Fishing Report for January 7, 2021

Saltwater

Rockfish season has closed in the Chesapeake Bay. However, big fish continue to be caught there by those practicing catch and release.

The Cape Charles area is still good and some good reports have come from the Point Lookout area. But again, these are catch and release only.

If seeking saltwater Rockfish to keep, one must look to the coastal waters of Virginia. Coastal season began on January 1 and extends through March 31. During this time period, anglers can harvest Stripers in the coastal waters from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to 3 miles out to sea.
Keeper Rockfish are required to be at least 28 inches long and cannot be over 36 inches long. Not many reports have come in yet from recreational anglers doing coastal fishing.

For delicious eating fish that are still in season, target the Tautog. They make excellent table fare. Hard structure is preferred by these hearty fighters. Crab is best for bait but can sometimes be hard to obtain. Clam is a good alternative.

Speckled Trout will bite through the winter in most cases. Location, location, location... Speck anglers are a tight lipped bunch. However, the lures needed aren't so much of a secret. In the cold water, it's hard to beat the MirrOlure MirrOdine twitch baits. The Paul Brown series can be especially good if you can find them in stock. Suspending jerkbaits are excellent also. Baits by Yo- Zuri, Lucky Craft, and Rapala are excellent either casted or trolled. Swim baits such as the Bass Assassin Sea Shad and the Berkley Gulp! Alive! Swimming Mullet are good too.

A few boats have ventured out offshore and have returned with Bluefin, Tuna, King Mackerel, and some Triggerfish from the wrecks.

In the Outer Banks, there’s been some sporadic action reported at the jetties and the surf in Buxton. Sharks have been biting well. The Puppy Drum and the Black Drum have been showing up too.

Freshwater

17 lbs. was the winning weight during a Bass tournament on Sunday at Kerr Lake. The lake level was 303.51. The current level is very close to the same. Bass were reportedly caught on swimbaits, jerkbaits, A–rigs, and blade baits like the Strike King Sexy Spoon.

The main lake is stained even down to Nutbush Creek. Many Stripers are being caught by Bass anglers inside Nutbush. Hopefully, the rain will slow down and the lakes and rivers will clear up.
Lake Anna is stained also. Anna usually stays clear due to its small watershed, but many report it to be much more stained than it has been in quite a while. The weights from this weekend's winter tournament were dramatically down. Just under 11 lbs. was the winning weight. Things will turn around though. Anna is known for its fantastic Bass fishing during the winter months. When the lakes clear, look for the Crappie and Striper fishing to become much better.

Also known for consistent fishing throughout the winter are the Chickahominy and James rivers. The Chick is being reported as clear and the James is reported as stained. The pits along the James are usually clearer than the main river.

Water temps are in the low-to-mid 40s. Lipless crankbaits, blade baits, jigs, jerkbaits, and crankbaits are winter staples for the rivers.

The upper James remains high and stained with increased current. It is the current that makes fishing the most difficult when at these increased levels. When the river finally clears, beware of thick mud at the public ramps which can make launching a boat quite a challenge—frustrating, to say the very least.