Fishing forecast Nov. 12 - Nov. 18

Mother nature is putting a big whammy on fishing for a couple of days, with the remnants of Hurricane Ida turning into a wicked nor'easter.

Even after the system passes, it will take a few days for waters to clear and for fishing to turn back on.

The weather Wednesday forced the postponement of the Veterans Day largemouth bass tournament at Bob's Fishing Hole in Chesapeake. The event has been moved to Sunday.

And Friday's opening round of the sixth annual IBEW Rockfish Tournament to benefit the United Way could be interesting if forecasts prove accurate for the storm system to continue through Saturday. The event starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Cobb's Marina in Little Creek Inlet and continues through 4 p.m. Saturday.

Rockfish like snotty weather, so tournament catches could be outstanding if it's safe enough to fish.

One thing seems definite, It's going to be windy through late Saturday. But once the blow is over, typical fall patterns should prevail. That means good fishing for striper, tautog, puppy drum and speckled trout.

Forecast

HAMPTON ROADS

Let's call it the Chesapeake Bay Quadruple Slam - striper, puppy drum, tautog and speckled trout.

There is no better time than now to catch all four species in a day.

Rockfish are hitting just about everywhere there are pilings, especially those with lights. The best locations are the Monitor-Merrimac, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay bridge-tunnel spans. But other crossings and piers also are holding good numbers of fish up to 30 inches. Bigger fish are starting to move into the area, and deeper channels and open waters are the best places to find them.

Capt. Jerry Thrash on the Middle Peninsula reports that some striper in the middle of the Bay have sea lice on them, meaning that more fish are migrating from northeast waters.

Speckled trout numbers are outstanding at a host of locations. And things should get better in the coming weeks. Look for them in Little Creek, Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets, as well as many locations along the Elizabeth River - especially around the Hot Ditch and Deep Creek areas near the Interstate 64 High-Rise Bridge.

Puppy drum can be found in all three inlets, but numbers of this species could start to wane soon.

Tautog are hitting along the CBBT and at many inshore wrecks and artificial reefs.

Flounder could be a possibility along deep channel edges and around wrecks and reefs. But waters likely will be muddied for several days, and angling for flatfish could be slow until things clear.

Anglers working inshore wrecks also are finding good numbers of triggerfish.

Offshore, tilefish and grouper will be available. Remember that sea bass caught while fishing for these species must be discarded.

Many offshore wrecks are starting to produce large bluefish.

And it's time for bluefin tuna to start making runs around many of the midrange lumps and rises.

EASTERN SHORE

Action along the Shore is pretty much like it is elsewhere in the southern Bay.

Look for speckled trout in sloughs around Oyster and in most Bayside creeks. But if water temperatures take a significant dive, those fish will head south.

Striper can be found around most structures.

It's time for anglers working coastal waters - especially north of Wachapreague - to start looking for striped bass migrating from the north. It's a tad early, but stranger things have happened, and fish with sea lice already have been caught.

Coastal wrecks are holding flounder, tog and a few triggerfish.

OUTER BANKS

Yellowfin tuna continue to provide excellent action for bluewater trollers.

Anglers also are catching blackfin tuna, a few wahoo and scattered king mackerel.

Anglers trolling near wrecks could encounter big bluefish.

Closer to shore, bluefish and striped bass highlight the list. Schools of big red drum and a few Spanish mackerel could still be around.

In the sounds, speckled trout, puppy drum and small striped bass will provide most of the action.

PIER AND SURF

Catches along Virginia's beaches will consist mostly of striped bass, speckled trout and puppy drum. Anglers who can get at bridge pilings, especially at the Lesner Bridge, could find a few tautog.

Bluefish, striped bass and trout could show along the Oceanfront.

Along the Outer Banks, anglers can expect much of the same. They also could encounter sea mullet, croaker, spot, skate and small black drum. Big bluefish and red drum could blitz at any time on any day.

FRESHWATER

Largemouth bass action should stay hot for a few more weeks despite cooling water, as fish feed in preparation for the coming winter.

Look for them around shoreline structures or points with deep water nearby.

Largemouth bass anglers working a tournament on the Nottoway River last weekend encountered good numbers of smallmouth bass.

In many tidal rivers, small striped bass have already started to appear - especially rivers in northeastern North Carolina.

It's time for big blue catfish to start showing up in the James River. While the best action from the biggest fish typically takes place around Hopewell, areas near the Chickahominy River also produce.

As always, bottom-bouncers working channel edges of rivers and lakes can expect a mixed bag.

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