THE LARGEMOUTH BASS arguably is the most sought-after fish in the world.
More angling hours and dollars are burned up each year in pursuit of this hard-fighting freshwater species.
Although it's not the oldest world all-tackle record, the International Game Fish Association standard of 22 pounds, 4 ounces is the most coveted record in fishing.
Several California fish supposedly have topped the mark set in 1932 by George Perry of Georgia. But none has come close to passing the scrutiny placed on such records.
Perry's world record is the fifth-oldest according to the IGFA record book.
A 4-3 yellow perch caught in 1865 is the oldest record. Second to that is a 14-8 brook trout caught in 1916, followed by a 51-3 tiger muskellunge caught in 1919 and a 79-2 Atlantic salmon caught in 1928.
Virginia's record largemouth is a 16-4 lunker caught from Connor Lake in 1985. North Carolina's big bucketmouth is a 15-14 caught from a Union County farm pond in 1991.
This is a great time to catch a big bass. Virginia and North Carolina ponds, rivers and lakes are full of hungry bass working the shorelines.
HAMPTON ROADS
Tautog went off-limits today. They can't be kept again until June 24.
Taking their place on the can-keep list is striped bass.
The Virginia Trophy Season opens today in the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. The Bay season continues through June 15, and the coastal season is on through May 15. Anglers can keep one fish per day that measures at least 32 inches. All kept fish must be reported to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
Capt. Steve Wray reports that rockfish are plentiful around all southeastern Virginia bridge-tunnel spans.
Red drum numbers are on the rise, and black drum finally have appeared. The inner middle grounds around the northern portion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a good place to start looking for either species. Sea clams should produce more black drum. Peeler crabs are a favorite for reds.
Recent rains and winds will slow flounder fishing in the Bay for a few days until waters clear. Big flatfish should be available all along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and along the edges of channels leading into the Bay.
Flounder also are being caught inside Lynnhaven Inlet, but most are shorter than the 19-inch keeper minimum.
Lynnhaven and Rudee are full of bluefish, with some reportedly weighing as much as 8 pounds. Rudee also is harboring a few puppy drum, speckled trout and gray trout.
Anglers also should find gray trout, speckled trout and bluefish around the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
The James River likely will be the top location for big croaker.
Offshore deep-drop bottom-bouncers continue to do well with big sea bass, tilefish, grouper and wreckfish.
EASTERN SHORE
Black drum are showing around buoys 13 and 16, and red drum numbers are on the rise along the outermost sand bars along the barrier islands. Reds also have been taken by anglers working the channel behind Fisherman's Island.
Flounder catches have been outstanding in channels and ditches behind the barrier islands from Oyster, north past Wachapreague, and up to Chincoteague. Many fish are topping the 19-inch keeper minimum.
Speckled trout action around marshy shorelines near Oyster has been good. Fish as heavy as 6 pounds have been taken in the past week.
Chris Snook reports that commercial netters have started to catch croaker in many Bay-side creeks. Those hardheads should start to take rod-and-reel offerings soon.
OUTER BANKS
Yellowfin tuna continue to provide excellent action for blue-water trollers working the edges and eddies of the Gulf Stream.
Blackfin and bigeye tuna also have been taken in the past few days. Other possibilities are increasing numbers of gaffer-sized dolphin, wahoo and king mackerel.
Billfish action also is on the rise. Boats out of both Oregon and Hatteras inlets caught and released nearly two dozen blue marlin over the weekend.
Offshore, more mako sharks have been caught.
Wreck anglers should continue to boat plenty of tilefish, grouper, snapper, sea bass and triggerfish.
Closer to shore, bluefish and red drum remain good possibilities.
The sounds should produce a few speckled trout and plenty of bluefish.
PIERS AND SURF
Things are starting to improve along Virginia and North Carolina beaches.
Bluefish probably are the best possibility in both states. Blues as heavy as 10 pounds are plentiful, hungry and within casting distance.
In Virginia, croaker, small flounder, small stripers, some trout and decent numbers of sea mullet are making themselves available.
Cary Jarvis at Ocean View said that croaker up to a pound have shown in better numbers. He said anglers started catching gray trout up to 14 inches.
Big red drum are showing in increasingly better numbers along the beaches of the Eastern Shore barrier islands.
In North Carolina, anglers can add good numbers of toadfish and lots of dogfish.
Anglers working Cape Point can expect a few big red drum, especially at night. Daytime efforts have yielded lots of dogfish shark.
FRESHWATER
Although largemouth bass action is good on about every pond, lake and river, there are plenty of alternatives.
Give largemouths a try on topwater baits early and late. The remainder of the day, try spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastics in and around shoreline cover. Any structure near points is a great place to start.
Although most crappie likely have spawned, fish should remain shallow for several more weeks. Minnows under corks or small jigs will produce.
White perch are abundant and active around creek mouths draining into most rivers. The Nottoway River has provided excellent action lately. Old duck blinds in Back Bay also should produce plenty of white perch.
Shellcracker in the Suffolk lakes are beginning to migrate toward channel edges and can be susceptible to bottom-bounced red wigglers and pieces of nightcrawlers. Western Branch and Prince are the best places to look for big stumpknockers.