Fishing forecast for June 25 - July 1

The Atlantic spadefish is one of those species that is found in most of Earth's waters - including almost the entire western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Yet most anglers ignore the spadefish.

The reason? Most people don't know how to catch them.

That's not the case around these parts. In Virginia's coastal waters, anglers actively pursue this angelfish on steroids.

Ever since a group of anglers a couple of decades ago figured out the simple solution, spadefish have been high on the local-species priority list.

The secret is jellyfish and the answer is clam.

The spadefish's favorite meal is jellyfish tentacles. At first, anglers used to try things such as small plastic bags on hooks. It worked from time to time, but once small pieces of clam were tried, the boom in spadefishing was almost instantaneous.

These tasty hard-fighters can be abundant from late May through September. They often are willing to bite. Getting them to the boat? That's another story. Small mouths require small hooks, and that means sometimes delicate handling during a fight. And when these fish top 10 pounds, they are one of medium-tackle's best battles.

They can be found around most navigational structures, around wrecks and buoys, and at some of the bridge-tunnel spans crossing the Bay and rivers.

Nowhere do spadefish get bigger than in Virginia, where two 14-pounders serve as the world and state records. A couple 15-pounders have been documented, but paperwork was not properly filled out for record status.

However, Roland Murphy of Fredericksburg has caught a 14-pound, 14-ouncer that is the pending state and world record. Caught at the Cell two weeks ago, Murphy's paperwork is in order.

HAMPTON ROADS

Cobia continue to draw angler attention, with fish available for bait-bouncers around the Hampton peninsula, the Inner Middle Grounds and Latimer Shoal. Sight-casters are finding fish along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, throughout the mouth of the bay, around buoys and along the Oceanfront. It's looking like it might be another good season.

Flounder action throughout the Bay is sporadic, and lots of fish are coming to the boat an inch or two shy of the 19-inch keeper minimum. As usual, live spot are finding the bigger fish.

Sheepshead can be found around pilings of the CBBT.

Croaker are thick at many lower Bay locations.

Spanish mackerel numbers are increasing at many tidal rip areas - especially at Cape Henry.

Puppy drum, trout, croaker and flounder can be had from both Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets.

Offshore, yellowfin tuna numbers continue to climb - with more dolphin and scattered billfish joining the mix. Bluefin have been showing around bottom features a little closer to shore.

EASTERN SHORE

Spadefish can be found at the Cell and many other middle Bay navigational structures. Many of the fish are large, but numbers are not yet great.

Flounder action continues to be good around the barrier islands, especially in the vicinity of the old Coast Guard station. But finding keepers still is a problem. Bigger fish are showing around the Cell area on the Bay side.

Croaker, trout, bluefish and sea mullet are being caught around seaside inlets, especially around Oyster.

Bluefish are scattered in good numbers all along the coast.

Offshore catches include lots of yellowfin tuna and big dolphin.

OUTER BANKS

Bluewater trolling continues to produce typical summer numbers of yellowfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel and billfish.

Amberjack have shown around many navigational structures.

Bottom-bouncers are finding good numbers of tilefish, grouper, snapper and triggerfish.

Inshore, cobia, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are cooperating.

Croaker, flounder, trout, bluefish and puppy drum can be found in the sounds. And those in the know probably will find a few tarpon in their usual - albeit highly secretive - haunts.

PIER AND SURF

Small stuff probably will provide the action along the shores of both states - with the mix including spot, croaker, flounder, bluefish, sea mullet, pompano, skate, small shark, trout, puppy drum and small black drum.

Cobia are a possibility on all piers. Anglers fishing the ends of oceanfront piers might also expect to find Spanish mackerel and possibly a king mackerel.

FRESHWATER

Afternoon thunderstorms can turn on the bass fishing by cooling the water. Runoff also drags in all sorts of insects for feeding fish.

Early and late in the day will continue to provide the best action. And on places where you can, fishing at night can be fantastic.

Shellcracker and other species of bream should provide plenty of all-day action on most rivers, streams and water supply reservoirs.

Bowfin are becoming more active on many tidal waters, and anglers fishing for bass can expect to do battle with these hard-fighting fish.

Look for white perch schooling around deep waters of streams and rivers.