Chincoteague, Fri
Inspired by Ron and Chex, I had to check this place out. Hit the water at Queen Sound Boat Launch, Chincoteague, just before 0900 hrs. The day was nice. Sunny with blue sky, light breeze.
Jigged, casted and dragged a white bucktail with squid, white grub worm/twister, bass assassin on a jig, and fluke rig with squid and Gulp Alive sandworm. Worked the grassy and rocky edges as well as the pilings. I also worked the drift under the bridge. A lot of nibbles on the squid. Caught a few small croakers. That's all.
It was an extra slow day. I watched a number of boats. I didn't see them catch anything. On shore, one boater said he caught nothing. Another local and frequent boater said he caught something, but it came off the hook. He remarked saying the fish aren't around much. He thought it might be the unusual weather season we had. He seemed disappointed.
I quit early so I could drive to Virginia Beach (1 1/2 hours) and get a good night's rest for an early start at CBBT.
CBBT, Sat
Was on the water at 0700 hrs. The day was nice. Very light breeze. Sunny and blue sky. Water was calm, and near flat at times. I caught the end of the outgoing tide, and headed for the 1st island three miles away. There rips weren't too bad.
Lots of boats were out. There were nearly a dozen boats within a 100 yards radius from me while I fished near the rocks of the first island. Seemed like most of the boaters were rigged for flounder using minnows and sinkers. A few boaters were catching croakers. I didn't see anyone pull up anything but a few croakers on either of the two party boats (each with about two dozen people). They left after an hour. I saw one boater pull up a keeper flounder. A yaker caught a short flounder and a bunch of croakers. He also said another boater pulled up a short flattie. Another boater caught a skate.
Croakers were everywhere. They hit my fluke rig often. I caught and released about a dozen. I also caught small black sea bass and this unidentified fish (Scup-Porgy?) at the first island. I did catch a 12" blue on the way back in.
It was before noon, and since it was was slow, I had to make a decision. Do I continue to fish for 3-4 more hours in a somewhat discouraging situation or go elsewhere. Sheesh, if I go, I have to pedal three miles back to shore, in the warm weather. I estimated I'd be on shore by 1:30 pm and be on the water at HRBT at 3 pm. I decided to leave.
HRBT-North (Ft Monroe), Sat
Was on the water at 3 pm. Still a nice afternoon. Very little wind, which made it uncomfortably warm with the mostly sunny sky.
Lots of croaker everywhere. They continually hit my fluke rig and bucktail/squid. I like hardheads, but they were pesky. I C/R about two dozen. Anyway, I finally caught flounder (a 15 1/2 " and a 17" keeper). One yaker caught only croakers. Another young yaker said he caught a flounder, but forgot his cooler (I assume that's why he threw it back. Huh?). On the way back in just before dark, I talked to one fellow in a group of yakers. He said they just started, but his buddy had just caught a 20" flattie. Most of them were targeting stripers.
Phew, what a day! Tired, but I went home with a blue, a flounder and a couple croakers.
Inspired by Ron and Chex, I had to check this place out. Hit the water at Queen Sound Boat Launch, Chincoteague, just before 0900 hrs. The day was nice. Sunny with blue sky, light breeze.
Jigged, casted and dragged a white bucktail with squid, white grub worm/twister, bass assassin on a jig, and fluke rig with squid and Gulp Alive sandworm. Worked the grassy and rocky edges as well as the pilings. I also worked the drift under the bridge. A lot of nibbles on the squid. Caught a few small croakers. That's all.
It was an extra slow day. I watched a number of boats. I didn't see them catch anything. On shore, one boater said he caught nothing. Another local and frequent boater said he caught something, but it came off the hook. He remarked saying the fish aren't around much. He thought it might be the unusual weather season we had. He seemed disappointed.
I quit early so I could drive to Virginia Beach (1 1/2 hours) and get a good night's rest for an early start at CBBT.
CBBT, Sat
Was on the water at 0700 hrs. The day was nice. Very light breeze. Sunny and blue sky. Water was calm, and near flat at times. I caught the end of the outgoing tide, and headed for the 1st island three miles away. There rips weren't too bad.
Lots of boats were out. There were nearly a dozen boats within a 100 yards radius from me while I fished near the rocks of the first island. Seemed like most of the boaters were rigged for flounder using minnows and sinkers. A few boaters were catching croakers. I didn't see anyone pull up anything but a few croakers on either of the two party boats (each with about two dozen people). They left after an hour. I saw one boater pull up a keeper flounder. A yaker caught a short flounder and a bunch of croakers. He also said another boater pulled up a short flattie. Another boater caught a skate.
Croakers were everywhere. They hit my fluke rig often. I caught and released about a dozen. I also caught small black sea bass and this unidentified fish (Scup-Porgy?) at the first island. I did catch a 12" blue on the way back in.
It was before noon, and since it was was slow, I had to make a decision. Do I continue to fish for 3-4 more hours in a somewhat discouraging situation or go elsewhere. Sheesh, if I go, I have to pedal three miles back to shore, in the warm weather. I estimated I'd be on shore by 1:30 pm and be on the water at HRBT at 3 pm. I decided to leave.
HRBT-North (Ft Monroe), Sat
Was on the water at 3 pm. Still a nice afternoon. Very little wind, which made it uncomfortably warm with the mostly sunny sky.
Lots of croaker everywhere. They continually hit my fluke rig and bucktail/squid. I like hardheads, but they were pesky. I C/R about two dozen. Anyway, I finally caught flounder (a 15 1/2 " and a 17" keeper). One yaker caught only croakers. Another young yaker said he caught a flounder, but forgot his cooler (I assume that's why he threw it back. Huh?). On the way back in just before dark, I talked to one fellow in a group of yakers. He said they just started, but his buddy had just caught a 20" flattie. Most of them were targeting stripers.
Phew, what a day! Tired, but I went home with a blue, a flounder and a couple croakers.
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