Fishing forcast for week of Oct. 2 - Oct. 8

Virginia's most cherished fishing season opens at a second past midnight Friday night. That would be the Chesapeake Bay Fall Striped Bass Season. It's fast action, good eating and big business on this part of the coast.

Granted, the opening of fall season isn't what it was when Virginia first reopened the fishery after a brief moratorium on catches.

Back then, anglers would head to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel a couple of hours before midnight,

locate feeding fish and be ready when the clock struck 12.

Many years, it didn't matter how bad the weather was - anglers were going to get their first two rockfish of the year.

Things are better now. There are more fish in the Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean season that heats up the winter provides some of the most incredible angling on the planet.

Ask Fred Barnes, the Chesapeake man who last January set the Virginia record with a 73-pound slob of a fish that caused a huge fishing buzz from South Carolina to Maine.

The fall season still has its place among diehard striper anglers. It's better suited for anglers who use light tackle and fly rods - casting to school-sized fish with lures and topwaters.

Loads of fun.

When waters get cooler, bigger fish migrate in from the north, and action moves to heavier tackle and arm-busting battles.

The season in North Carolina's Albemarle, Central and Southern sound management areas opened Wednesday with the limit being three fish - all measuring at least 18 inches - a day per person.

In Virginia, anglers can take two fish a day that each measure between 18 and 28 inches. One fish, however, can measure 34 inches or longer.

All that is supposed to change Dec. 10, when the limit goes to one fish. But the Virginia Marine Resources Commission is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss possible rules changes.

HAMPTON ROADS

While many anglers will be working piers and bridge-tunnel spans for striped bass, there are alternatives until the really big rockfish show.

Things finally have settled down offshore, and there still is action to be found.

White marlin and swordfish should continue to be available for a few weeks. Dolphin, wahoo and tuna action is starting to wane. But fish still are available.

And offshore deep-droppers can find plenty of tilefish and grouper along the edges of the Norfolk Canyon.

Closer to shore, seabass action is decent around many wrecks. And tautog should join the mix any day now. Flounder that already have left the Bay also can be found around many of these inshore structures.

But the emphasis now is inshore, where stripers are joined by lots of bluefish, croaker, puppy drum and increasing numbers of speckled trout and spot.

Bluefish can be found just about everywhere.

Puppy drum action is best in Lynnhaven Inlet, but fish are available along the coast, and in Little Creek and Rudee inlets.

Speckled trout are showing in better numbers in all three inlets.

Spot can be found along Hampton Bar, around the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, along Ocean View and inside Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.

Flounder should still be available along the edges of channels and wrecks.

Big red drum are roaming inshore coastal waters.

EASTERN SHORE

Speckled trout, puppy drum and big red drum will garner most angler attention for weeks to come.

While some anglers will take advantage of the opening of striper season, it's the trout that will be the main target.

Now that waters are starting to settle and clear, nearly all of the Bay-side creeks are starting to produce specks. Anglers also are finding them in the backwater channels of the barrier islands - especially around Oyster.

OUTER BANKS

Now that two weeks of hard wind finally have died down, anglers are returning to the offshore grounds. To their delight, captains are finding that the blows pushed in good numbers of yellowfin tuna. White marlin, sailfish, wahoo and lots of dolphin also are available.

Wrecks are holding grouper, snapper and tilefish.

Along the coast, cobia, red drum, trout and bluefish should be available.

In the inlets and sounds, speckled trout, puppy drum and striper highlight the possibilities.

PIERS AND SURF

Big red drum finally have made a showing at the Virginia Beach and Little Island fishing piers.

Other coastal action, especially at Ocean View, Lynnhaven and along the beaches, should include spot, croaker and trout.

Look for striped bass at night around lighted facilities.

Along the Outer Banks, bluefish, trout, pompano, spot, croaker, small flounder and striper should be available. Big casters at Cape Point could find a few cobia and some big red drum.

FRESHWATER

Water is back in coastal creeks, ditches and river systems, and that means hot fall largemouth action once the water clears.

If waters still are muddy, throw noisy topwater baits and brightly colored spinnerbaits worked slowly to attract fish that should be plenty hungry and aggressive.

Crappie likely have moved back into structure in water from 5 to 15 feet deep, but they'll be tough to get until waters clear. Dunk a few minnows tight into cover for action until that happens.

White perch should be schooling around creek mouths. School-sized striped bass can be found wherever you mark balls of bait.