Fishing forecast: Week of July 1-7

When you first get a glimpse of a dolphin fish shooting through the water and attacking a bait or lure, it's mind-boggling to see the tropical colors.

These tasty battlers of the depths light up in an array of

turquoise, yellows and blues.

When one of them is hooked and brightens the waters, others usually follow.

Dolphin, known to many as mahi mahi or dorado, are a mainstay of the offshore fishing fleet. A school of small- to medium-sized dolphin has been known to save many an outing.

Bigger fish, known as gaffers, often fall prey to lures trolled for tuna or billfish.

For those looking to take home a little dinner, there are few fish better than dolphin.

Anglers working the Gulf Stream and warm-water eddies spinning off of it have been enjoying some fantastic dolphin catches the past few weeks, and there's no reason to believe that the action will slow soon.

Forecast

HAMPTON ROADS

Flip a coin, draw straws, pick a name out of a hat - find some way to make choosing what to do a little easier. Let's face it, there are a lot of angling opportunities right now.

Of note has been an increase in activity from big flounder. Doormat-sized flatfish have been pulled from several locations throughout the lower Bay, with the stretch from the fourth island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to the high-level spans being the top producer. Inshore humps, channels and wrecks also hold fish. Live spot are the top choice of big slab hunters, but jigging and cut baits will work.

Cobia continue to provide good catches for sight casters working all over the Bay, and for anglers using cut bait on fish-finder bottom rigs. Bait fishers can expect to find them around the York Spit, the Hump, Buoy 18, Latimer Shoal and all along the Inner Middle Grounds.

Anglers working the CBBT also can find sheepshead and spadefish. Some triggerfish have started to move in. Triggers also can be found around coastal wrecks.

Spadefish are spread through the Bay and coastal waters. Look for them around many buoys and wrecks.

Bluefish and small croaker are abundant throughout local waters.

Puppy drum action has been slow in the inlets, but there have been some improvements. Inlets also can produce spot, croaker and flounder.

Offshore action continues to improve, with more dolphin joining a mix that includes billfish and tuna.

Navy towers to the southeast are covered with amberjack.

EASTERN SHORE

Flounder action is still good throughout the backwaters of Wachapreague and Oyster, but bigger fish have gone deep and can be found along the channels leading into the Bay, and up the western shoreline up to the Cell.

Spadefish can be found around most coastal and Bay buoys, and at many navigational structures.

Cobia and red drum always are a possibility for anglers working baits on the shoals.

With increasing water temperatures, there is word that some backwaters around Oyster are finally home to a few tarpon. But the only thing more elusive than the fish itself is finding information on what's really going on.

Offshore anglers are finding tuna, dolphin and a few billfish. Anglers working offshore wrecks also can expect a few big bluefish.

OUTER BANKS

Yellowfin and bigeye tuna have been the highlight of some outstanding bluewater action. Trollers also are finding lots of big dolphin and even more small ones. Wahoo, king mackerel and big bluefish can be found in the mix.

Amberjack are swarming many coastal structures.

Deep droppers can expect grouper, tilefish, snapper, triggerfish and other assorted bottom dwellers.

Along the coast, bluefish and Spanish mackerel head the list. But cobia, red drum and king mackerel always can be expected this time of year.

The sounds and inlets can hold flounder, bluefish, trout and puppy drum. Rumor has it that tarpon have shown in some of the sounds. Also keep and eye out for them along the coast.

PIER AND SURF

Expect some pretty decent action around most of Virginia's fishing piers, especially at night when the lights attract bait. Bluefish, puppy drum, flounder, spot, croaker and trout always are possible. Anglers working the ends of deeper piers should keep an eye out for cobia, red drum and Spanish mackerel - maybe even a tarpon.

Crabbing is picking up.

Along the Outer Banks, pompano have shown in better numbers and size along Hatteras beaches. Sea mullet, blow toads, bluefish, small flounder, trout and puppy drum also have shown.

FRESHWATER

Bluegill and shellcracker probably will provide most action during the dog days of summer. Look for them along most shorelines. To find shellcrackers in the local water supply reservoirs, look for shorelines littered with old mussel shells.

Wednesday's dramatic drop in temperatures, and some healthy doses of rain, probably will spur an increase in largemouth bass action. Still, most catches will come early and late, and from areas close to deep water.

Bassers always can expect a bowfin or chain pickerel to get in on the action.

Deeper grass beds throughout Back Bay and Currituck Sound are holding bass, especially beds along the eastern shoreline.

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