Fishing forecast for the week of May 28 - June 3

Croaker are the small member of the drum family, but they get no shortage of attention from area anglers.

Spring and fall are most popular times of year to catch these bottom feeders. Bigger fish usually are found in the fall.

In the spring, croaker draw attention because of their numbers.

Action has been good lately, with catches starting off around the James River Bridge and other portions of the lower Bay.

Boat captains are reporting increasing numbers from the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel east to the lower portions of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

One of the top-producing spring locations is around the mouth of the Nansemond River, as well as much of the river's channel edges.

In the fall, the inlets and creeks around Oyster on the Eastern Shore are some of the best-producing locations. But good catches still are made in the lower Bay, especially around rock jetties.

Croaker are hard fighters, putting up a good battle on light tackle. Get two of them on at a time and you've really got a tug on your hands.

Fishing is simple - just use a premade bottom rig or make your own.

Small hooks tipped with a variety of fresh bait work well. Try pieces of squid or shrimp first, then move to bloodworm, small peeler crab, fiddler crab or sand fleas if other baits are not producing. Clam and many of the new artificial baits made with real fish also work well.

Virginia and North Carolina produce the biggest croaker in the world. Virginia's record is the International Game Fish Association's all-tackle world record at 8 pounds, 11 ounces. Caught in 2007 near Newport Light by Norman Jenkins, that fish crushed the previous world mark.

North Carolina's standard is a 5-pounder caught in 1981 at Oregon Inlet.

HAMPTON ROADS

Red and black drum continue to attract most angler effort, with fish available around the 9-foot Shoals and the Inner Middle Grounds, around Fisherman's Island, and along the channel running northwest past Kiptopeke and Cape Charles.

Catches are up one day and down the next, with the best red drum fishing still to come.

Spadefish have been spotted around many inshore wrecks, some buoys, the Chesapeake Light Tower and the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. A couple have been taken on hook and line. Action won't heat up until the water does. But fish have arrived. Divers have speared several topping 10 pounds.

Flounder catches are decent but not consistent along the CBBT. When more small spot show for bait, catches of big flatties surely will improve.

Puppy drum and flounder can be had inside Little Creek, Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.

Bluefish numbers are rising quickly, with fish spread throughout the lower Bay.

Anglers are having to make long - 70- to 80-mile - runs to the Triple Zero line off the coast, but they've encountered the season's first dolphin. Many fish are big gaffers and the best is yet to come. Shark also are starting to show.

And the season's first blue marlin was caught and released Sunday, when a Richmond's Dennis Rybiski fought an estimated 400-pounder under the guidance of Capt. Nolan Agner.

While searching for offshore species, many anglers are stopping at the Norfolk Canyon to get in on some outstanding grouper and tilefish action.

EASTERN SHORE

Red and black drum also are the top choice here, with waters around Fisherman's Island, the Smith Island flats and lower seaside inlets producing the best catches.

Some speckled trout continue to bite around Oyster.

Bluefish are abundant just about everywhere.

Flounder action in the seaside backwaters has been outstanding, but a majority of the fish are falling just under the 19-inch keeper minimum.

Near-shore wrecks are producing good numbers of sea bass, especially when anglers can find one that hasn't been worked over.

OUTER BANKS

Dolphin numbers are off the charts, with boats out of both inlets doing extremely well. There is no shortage of large gaffers. Yellowfin and a few blackfin tuna also are showing well, and numbers of wahoo and billfish are on the rise.

Closer to shore, sight casters are encountering more cobia and some schools of red drum. Spanish mackerel numbers are on the rise and bluefish up to 10 pounds are abundant.

Inside the sounds, look for speckled trout, puppy drum and small flounder to comprise most of the catch.

PIER AND SURF

Action continues to improve along Virginia's beaches. Croaker are the top catch, and hardheads continue to get bigger. Bluefish, and small flounder and striper also are available.

Bernie Deguzman of Norfolk landed a 28-inch striper Wednesday at the Ocean View Pier.

Along the Outer Banks, catches include small shark, bluefish, sea mullet, spot, croaker, small sheepshead, some Spanish mackerel and a few trout.

Bigger bluefish and some red drum can be expected to make runs toward the beach from time to time.

Anglers working from the ends of piers also should stay on the lookout for cobia.

FRESHWATER

Shellcracker and bluegill move to the forefront this time of year as they move into the shallows. Bigger fish probably will be found in water just a few feet deeper than smaller fish.

It's still a great time to seek largemouth bass, with the pattern moving to early and late in the day for the best action. Fish still are aggressive then, and moving around. That makes top-water baits a must-try. Have a spinnerbait or plastic ready to toss in the direction of a missed strike.

Bowfin and chain pickerel often aren't what anglers are seeking, but they can provide some brutal strikes and outstanding battles this time of year.