THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090542
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
Even in early March, a few warm days can really get fish into a feeding mood on some lakes and streams around Hampton Roads.
Possibilities can include largemouth bass, shellcracker, pickerel, striped bass and catfish.
But more than anything, March is crappie time, when these tasty panfish move into the shallows to feed. They can be around hurdles in as little as 5 or 6 feet of water, but most are a few feet deeper.
Following the springlike conditions of midweek, the weathercasters is calling for some winter-like weather over the next few days. After all, spring does not officially arrive until March 20.
And while late winter and early spring can be a lucrative time for freshwater fishermen, such is not the case for their saltwater counterparts. Right now action is slow, although a few warm days can always perk things up, at least a little.
PICKS OF THE WEEK:
Fresh water
Crappie get the nod, with the best action, as usual, at Lake Prince in Suffolk, with good hauls also reported at Western Branch and some fish hitting on all local impoundments.
Salt Water
Those giant bluefin tuna are still hitting off Hatteras and Ocracoke, although many folks are concerned about damage from catch-and-release.
TAPE MEASURE:
Salt Water
As of late Wednesday, no citation-winning catches had been registered with the 1995 Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament, which opened March 1.
Fresh Water
Neal Taylor of Chesapeake has earned a citation award from the Virginia Fresh Water Fishing Program with a 14-pound, 8-ounce channel catfish. It was caught in ``The Narrows'' section of Back Bay.
THE FORECAST:
Virginia Beach inshore: You might find a few speckled trout in the deepest holes inside Rudee Inlet, and there's an equally slim chance of encountering a few striped bass as they migrate up the coast and into the Chesapeake Bay. The area around Cape Henry probably will be the best place to look for stripers.
Virginia Beach offshore: A couple of boats went looking for migrating Boston mackerel last weekend. Although they were unsuccessful, more boats probably will give it a shot this weekend. But every indication is that most mackerel schools are well north of the area. Look for a few sea bass over deep-water wrecks. Tautog are scarce at most sites, although a few are hitting at Chesapeake Light Tower. Tog action, however, should climb sharply with rising water temperatures.
Ocean View, Lynnhaven: Don't expect much in this area and you won't be disappointed. Your best bet probably will be to try for speckled trout at the Hot Ditch near Virginia Power's Gilmerton plant, on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. A few speckled trout could be in deeper holes inside Lynnhaven Inlet, but getting them to hit could be another matter. And a few striped bass could be lingering around bridges and piers on streams draining into Hampton Roads.
Cheapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: Tautog are biting around the artificial islands, with the best catches during the last part of the outgoing tide. Some stripers are still scattered along the crossing, although success has been pretty well limited to night fishing.
Eastern Shore seaside: Flounder should start hitting whenever a few warm days are bunched. But remember: The flatfish season is closed and 1995 dates will not be announced until late this month. The best early hauls, as usual, probably will be made in Green and Drawing channels out of Wachapreague. But some fish should also be available out of Quinby, Willis Wharf and Oyster. Offshore, a few Boston mackerel are showing off Chincoteague and Wachapreague. Coastal wrecks could yield a few sea bass and tautog.
Eastern Shore bayside: You probably can find some stripers wintering in the deepest areas of the Bay. But whether they'll bite is a matter of conjecture. A few tautog should be available over mussel beds off Cape Charles and around the concrete-ship breakwater at Kiptopeke State Park.
Outer Banks inshore: Striped bass are scattered throughout Albemarle, Croatan and Roanoke sounds. But, as usual, the best hauls are being made along the Umpstead Bridge between Roanoke Island and Manns Harbor. Surf fishermen are finding a few speckled trout on the South Beach at Hatteras and a few puppy drum behind the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at Buxton. Look for a few flounder to show with warming weather. But remember: The North Carolina flatfish season remains closed until further notice.
Outer Banks offshore: Those big bluefin tuna hovering around wrecks off Hatteras must rate as the best bet. But if you go, and if you're successful, handle carefully. Tests of some released fish have indicated low oxygen content in their blood, an alarming situation. Elsewhere, some yellowfin tuna are hitting around and south of the Point, southeast of Oregon Inlet, and some king mackerel are available in Hatteras Bight. There are bluefish over many Hatteras wrecks, but it's hard to land one without having it devoured by a giant tuna.
Back Bay, Currituck Sound: A few catfish are hitting on the bay and its tributaries. The best catches have come from the Narrows and from Hellspoint Creek. Look for some stripers throughout the lower reaches of Currituck Sound, with the best concentrations along the bridge to the Outer Banks. A few white perch are showing in streams and some small crappie are hitting around duck blinds.
Norfolk, Suffolk lakes: This should be a prime weekend for crappie, although a splendid mixed bag should be available. Possibilities include largemouth bass, pickerel, shellcracker, yellow perch and striped bass. Lake Prince and Western Branch are tops for crappie and bass, and the biggest pickerel will come from Cohoon. Overall, a real good weekend, weather permitting.
North Landing, Northwest rivers: Crappie get the nod on these two sstreams, although catches should also include a few largemouth bass, plus some white perch and maybe a few yellow perch. Crappie are moving to the shallows in the main streams, but the best bass catches will come from larger tributaries.
Larger lakes, rivers: This is crappie time at Kerr Lake, which annually produces some of the state's biggest fish. Some nice catfish are hitting in small creeks draining into the James River, and a few yellow perch are showing in the North River, which dumps into Albemarle Sound. The best largemouth hauls at Buggs Island and Lake Gaston are being made off sunny points, with the fish holding in 12-15 feet most of the time. Jig-and-Pig offerings are hard to beat. by CNB