Since the last time we talked, the only thing hotter than the weather has been the cobia fishing in the lower Chesapeake and the striper action above the Bay Bridges. Marlin fishing in the deep blue off Virginia Beach had been very good at times in July, and pretty good off Ocean City (at press) with decent numbers of tuna, wahoo, and mahi coming back to the docks. Bottom fishing had hit its strike by late July, and the peak run should occur this month. One of the absolute joys of fishing is you never know what will hit at the other end of your line. During my fishing camps this summer, one youngster’s excitement over catching his first striper (albeit it was only 13 inches, it was his first fish of any kind) matched any seasoned salt’s enthusiasm for boating a monster drum, tuna, or wahoo. And take PropTalk contributor and IGFA representative Dr. Ken Neill, III, as another example. In late July he sent a photo of a wild looking, orange fish they caught in deep water trying to make bait to use for marlin. Ken reports they hadn’t a clue as to the species, but Jason Schratwieser, conservation director of the IGFA and Virginia Beach native, did. It was a deepbody boarfish, found in deep water (330 to 980 feet) in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Dr. Neill donated the fish to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science for its fish collection. And while summer’s coming to a close, it’s definitely not too late to take part in PropTalk’s Fishing Challenge. Find full details, as well as other good fishy stuff, at proptalk.com/fishing-challenge. Now here’s what PropTalk’s pros will be catching this month. joe Mack, Nate Moore, and Sean McCarthy with a nice White Marlin caught off Ocean City, MD in July. Photo courtesy of Nate Moore Delmarva Coast PropTalk’s Delaware correspondent Eric Burnley tells me “This is prime time for white marlin off the Delaware Coast. The canyons offer the best chance for success with temperature breaks at the top locations. Trolling ballyhoo on 30-pound gear is the tried and proven technique. Expect to find dolphin and wahoo in the mix.” Captain Burnley suggests if you want to catch flounder, look for them in deep water at the Old Grounds, Site 11, and the Radford. Deep water requires the use of heavy tackle to handle the six to ten ounce weights often required to present the bait in the strike zone. I have had good success using a Tsunami Ball Jig and a Delaware Bay Green Machine when conditions allow the use of six ounces or less of weight. Baits include strips of fresh fish or squid, smelt, and Gulp! with Nuclear Chicken the hot color this year. Captain Jeff Lewatowski has enjoyed a very busy and productive month fishing out of Ocean City , MD, and he expects it to continue through the Labor Day holiday. “We’ll target flounder on nearshore reefs and stripers on the fly near the jetties and bridges. A variety of other fish will keep us busy into early September before moving the boat back to Kent Island to target stripers,” he says. According to Ric Burnley, September is the best month to fish Tidewater, VA. “Starting at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, anglers will be able to drift a two-ounce bucktail and strip bait for flounder or anchor to the pilings and rocks with fiddler crabs or chunks of clam for sheepshead, triggerfish, and spadefish,” he says. “Boats lurking through the lower Bay will find cobia and schools of red drum swimming the surface. As the water cools, the sight casting action moves closer to the mouth of the bay and into the ocean.” Virginia U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman, fishing Wes Blow, caught this cobia that was already tagged. Photo courtesy of Wes Blow Ric and others dialed into the Virginia saltwater action know late season cobia can be finicky. “If eels and bucktails don’t get them, try live bunker,” he suggests. For you skinny water anglers, Ric suggests casting 1/2 ounce to 1/8 ounce jigs and soft plastics for reds and speckled trout. He adds even surf anglers got a shot at big drum fishing from the beach on either side of the mouth of the Bay with cut bait or peeler crab on a fishfinder rig. “But the real excitement awaits offshore anglers as white marlin and blue marlin move along the Continental Shelf. Boats trolling ballyhoo on circle hooks with 30-pound tackle will result in world-class marlin fishing,” he predicts. “At the same time, dolphin, wahoo, and tuna will move into offshore humps and valleys looking for skirted and naked ballyhoo. With so much going on, September is the hottest month for fishing in Tidewater, VA.” Maryland Chesapeake During the next month, Captain Richie Gaines anticipates a time of transition for the Eastern Bay area. “As temps cool, the waters in the rivers and tributaries cool first, and this triggers two movements; the YOY and baitfish begin to school and move out of the rivers and tribs, and the stripers and blues move from the main Bay back to the cooler waters,” he says. Result? Good fishing opportunities. He said about mid September he’ll change from chasing breaking fish to spending a couple of hours fishing shallow water at first light. Joe Phillips and Janette Nield with some nice croaker and spot caught on the Kingfish II in the Tangier Sound. Photo courtesy of Captain Harry Nieled, Kingfish II Charters “We throw Smack It Jr. poppers and swim baits along marsh and hard-bottom banks in three to five feet of water. Cloudy days are best, but the first hour of any day will work,” he says. “Around 8:30 or so, I move to structure in eight to 14 feet with good current, again throwing swimbaits. At midday, I move to open water and look for the birds and breaking fish. I like to use Lil Bunker spoons for these, as the blues cannot bite them off, and we can cast and jig if the fish sound.” Captain Harry Nield on Kingfish II plans to finish off August by continuing to pound on the croakers and spot. The fishing of both drum species has picked up with plenty of nice size fish. “The kingfish and sea trout have started to show up as well,” he adds. “We should see an abundance of good kingfish in August and September with good bluefish and Spanish mackerel fishing on the troll.” Virginia Chesapeake According to Captain Walt of Light Tackle Charters, the next several weeks should hold plenty of gamefish in the shallows of both Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. “We will be casting light tackle (12-15 pound spin gear and 7-9 Weight Fly Gear) for rock, speckled trout, red drum, and bluefish,” he forecasts. “We’ll target points, jetties, grass banks, submerged rocks, sunken wrecks, and flats. Jigs tipped with plastics, spoons, stick baits, and surface baits will dominate our lure choices.” by Capt. Chris D. Dollar