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Waters are open for cobia, with restrictions

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Cobia regulations have now been set in both North Carolina and Virginia. And while the new rules don’t please everybody, they do offer at least a little more opportunity to target one of coastal fishing’s most popular species.
 
As one captain said after Tuesday’s meeting at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission: “I don’t like it, but it beats total closure.”
 
The South Atlantic Marine Fishery Council ordered a June 20 shut down of the cobia season from Georgia to New York in federal waters 3 miles and out and wanted states to adopt the same closures in state waters.
 
Virginia and North Carolina said no, and adopted regulations far stricter than in seasons past as a compromise.
 
In North Carolina, anglers can fish through Sept. 30, with charter boats and shore-bound anglers allowed to fish seven days a week. Charter boats can keep up to four fish per vessel. Recreational anglers can only keep fish Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and can only take two fish per boat. All fish, no matter how they are captured, have to be at least 37 inches long measured from the nose to the fork in the tail.
 
Virginia on Tuesday approved keeping state waters open by a 5-4 vote.
 
In state waters anglers no matter how they fish can keep one fish a day, with a maximum boat limit of two fish. Each fish must measure 40 inches from the nose to the end of the tail, and one fish my measure longer than 50 inches. Gaffs no longer are allowed and a mandatory reporting method will be installed.
 
Virginia’s new regulations take effect Wednesday and the season will close Aug. 30.
 
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA
 
Red drum catches have really spiked the last week, with good numbers of fish showing along the shoals around the lower Eastern Shore. Action has been best in the dark. But some fish are being taken by sight-casters working the coast when clear skies and light winds provide the best opportunity to see migrating fish.
 
Black drum are being taken along the channel leading into the Chesapeake Bay and around seaside inlets on the Eastern Shore.
 
The season’s first sheepshead have been taken and some fish already have been caught along the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. That fishery will do nothing but get better in the coming weeks.
 
Spadefish have arrived, according to area divers, and the hot temperatures this week might push them into taking hook-and-line offered piece of clam. The Chesapaeke Light Tower always is the best place to start.
 
Flounder catches are improving throughout the lower Bay, but still leave plenty to be desired. The best action continues to come from Eastern Shore barrier island backwaters, but more fish are showing along the CBBT. Some fish continue to show in Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets.
 
Large bluefish in the lower Bay have been a pleasant surprise, with some fish pushing 30 inches. There have even been some taken in the surf.
 
Croaker catches continue to please pier and surf anglers along the coast and lower Bay. Some sea mullet and a few small gray trout have been in the mix. Crabbing is as good as it’s been in years.
 
This break in the weather saw plenty of boats headed to blue water to seek tuna, dolphin and wahoo and the action didn’t disappoint. It was reported Wednesday that several Virginia Beach boats had limits of yellowfin by mid-morning. Catches are going to improve drastically with warmer weather.
 
Deep-droppers continue to enjoy good action from sea bass, tilefish, grouper and other bottom dwellers.
 
Bluefish | Illustration courtesy of Duane Raver

Bluefish | Illustration courtesy of Duane Raver


 
NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
 
Dolphin continue to provide excellent pre-summer action for bluewater trollers, with lots of big fish in the mix.
 
Blackfin tuna, wahoo and a few billfish have been taken as well.
 
Wrecks are producing a few grouper and triggerfish.
 
Along the coast, bluefish and Spanish mackerel have turned on, helping to provide some action in what has been a disappointing cobia season by many standards.
 
Big red drum will still be available to sight-casters. Shark catches will be on a rapid rise with warming water temperatures.
 
Surf and pier anglers are seeing puppy drum, bluefish, sea mullet, blow toads, gray trout, speckled trout and a few shark.
 
In the sounds look for speckled trout and puppy drum to dominate the action, although plenty of small stuff should be available.
 
Largemouth bass | Illustration courtesy of Duane Raver

Largemouth bass | Illustration courtesy of Duane Raver


 
FRESHWATER
 
Warming waters will start to push largemouth action into an early and late pattern that will persist until the fall. Waters aren’t warm enough to prevent mid-day catches and storms that pass will only increase the chances of catches throughout the day.
 
Bluegill and shellcracker catches should be outstanding during the coming week, especially on the Suffolk Lakes. Look to Prince and Western Branch for the best action for shellcrackers.
 
Lee Tolliver, 757-222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com Follow @LeeTolliver on Twitter.
 
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