Fishing forecast for week of Aug. 7 - Aug. 14

Pompano are not a high priority fish in Virginia waters.

Anglers on the shores of North Carolina's Outer Banks target and catch many more of the small, but extremely tasty, fish.

But every now and then, about this time of year, a short run of pompano takes place in Virginia. The last big run was at the old Harrison's Fishing Pier, which is now the Ocean View Fishing Pier. Pompano also show from time to time in decent numbers at both the Virginia Beach and Little Island piers.

Although there have been only a few reports of pompano at Little Island, Cary Jarvis at Ocean View said that quite a few have been caught in the past week on his structure.

Two recently were big enough to be good for citations from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. It takes a 1-1/2-pound keeper or a 16-inch release to qualify.

Several years ago, dozens of citation-winners were landed at the Ocean View pier.

The fish most often seen in Virginia waters is a Florida pompano. The world record is an 8-4 fish caught in Florida in 1999. Virginia's biggest was a 5-10 caught at Scarborough Island in 1992. North Carolina's standard barely missed the world record at 8-0. It was caught at Carolina Beach in 2001.

Pompano usually weigh a pound or less. But they do fight well on light tackle. And they make great table fare. Sand fleas or artificial Fishbite sand fleas are the bait of choice when fishing off the beach. But along pier structures, jigging with speckrigs with u215B-ounce jigheads and colored trailers.

HAMPTON ROADS

White marlin continue to be the major story off Virginia's coast. Although there are a multitude of fishing options available, it is this species that is drawing the most attention.

White marlin have been caught in strong numbers for the past few weeks, with no indications that things will slow any time soon.

Blue-water trollers also are finding strong numbers of dolphin, along with some blue marlin, sailfish, tuna and wahoo.

Anglers working jigs and bait off the deep bottom also are finding grouper and tilefish.

Closer to shore, amberjack are swarming around several navigational towers. The South Tower is the top choice.

Triggerfish can be found around almost all near-shore wrecks and structure.

Along the beach, king mackerel, cobia and a few red drum continue to show well for trollers and live-baiters. Sight casting with big bucktails for cobia is a proven method, and anglers using this technique are seeing a rise in action.

Spanish mackerel continue to make one of their best showings in years along the beach and at most inside-the-Bay tidal rips.

Inside the Bay, big flounder are cooperating well along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Live spot is the top-producing bait. Lots of small flounder are being caught in Rudee Inlet.

Red and black drum have been seen and caught from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel structure out to the mouth of the Bay.

Sheepshead are along the span, but action is extremely hit or miss.

Croaker numbers are good at many inshore locations. Bluefish are everywhere.

Puppy drum catches should continue to be decent inside both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. Spot and croaker also can be caught in both locations.

EASTERN SHORE

Big flounder are making a strong showing along the buoy line from Kiptopeke north to the Cell - and up to No. 48. Many of the fish havens around Nassawadox and Occohannock Rock are holding fish.

Lots of small flounder are cooperating around Wachapreague and Oyster, where impressive numbers of croaker finally have started to show.

Croaker also are available around Kiptopeke and Cape Charles.

A few small gray trout have been caught around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel high-rise spans and around Kiptopeke. But action is slow most of the time.

Tarpon and lots of shark are cruising the backwater areas of the seaside barrier islands.

Offshore trollers can expect white marlin, dolphins and wahoo, along with tuna.

OUTER BANKS

Sailfish and dolphin are dominating the offshore scene. But there still are plenty of white marlin, and decent numbers of blue marlin and tuna. Wahoo and king mackerel also are available.

Wreck anglers are finding triggerfish, tilefish, grouper and spadefish.

Along the beaches, bluefish, kings and lots of Spanish mackerel continue to show.

Inside the sounds, tarpon, bluefish, puppy drum, speckled trout and numerous small bottom fish are available.

PIERS AND SURF

Good numbers of small bottom fish are cooperating at most coastal fishing piers in Virginia and North Carolina.

Bluefish, sea mullet, small flounder, spot, croaker and puppy drum top the list.

Pompano have shown at the Little Island and Ocean View piers, and should be available at Virginia Beach and Lynnhaven.

Anglers working ocean piers in both states could see Spanish mackerel, king mackerel and a few cobia.

FRESHWATER

Catching is tough when waters are hotter than 85 degrees, which is the case on almost all fronts.

Largemouth bass fishing will prove more successful when anglers work early and late. The less sun the better.

Bluegill can be found on most shorelines, sunny or not.

Crappie at this time of year will be tight to hurdles or bridge pilings, especially in water deeper than 20 feet.

White perch can be found around old duck blinds in Back Bay and Currituck Sound, especially those adjacent to deeper water. White perch also are likely to be located in schools in main river channels.

Chain pickerel, gar and bowfin are always on the hot summer menu.