The Catch
April
Rockfish-the season starts on the 3rd Saturday of April every year. This is the Trophy Season. Get the fighting belt ready because this in when we catch BIG daddy Rockfish!
May
Rockfish-The Trophy Season runs until May 15th. After the trophy season, the size limit drops to 20” and creel limit goes up to 2 fish per person (Rockfish).
June
Rockfish/Cobia/Redfish/Shark/Spadefish/Triggerfish- in early June we are still fishing for Rockfish. Then in mid June we move the “Rock Star“ south to Virginia Beach to fish for a while! In VA Beach we catch Cobia, Redfish, Sharks, Spadefish, Triggerfish, and many other species of fish.
July
Bluefish/Spot/Croaker/Perch/Mackerel/Redfish- Once we return from Virginia, we start to focus on bottom fishing for Spot/Croaker/Perch and trolling for Mackerel/Bluefish/Cobia. We also target GIANT Red Drum with light tackle...it’s the fight of a lifetime (July-August)
August
Bluefish/Spot/Croaker/Perch/Mackerel/Cobia/Redfish- this is the peak of the bottom fishing season for Spot/Croaker/Perch and trolling for Mackerel/Bluefish/Redfish/Cobia. August is the best time for Spanish Mackerel and Cobia! Yes Cobia are BIG and yes they are DELICIOUS!
September
Bluefish/Spot/Croaker/Perch/Mackerel/Cobia/Redfish- Bottom fishing for Spot/Croaker/Perch and trolling for Mackerel/Bluefish/Redfish/Cobia.
October
Rockfish/Bluefish/Perch/Trout- bluefish are still prevalent early in the month and we start to see Rockfish show up as the month goes on. When the Rockfish do show up, we will be live lining spot for them!
November
Rockfish-November is one action packed extravaganza for Rockfish! The Rockfish make their way out of the rivers and into the deep water where the spend the next couple months getting fat eating Menhaden. Early November lends to the possibility of some light tackle live lining and later in the month is some world class trolling with massive schools of hungry bass feeding under birds! If you want Rockfish meat, November is your month.
December
Rockfish-Don’t sleep on December. Like November, December is action packed with added bonus of potentially catching a giant 40+ pound migratory Rockfish.
Fish Species
Striped Bass aka Rockfish (Morone saxatilis)
The most popular fish species in the Chesapeake Bay, the Rockfish is a hard fighting, tasty fish that provides a challenge for all fisherman.
Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
Captain Luke’s favorite fish to pursue, the Cobia fights harder than any other fish we catch! This fish is not only the best table fare, it is also a challenge to catch.
Red Drum aka Redfish aka Channel Bass (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Hard charging, bull dogs of the bay, the Red Drum fights like a freight train and is a beautiful sight to see. Their redish-gold color displays as they swim through the water. Regulations for the Redfish place a slot size limit of 18-27” to keep. Most of the Redfish we catch are 40” or bigger!
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)
Some eat them, some don’t. The Bluefish tastes like fish so if you like fish you will like the Bluefish. If you are a tilapia eater, bluefish is not the fish for you! Despite that, the Bluefish is a hard fighting, toothy predator that prowls the bay during the warm months. They are a blast to catch and usually provide non stop action for anglers to enjoy!
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)
The Mackerel is a fast swimmer! These beautiful fish provide a lot of summertime enjoyment for our customers. Watch them go airborne while feeding on anchovies. They are excellent grill or smoker fish.
Spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)
Per pound, probably the hardest fighting fish around! The Spadefish isn’t just excellent to eat. It will also surprise you at how incredibly tough they are to hook. Then once you hook one, hang on for the ride as it takes off like a rocket!
Grey Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus)
A vicious feeder, the Triggerfish is ruthless when it comes to eating! These wreck dwelling fish provide instant action for anglers and they are arguably the best eating fish around.
Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)
The most common fish we catch while bottom fishing, the Spot is a bottom fisherman‘s favorite! We catch thousands of Spot every year. We also use small Spot for live Rockfish bait.
Croaker aka Hard Head (Micropogonias undulatus)
The Croaker is almost as common as the Spot. The Croaker is a bottom fish as well but is generally bigger than the Spot. Just listen for their patented croaking sound when you catch one!
Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)
The Atlantic Sharpnose is one of the very many species of Sharks we catch in Virginia Beach. These guys are a blast to catch and taste fantastic...no bones in a shark!
White Perch (Morone americana)
The white Perch is a fine eating pan fish that we regularly catch while bottom fishing.
Sea Trout aka Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
Tasty, but with low populations they are tough to find and catch. However, in early/mid Fall you can find them grouped up on the bottom under the schools of feeding Rockfish!