampton Bar. Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets are holding puppy drum, flounder, some croaker and a few speckled trout.

EASTERN SHORE

Offshore action should be just around the corner for anglers leaving Wachapreague and Chincoteague.

Flounder along the sea side have started to move to deeper water inside and outside the inlets. The old Coast Guard station and Cedar Island have been productive. But most fish are under the 19-inch size limit.

Croaker should be available around Oyster and Kiptopeke, with some around the harbor at Cape Charles. A few small gray trout have been caught near the Concrete Ships, but action is slow at best.

Red drum should continue to be available on the outside edges of sand bars off barrier islands. Spadefish are abundant around most structure, with the Cell and area navigational towers on the west side of the Shore providing the biggest fish.

OUTER BANKS

Offshore angling is at its seasonal finest, with blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, wahoo and lots of dolphin available. Many dolphin are being found around weed beds within 20 miles of the coast.

Along the coast, cobia and Spanish mackerel action has been outstanding. Inside the sounds, croaker, bluefish, puppy drum and some speckled trout are available.

PIERS AND SURF

Action has been slow along Virginia and North Carolina beaches. The exception is for anglers working at night.

Virginia pier anglers can expect bluefish, croaker, flounder, spot, striper and sea mullet. Anglers working Sandbridge are hooking up with a few Spanish mackerel.

Along the Outer Banks, anglers can expect a few pompano. Deep-water experts working from piers could find a few cobia or red drum.

FRESHWATER

Water temperatures on rivers and lakes are closing in on 80 degrees, and that can hinder fishing action.

The exception comes from bluegill, which seem to like the hottest shoreline water. Shorelines with close access to deeper water will produce the biggest bream. Try tossing a handful of crickets toward the shore to find concentrations of fish. If the crickets fail to make it to land, start fishing.

Largemouth bass catches likely will be best early and late in the day, when fish are feeding.

If you have access to a location where you can fish at night, try topwater baits well into the evening for feeding fish.

Grindle (bowfin) are extremely active in summer and can provide excellent battles when other fish aren't cooperating.