THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160535
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON OUTDOORS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 146 lines
What may be the most phenomenal fishing ever experienced anywhere has been taking place a few miles off the North Carolina Outer Banks.
Hordes of giant bluefin tuna, considered by many the world's greatest and most challenging gamefish, have been been hitting like spot in September.
Daily catches of 25 or more per boat have not been unusual. One boat recently claimed 51. Most fish are estimated at between 300 and 700 pounds.
This relatively new fishery has attracted anglers from as far away as New England and south Florida. Even in February, it wasn't unusual to count as many as 40 boats on the fishing grounds. With March in full bloom, numbers have been even greater.
How good is the fishing? Some individuals have claimed as many as six giants a day. In many ports, that's a year's take for an entire fleet.
Fortunately, all but a very few fish have been quickly released, since special permits are needed to keep the ``giants,'' as big tuna are known. Even so, there is concern that some of the released fish may not live because of the trauma. However, most anglers agree that the shorter the fight, the better the chances for survival.
Just how long the bluefin will remain in the area is anyone's guess. Last year, some were available through early April.
The fish are concentrated around wrecks, most within 30 miles of the beach, and are feeding on bluefish. The best guess is that the tuna will leave with the blues.
But until that happens, anglers are being treated to some incredible experiences. For many, this is the chance of a lifetime for the fish of a lifetime.
Elsewhere, action is starting to perk up on several fronts, fresh and salt, as water temperatures continue their slow climb.
HUTCH'S PICKS OF THE WEEK Fresh water
Crappie: If you can't catch speckle perch at this time of year, you'd better find another hobby. The tasty panfish have moved into relatively shallow water - less than 12 feet - and can be caught on small minnows and jigs, including Pinkie Jigs. You can find them around underwater brush piles, known as hurdles.
Salt water
Bluefin tuna: If you want to catch a giant tuna, head to Hatteras. You probably will never have a better chance. The fish are swarming around many coastal wrecks, usually within 30 miles of the beach. But don't go light. Most folk are armed with 200-pound-test line and reel drags set at 50 to 70 pounds.
TAPE MEASURE: Who caught what
Fresh water: Nathan Teal of Suffolk has earned a citation award from the Virginia Fresh Water Fishing Program with an 11-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bass, caught at Lake Cohoon in Suffolk.
Jared Pulley of Chesapeake scored with a 9-7 largemouth at a lake in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake.
Stanley Barto of Suffolk has earned an award with a 2-4 crappie, caught at Lake Cohoon.
Salt water: Kevin Cooper of Virginia Beach probably earned the year's first citation award from the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament by releasing a 48-inch striped bass March 2, the contest's second day.
Chesapeake anglers Bobbi Goodman, Justin Moss, Kenneth Moss, Bill Moss, Adam Moss and Tyler Terry released giant bluefin tuna off Hatteras. They were with skipper Don White on the charter boat Grass Man.
Mike Jones (6-6) and Dennis Regiter (5-8), both of Chesapeake, have earned Virginia tournament awards with speckled trout caught at the Hot Ditch, off the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River.
Joe Delcampo of Virginia Beach scored with an 11-12 tautog, boated at the Cape Henry Wreck on the Another Story.
THE FORECAST
Virginia Beach inshore: Every few years, speckled trout stage a March run inside Rudee Inlet. It hasn't happened this year, but it's not too late. Try the deepest holes and work your lure slowly and deeply. There's a remote possibility of picking up a striped bass as the fish migrate up the coast and into the Chesapeake Bay to spawn. You might find rockfish just off the surf anywhere north of the border, but Cape Henry should be the place to start. Remember, striped bass are out of season.
Virginia Beach offshore: Tautog are hitting over several offshore wrecks and reefs, including around the Chesapeake Light Tower and the nearby Tower Reef. Look for a few good hauls of sea bass, with the best concentrations at wrecks at least 30 miles offshore. Boston mackerel bit real well just outside Chesapeake Tower last weekend, but pickings have been slim since then. Most mackerel apparently spent the winter north of Virginia Beach.
Ocean View, Lynnhaven: Pickings will be slim. Look for a few speckled trout in the Hot Ditch, off the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. It's near Virginia Power's Chesapeake plant. Lynnhaven Inlet could produce a few speckled trout, but prospects are dim. A few striped bass should be available around bridge-tunnels, piers and other structures in the area, but the season is closed and you can't keep them. Some tautog are hitting at the Cape Henry Wreck.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: You will not find much happening here, unless tautog go on a feeding binge, which they haven't yet done. That should change soon, as water temperatures climb. A few stripers are hitting around the artificial islands, with the best action after dark. Remember, stripers are illegal and must be released.
Eastern Shore seaside: As this was written, there had been no word of flounder-fishing success. But that could have changed by the time you read this. Still, the season remains closed, and any flatfish that are caught must be released. Net fishermen are finding some gray trout just off the Barrier Islands. Some coastal wrecks harbor tautog, with a few sea bass available over deep wrecks, at least 25 miles offshore. A few schools of Boston mackerel have been encountered, although not many fishermen have displayed interest.
Eastern Shore bayside: Don't expect much here and you will not be disappointed. You might find a few small-to-medium tautog around the concrete-ship breakwater at Kiptopeke State Park, and perhaps a few over mussel beds off Cape Charles harbor. And there some small stripers and perch in Pitts Creek, near the Maryland border.
Outer Banks inshore: A few speckled trout and puppy drum are being encountered by Hatteras Island surf casters, but only a few. The best trout catches are coming from the South Beach, while puppy drum numbers are best behind the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It's about time for a few big red drum to show in the Ocracoke surf. Striped bass are scattered throughout Albemarle, Croatan and Roanoke sounds, with the best concentrations along the Umstead Bridge between Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island. The season may be closed after this weekend.
Outer Banks offshore: Those giant tuna, mentioned at the beginning, rate top billing. The fishery has been incredibly productive. Let's just hope the fish and the fishery can stand the tremendous pressure. You can find some yellowfin tuna along the edge between the Point and Diamond Shoals light, although big fish are scarce. And king mackerel continue to bite regularly in Hatteras Bight.
Back Bay, Currituck Sound: Look for a few catfish in larger creeks draining into both waters, with Hellspoint Creek, in the bay's north end, the No. 1 spot. Striped bass are available along the Wright Memorial Bridge. And you can find some crappie around old duck blinds, although most fish are small.
Norfolk, Suffolk lakes: This is when big largemouth bass can make a strong showing on just about any lake in the area. The fish are moving to the shallows in preparation of spawning. You'll find them along shorelines that get a lot of sun. Jig-N-Pig lures are hard to beat. The Greenbrier lakes can be productive, as well as Prince, Burnt Mills and Western Branch, all in Suffolk. Crappie action also peaks at this season as these tasty panfish move to hurdles, also in shallow water. Sunfish have been scarce on most waters, but some lakes, especially Cohoon, are producing a few big pickerel.
Northwest, North Landing rivers: Yellow perch are starting to hit on most local streams, with some largemouth bass and crappie also on the menu. A few white perch also should be available. As usual, the best overall action is in larger creeks draining into the main streams. Try a Jig-N-Pig along sunny shorelines.
Larger lakes, rivers: If you're interested in big crappie, this is the season and Kerr Lake is the place. The fish are moving to the shallows, around hurdles, and can be tricked by live minnows and small jigs. This also is the season for big largemouth bass. You'll find the hungriest bass along shorelines that get a lot of sunlight and warm quickly. Striper action remains slow on all stocked waters. by CNB