Fishing Forecast: June 8-14

The forecast key: (1) Hampton Roads. (2) Eastern Shore. (3) Outer Banks. (4) Freshwater.

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot

Every now and then, the offshore fishing season in Virginia gets off to an early start.

This is one of those years.

For the past two weeks, charter captains and private boaters have been enjoying a pretty good bite from fish that include yellowfin, bluefin and bigeye tuna. There have been a few large dolphin caught.

It won't be long until billfish join the mix.

Paula Owen, who runs Fisherman's Wharf Marina in Rudee Inlet, said she usually tells potential customers that things pick up in mid-June.

"So this is a tad bit early for us," Owen said. "Hopefully this is a sign that it's going to be a great summer.

"The fishing has been pretty good so far."

Owen said boats have been venturing out to the 350 and 360 lines - about 60 to 70 miles east-southeast of Rudee, in an area between the Norfolk Canyon and the Cigar seamount.

Usually this time of year, boats have to go more southeast, and a few more miles out, to find a bite.

But sometimes things get going a little early.

THE FORECAST

Hampton Roads

The big news is that the offshore tuna bite of the past few weeks is no fluke.

Several tuna have met state citation minimums, with a couple of bluefin topping 100 pounds.

Don Marchiola and John Derrick had yellowfins weighing more than 70 pounds. Mike Atkinson had a 71-pounder. Miquel Gonzales scored at 73 pounds, and Matt DesRoches had an 86. All of those anglers are from Virginia Beach. Scott Lippin of Elizabeth City had a 90-pounder. Warren Smith had a 184.8-pound bigeye, and Alan Shapiro scored at 107. Both anglers are from Virginia Beach.

Several large sharks have been encountered in the same areas. Dave Trax of Virginia Beach had a large mako.

Inshore, the spadefish bite is on in a big way. With the Chesapeake Light Tower the hot spot, tempers have flared lately as too many anglers try to get close to the structure. Try fishing any of the surrounding wrecks and rubble piles. They all hold fish.

Red drum continue to provide good action around the inner middle grounds at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. But several other species have been caught by anglers who are drum fishing.

Cobia and sheepshead finaly have shown in Bay waters.

Justin Hurst of Suffolk had sheepies of 10 pounds, 8 ounces and 10-12.

Danny Hoosack of Norfolk was cobia fishing with live croaker at the fourth island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and scored with a 44-8. Cobia also have shown at Bluefish Rock off Hampton.

Bridge-tunnel anglers continue to do well with flounder. But anglers also can find striped bass, spadefish, sheepshead and small tautog.

Several anglers who are casting around the second island report good catches of gray trout weighing more than 5 pounds.

Lynnhaven Inlet is holding some croaker and flounder. Rudee has given up some decent flounder, bluefish as big as 5 pounds and quite a few large gray trout.

Eastern Shore

Action overall has slowed. But all signs point to improvement.

Cobia are showing along Latimer Shoal, the inner middle grounds and around the Cell.

Spadefish are thick around the Cell and other navigational structures.

Flounder have been active along the western Shore buoy line, from 36 all the way to the Cell. Some have been encountered around Buoy 18.

Croaker are thick around Buoy 38.

Offshore anglers have found yellowfin and bluefin tuna. Yellowfin numbers should be on the rise.

Outer Banks

While offshore fishing continues to be outstanding, lots of anglers are focusing their attention closer to shore, where they are finding excellent numbers of large cobia.

Charters fishing with Capt. Rick Caton had 47 cobia in four days - more than half of which were good for North Carolina citations. Willie Bratts of Chesapeake had a 50-pounder, along with a 44-inch red drum.

Yellowfin action should continue to be good. Brad Piland of Chesapeake had a 70-pound yellowfin.

Billfish are scattered, but numbers appear to be improving. Preston Banta, 17, of Virginia Beach scored with his first white marlin.

Piers and surf

Around Hampton Roads, anglers have encountered good numbers of sea mullet, small spot, croaker and a few flounder.

Hoyt Duff at Lynnhaven reports a couple of cobia have been hooked.

Crabbing is excellent.

Along the Outer Banks, cobia bites have drawn attention. Fishing off the Frisco Pier, John Kane of Virginia Beach had cobia of 26 and 77 pounds. Brian Taylor of Frisco scored at 88 pounds.

Other action should come from sea mullet, trout, spot, croaker, bluefish, small flounder and quite a few Spanish mackerel.

Freshwater

Shellcracker action is good on most of the Suffolk water-supply lakes. Many fish weighing more than a pound have been caught, especially at Western Branch and Prince.

Crappie have been surprisingly cooperative at Lake Cahoon, but fish aren't giants.

Largemouth bass have completed the spawn and are pretty much finished guarding their fry.

Action has been good around shoreline structure for anglers using top-water baits and soft plastics. Early and late in the day are better for both tactics.

During the high sun, anglers should move to deep points and drop-offs.