The Catch
February-April
Blue Catfish-During these months we are catching big Blue Catfish on the Potomac River out of Welcome, Maryland! Tons of action and a lot of meat to take home at the end of the day! If you want your money's worth in meat, this is the only trip in which that goal attainable! Even a slow day of catfishing is still pretty good!
May
Rockfish-The Trophy Season runs until May 15th. After the trophy season, the size limit drops from 35 inches to 19 inches minimum and creel limit goes up from 1 fish per person to 2 fish per person (Rockfish). WE STILL CATCH TROPHY SIZE ROCKFISH AFTER MAY 15TH!!!!!!!!!
June
Rockfish/Spot- in June we are still fishing for Rockfish and we also start doing some bottom fishing for Spot, perch, and Croaker. We will be live lining for Rockfish when possible.
July
Rockfish/Bluefish/Spanish Mackerel/Spot- we start to focus on bottom fishing for Spot/Croaker/Perch and trolling for Mackerel/Bluefish (Late July). We also start to target GIANT Red Drum with light tackle...it’s the fight of a lifetime and a TRUE trophy fish for any real angler (Late July-September)! Also we will be live lining for Rockfish when possible.
August
Cobia/Red Drum/Spanish Mackerel/Bluefish/Rockfish/Spot/Croaker/Perch- 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! Yes Cobia are BIG and yes they are DELICIOUS (COBIA: JULY-SEPTEMBER)! Also live lining for Rockfish when possible.
September
COBIA/Bluefish/Spanish Mackerel/Rockfish/Red Drum/Spot/Perch- This is the peak time to catch Cobia and bluefish! Bottom fishing for Spot/Perch is also VERY good. Also live lining for Rockfish when possible.
October
Rockfish/Bluefish/Perch/Trout- bluefish are still prevalent early in the month and we start to see the Rockfish get fired up as the month goes on! When the Rockfish show up, we will be live lining or trolling for them depending on what the fish prefer!
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 in December!!!!! Like November, December is action packed with the added bonus of potentially catching a giant 40+ pound migratory Rockfish. THIS IS MY FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR TO FISH!!!!!
Fish Species
Striped Bass aka Rockfish (Morone saxatilis)
Red Drum aka Redfish aka Channel Bass (Sciaenops ocellatus)
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)
Red Drum aka Redfish aka Channel Bass (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Striped Bass aka Rockfish (Morone saxatilis)
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)
Red Drum aka Redfish aka Channel Bass (Sciaenops ocellatus)
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)
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)
Red Drum aka Redfish aka Channel Bass (Sciaenops ocellatus)
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)
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)
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)
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)
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)
Croaker aka Hard Head (Micropogonias undulatus)
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)
Croaker aka Hard Head (Micropogonias undulatus)
Grey Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus)
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)
Croaker aka Hard Head (Micropogonias undulatus)
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)
Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)
Croaker aka Hard Head (Micropogonias undulatus)
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)
Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)
Sea Trout aka Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
The white Perch is a fine eating pan fish that we regularly catch while bottom fishing.
Sea Trout aka Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)
Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)
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!
