Fishing forecast Nov. 26 - Dec. 2

Not that anybody should be surprised, but it has been another fantastic year for fishermen and women working the waters of Virginia and North Carolina.

It's easy to understand why this area of the country is billed as one of the finest fishing locations in the world.

While this is the last "official" forecast of 2009 - we pick up again April 8 - it hardly spells the end of fishing for the year.

Around these parts, anglers can fish every month.

As winter closes in, though, opportunities become more limited.

Throughout the winter, anglers can find speckled trout, tautog and striper inshore. Tilefish and grouper, along with several other deep-water wreck-dwellers, can be found offshore.

Freshwater anglers can target landlocked striper, yellow and white perch, and crappie. Largemouth bass can still be had, but fishing is slow and tedious. Anglers willing to bottom-bounce old creeks and channels in area water supply reservoirs can be rewarded with all sorts of action.

Most activity is going to be geared toward the saltwater inshore three - speckled trout, tog and striper.

Striped bass fishing will be the leader in angler interest. From late December and through the spring, big rockfish make coastal waters of Virginia and North Carolina their home.

If it's a mild winter - as it has been the past couple of years - rockfish probably will congregate in Virginia. If it gets extremely cold, most of the action will shift into Carolina or out past three miles. If the fish head offshore, it is illegal to fish for them.

Last year saw the Virginia record hit the 73-pound mark, causing many anglers to think that the 27-year-old world record of 78-8 will fall this winter.

Even if that doesn't turn out to be the case, there's no reason around here for anglers to put away their gear.

Forecast

HAMPTON ROADS

Just when bluewater trollers thought it was time to switch to striped bass gear, a warm-water eddy drifts toward the coast - bringing with it lots of yellowfin tuna, some blackfin tuna and a decent number of wahoo.

Bluefin have shown a little closer to the coast. Numbers should increase over the coming weeks.

Deep-drop bottom-bouncers working around the Norfolk Canyon can expect continued success with tilefish, with more grouper showing in the coming weeks.

It is illegal to possess sea bass.

Big bluefish will be available around many offshore wrecks, which also are a good place to expect bluefin tuna to show.

Stripers will continue to be found inside the Chesapeake Bay, with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as the best overall location. Later in the year and into February, coastal waters will be the best locations. For now, though, work all of the bridge-tunnel spans, and bridges or piers with lights.

Speckled trout action will remain good inside Rudee, Lynnhaven and Little Creek inlets for several weeks. After that, concentrate efforts in the Hot Ditch area of the Elizabeth River, where the fishery has turned on and will continue to be outstanding throughout the winter.

Tautog will be available for the coming months along the CBBT and at many inshore and near-shore wrecks and artificial reefs.

Don't forget to give flounder a try at many coastal and near-shore wrecks - especially the Triangle Wrecks.

EASTERN SHORE

While most speckled trout action has waned, striped bass catches have picked up significantly.

Anglers drifting live eels or anchoring to chunk pieces of menhaden will find success along the Baltimore Channel in the coming weeks.

Ocean-bound fish also are starting to show.

Tautog should be available around many ocean wrecks and artificial reefs. Anglers working such structure can expect a few flounder as well.

Bluefin tuna could show at any time around the 26-Mile Hill and other offshore bottom features. Big bluefish also should be available in these areas. 

OUTER BANKS

Yellowfin tuna action slowed slightly last weekend. That is, until captains heard about the warm waters that had drifted toward the Virginia coast. North Carolina bluewater trollers joined the Virginia fleet for outstanding action. And that fish-holding water probably will make its way closer to Carolina ports, bringing with it a continuation of action for at least a few more weeks.

Many captains anxiously are waiting for schools of bluefin tuna to show in good numbers, which could happen on a moment's notice.

Coastal wreck fishermen can find tilefish, grouper, snapper and other bottom dwellers. Big bluefish also should be available around such structures.

Along the coast, striped bass action should pick up with every passing cold front. If it's a cold winter, look for big numbers of fish to be available from the Virginia coast south to Hatteras Inlet.

Speckled trout should continue to be available in the sounds for several more weeks, but striper quickly are stealing angler interest, as they have been available in good numbers around most structure.

PIER AND SURF

Action along Virginia beaches is starting to wane, with the exception of striped bass.

Stripers can show around any pier, even the near-to-shore pilings of bridge spans. Striper also can be found around the foot of the CBBT and around the Lesner Bridge.

The Lesner also can produce good numbers of tautog at times during the winter.

Things will be much the same along the Outer Banks, with striper and bluefish making up most catches. Catches of big red drum and bluefish could continue to impress at the Point for those lucky enough to be there when fish blitz.

FRESHWATER

Some of the best action of the coming weeks will be from striped bass working their way through tidal streams throughout northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

Many river systems already are holding large numbers of school-sized fish. The Chowan, Pasquatank and Intracoastal Waterway canal at Coinjock are three of the best locations in North Carolina.

Because they form the Chowan, look for small rockfish to show in the Nottoway and Blackwater rivers in Virginia. The North Landing River and many of its tributaries also will hold fish, depending on the amount of bait.

White perch action can be good in the winter, especially around creek mouths as spring approaches.

Yellow perch catches usually peak some time in February, with Indiantown Creek at the headwaters of North Carolina's North River as the best location in the entire area for big fish topping one pound.

Crappie catches can be good throughout the cold months, especially when anglers find a good, deep-water hurdle. Bridge pilings also hold fish. Fish will head into the shallows when sunny February skies get above 60 degrees for just about any 3- to 6-day period.

And one of the most productive freshwater techniques for winter fishing is bottom-bouncing minnow or nightcrawlers along the edges or in the deep portions of old creek channels in water supply reservoirs. This method can produce every species a lake holds, with the thrill being anglers never know what size or what species they will catch.