THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609180631
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Fishing Forecast
SOURCE: Bob Hutchinson
LENGTH: 35 lines
Autumn officially arrives Sunday, and few sportsmen better understand the changing of the seasons than recreational fishermen.
They know that while some species will begin to move out of Hampton Roads, others will move in. It's a time to shift your fishing gears, provided you're wise enough not to have stored your tackle for another season.
For openers, croaker and spot are departing the Chesapeake system. While some spot should be around well into October, most hardheads will be gone by September's end.
White marlin, too, begin heading for other parts, although some will remain well into October, while even November can see a flurry of blue marlin action off Hatteras.
On the flip side, striped bass numbers now begin to increase almost daily along the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. The Virginia striper season opens Oct. 17; the North Carolina season remains unannounced.
Offshore, look for an influx of yellowfin tuna, while tautog catches should increase off Virginia.
Stripers also become more active on stocked local lakes, while crappie begin to move from deep holes, where they have spent the hot months, into relatively shallow habitats.
The bottom line is that as the seasons change, fishing changes. And not necessarily for the worst. MEMO: For complete weekly forecast see microfilm. ILLUSTRATION: Color map by CNB