Capt. Bob's Marina Fishing Calendar

The spring flounder run begins and is in full swing by months end. April and May are the best months to fish flounder - bring extra clothing, the weather is still nippy! Popular tackle for the coveted flatfish is a top and bottom rig with either a chartreuse or pink bucktail topping a #2 English bait hook, preferably gold. Live minnows and a strip of white squid will put a doormat in your cooler. Striped bass, or Rockfish, can also be had at the bridges or any structures where there is deep water and a rocky bottom. Cut bait works great (bunker or mullet) and a treble hook (Crippled Herring is a killer lure for rock or Calcutta Flashfoil, eels or peeler crab!) Surf anglers will be in heaven with the arrival of stripers as well as drum. Clams is the preferred bait for the drumfish palate!.

Inshore flounder action continues with the addition of snapper bluefish. As the water temperature rises, offshore action kicks off with the greatly anticipated arrival of " Mako" shark. Make sure you have your act together to land a "Mako"! The right bait and tackle are essential. Bunker or mackerel chum puts a nice oily slick in the water; many anglers prefer the oil content of bunker to mackerel. Although a live bluefish in the chum slick will quickly get the attention of a Mako, a Spanish Mackerel fillet in the slick will "Bring 'em on"! The wrecks are loading anglers with good catches of tautog.

JUNE

As the channel waters warm, flounder will have to fight for their meals now with the arrival of croaker and kingfish/whiting. Croaker, an aggressive fish, also, known as..." Kingfish will go crazy and simply jump on your hook if you use artifical bloodworms - an extremely popular bait manufactured by FishBites.. These aggressive fish, also known as "hardheads", will bite anything, but squid on your hook will attract them like a magnet. Offshore shark action is really hopping. As June comes to an end, blue fin and yellow fin tuna show up, as well as dolphin, (mahi-mahi). Water temperatures should be in the 68 to 70 degree range.

JULY - AUGUST

In the channel - croaker rules. Good size, (16" - 20") hardheads are a fisherman's dream. Anglers of all ages flock to enjoy the thrill of landing two fish per cast, every cast!!! Offshore - its hot! Hot with Tuna, Tuna, Tuna... The most popular fishing ground in the Atlantic from Delaware to Virginia Beach is directly off Chincoteague! Hot spots like the "Parking Lot" or the "Lumpy Bottom" tease anglers to drive all night to Chincoteague so they can fish all day. Early in the season, trolling is the preferred method for fishing tuna, but this quickly changes to chunking. Butterfish has been the bait, but this year, a new approach, chunking with sardines ( a flat not a can) has proven to make a 20 - 30 pound difference in the weight of the catch!!! The oil in the slick from the sardines really does attract the tuna, however, you still hook up with the butters. Try it - you won't believe it!!! Also, offshore, you'll find some nice size Dolphin and Wahoo.

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER

With the exit of croaker, flounder action steams up for the fall. Striper also make a showing as the waters cool down. Offshore, the Yellow fin tuna are keeping anglers on the move, most having to go to the "Finger", 20 Fathoms or the Canyons. But the catches are good, 8 to 24 Yellow fin, depending on the number of anglers.

NOVEMBER - JANUARY

Inshore action is limited to striped bass. Offshore - the wrecks and Winter Quarter Shoal still provide anglers with Tautog.

ADVISORY TO ALL ANGLERS

All anglers should familiarize themselves with the fishing regulations for the area they intend to fish. For your convenience, we have provided a link to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission below to assist you.