Saltwater fishing is heating up

Haven't decided where to spend Labor Day weekend? After checking out the fishing reports, I strongly recommend the coast. Saltwater fishing is excellent.

From Nags Head, N.C., Capt. Reese Stecher reports that this has been one of the best Augusts ever for fishermen—especially for big stripers.

"We had an unbelievable day on the stripers at the bridge on Monday," Stecher noted. "We normally do not catch [big ones] like we have been doing this August."

Generally, the big stripers roll into Nags Head in late September and early October, following schools of spot and croakers. But this year, the big fellas have hit the beaches early. Stecher's Monday party scored with 14 stripers up to 20.5 pounds. Five of the fish were over 15 pounds.

Bluefish, up to 3 pounds, are also keeping things lively at Nags Head. Flounder are biting, but many are throwbacks. In addition, anglers are catching triggerfish and cobia near the beaches. Surf casters and pier jockeys report catches of pompano, croakers, spot, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel and some nice cobia.

Offshore, the king mackerel are active. In the blue water, charter boats are returning with dolphin, wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjacks and yellowfin tuna. The billfish bite has been steady with lots of releases for sailfish, white marlin and blue marlin.

In Virginia waters, the mouth of the Rappahannock seems to be the hotspot, according to Capt. Bobby Jenkins, fishing out of Urbanna.

"We are catching Spanish up to 22 inches along with bluefish up to 16-inches at the mouth of the river," Jenkins said. He added that bottom fishing has been slow during the day, but in late afternoon, the fish turn on.

There is a very good late afternoon and evening bite for croakers," he said. "We had 88 croakers from 12 to 16 inches last weekend. We caught them in about three hours."

At the Bay Bridge Tunnel, red drum are on the move, especially near the shoals and along the third and fourth islands at the CBBT. Flounder hotspots have been at the Cell, near structure along the bridge and near the lower bay wrecks. Cobia are cruising near most any floating structure. Many fishermen have seen cobia hanging around objects as small as a floating top of a crab basket, or even beach balls that have blown out in the water. On the western side of the bay, anglers are reporting very good fishing for puppy drum at both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.

Bottom fishing in the bay and tributaries has been spotty, but when it comes to catching spot, look for them in about 25 feet of water off Windmill Point. Bloodworms are doing a number on these tasty pan fish.

My understanding is that many hotels and rental companies are eager for last-minute reservations. Labor Day, apparently, isn't as big a holiday for traveling as it once was, mostly because schools are opening earlier. So if you don't have a reservation, don't worry. Simply go online and then go wet a line in saltwater.

TU honors Paul Buga

Game Department fisheries biologist Paul Bugas was recently recognized by Trout Unlimited as the Conservationist of the Year. Bugas has logged 32 years with the Game Department and works out of the Verona office.

Trout Unlimited recognized Bugas for his extensive work on trout resources, including management and monitoring of wild trout populations, developing numerous special regulation trout streams and development of the Lake Moomaw and Jackson River trout fisheries.

A few years ago, I was privileged to go with him on a shocking expedition on the Jackson River. I had suggested to then-director Bill Woodfin that a three-mile stretch on the Jackson below the Poor Farm should be designated as catch and release. Woodfin assigned Bugas to the project. Paul monitored the fish throughout a very hot and low summer to determine if trout would hold over on the Jackson. His studies proved they could indeed survive and that water was later developed into one of the most popular catch and release stretches in Virginia.