Fishing forecast for the week of August 20 - 26

It's about the time of year when Virginia coastal anglers start keeping a lookout for king mackerel.

While the waters of North Carolina already have yielded a few kings, the season hasn't been overwhelmingly productive.

And only a handful of fish have been hooked in Virginia waters this year, including the first award-winner - a 33-pound, 1-ouncer caught along the coast by Virginia Beach's Ed Cromwell Jr.

Fish could show any day, though, especially after high seas that will be provided the next few days by the passing of Hurricane Bill.

Clean water and lots of bait always are the key.

King fishing in Virginia waters can be frustrating. Fish can be abundant and eager one year, then almost nonexistent the next.

Anglers registered 44 citation-winners in Virginia last year - the largest being a 62-pound, 3-ounce giant caught off the Little Island Fishing Pier at the southern-most end of Sandbridge.

The pier has been a top-producer of large fish for decades.

September through the middle of October is supposed to be the peak season in these parts.

Anglers troll buoy lines and tide lines, looking for bait and marks on depth finders. Others like drifting with live bait such as spot or small croaker. Some will even dangle live spot underneath a kite to keep the bait splashing around the surface.

Either way, kings provide thrilling strikes and line-stealing runs.

And they're not too shabby on the grill.

HAMPTON ROADS

While flounder and cobia continue to steal the show, most eyes starting today will be offshore for the sixth Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament out of Rudee Inlet. Fishing continues through Saturday.

Big swells from the passing of Hurricane Bill could be a boost to white marlin action.

Overall, boats heading southeast of Rudee have been enjoying good action.

Yellowfin and blackfin tuna, dolphin and a few wahoo also will be caught.

Closer to the coast, amberjack continue to swarm around the South Tower. Also look for jacks around other offshore structures and wrecks.

Triggerfish can be found around many inshore wrecks, where tautog and flounder also are a possibility.

Flounder action has been at its season's finest along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Live spot dragged along the edges of the rocks that make up the islands and tunnel tubes has produced some of the bigger fish.

The islands also are holding triggerfish, spadefish and black drum. Sheepshead can be found at any number of spots along the span. Divers and snorkelers report good numbers of sheepies.

Cobia and red drum could be found around the shoals at the northern end of the span. Cobia also are being targeted by sight-casters working throughout the lower Bay.

Croaker numbers are on the rise and it's about time for bigger fish to show. Around the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Ocean View areas, spot are starting to show in better numbers.

Shark have been abundant, especially small blacktips.

In Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets, expect to find good numbers of puppy drum and some flounder. Spot and croaker also are available.

Tailor bluefish are abundant and easy to find.

EASTERN SHORE

Croaker action around Oyster is on the rise, with many visitors loading up on fish that average about a pound. Bigger fish are in the mix.

Croaker also are starting to show around Kiptopeke and channel edges up through Cape Henry.

Look for flounder along the North Channel up towards the Cell. Numbers haven't been as good as in recent years.

Red drum are a good possibility along the outermost edges of barrier island sandbars.

Tarpon and big shark can be found in several of the deeper barrier island backwaters areas. Tarpon catches haven't been great.

OUTER BANKS

Bluewater trollers working to the northeast have been finding outstanding numbers of billfish.

Nearly 310 were released last week in the 26th annual Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament.

In the mix are yellowfin and blackfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo and king mackerel.

Along the coast, anglers can expect to find a king, cobia and Spanish mackerel.

Along the beaches and in the sounds, speckled trout should attract most angler interest.

PIER AND SURF

We're about a month from seeing a sharp rise in shoreline catches.

But anglers currently can expect to find croaker, spot, small flounder, puppy drum and a few sea mullet along Virginia's beaches. Cobia and king mackerel could show around oceanfront piers.

Along the Outer Banks, the list also includes Spanish mackerel, sea mullet, pompano and speckled trout.

FRESHWATER

They might not be the prettiest fish swimming area lakes and streams, but bowfin and gar are providing some of the best action.

Big gar are being fought at lakes Prince and Western Branch in Suffolk. Bowfin action is good in many tidal streams.

Bass anglers are the most likely to catch either species. And while they might not like it, these prehistoric relics are some of the hardest-hitting fighters going.

Bass action is going to be best early and late, since area waters are close to the boiling point.

Even bluegill are favoring deeper waters.

Work worms or minnows in the middle of creek channels for a "who knows what you'll catch" experience.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844 lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com