WINTER FLY FISHING

(target species: trophy speckled trout, redfish)

Winter is trophy speckled trout season.  December through February, we fish the rivers and creeks of lower Chesapeake Bay from the Corrotoman River to Rudee Inlet. Meeting at a ramp in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton or Lancaster County, fishing involves short runs and blind casting to large speckled trout that we find with my sidescanner.

We also sight fish reds in shallow water. Fishing narrow rivers and creeks within a short run to marinas and restaurants makes for pleasant days. Successful anglers enjoy blind casting, fishing current (including swing-style fishing) and ply the water for hours until that large speck eats.

Upside: trophy fish, discounted charter price, sight-fishing when available, 6-weights, lots of casting, perfect boat, calm water, breaks are easy to take

Downside: cold weather, slow periods of fishing, lots of casting, we fish an industrialized environment some days, (and you have to put up with me!)

Skillset required: weather tolerant, persistent, streamer fishing mentality

SPRING FLY FISHING

(bull reds, striped bass, speckled trout)

Spring fishing can be EPIC but inconsistent.  Giant redfish (bull red drum) and massive stripers arrive in late March and reside on our flats for a month or two.  Sight fishing can yield a once-in-a-lifetime fish.  Anglers sight and catch 50” reds and stripers. There are also days when fish are AWOL.

Speckled trout are moving north but our target when in my crosshairs.  Smaller redfish become consistent in early May.  Striper and red fishing is excellent at night under dock lights throughout our area. Cobia arrive mid-May and chasing bull reds and cobia on the same day is standard procedure.

Upside: EPICNESS, huge fish on fly and light tackle, perfect boat

Downside: inconsistent, shut outs happen, (and you have to put up with me!)

Skillset required: advanced, good power caster (60’+ in two false casts)

SUMMER FLY FISHING

(target species: cobia, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, schoolie striped bass, redfish)

In June, cobia sight fishing is the main event and for good reason: it can be EPIC!  This lasts until the end of September.  Our summer bluefish and schoolie stripers provide anglers with an opportunity to “drill fish”.  We frequently carve out an hour or two on cobia days and catch blues and spanish mackerel.  We will also target stripers in the James on sinking lines.  These are great beginner fly angler fishing opportunities. Summer redfishing is available blind casting structure and sight fishing in the shallows. 

Upside: perfect customized boat (big, fast, tower, casting cage, head, sidescanner), best cobia fishery in the world, best mate on the bay (Baylor Rinck), new angler fishing opportunities

Downside: windy weather cancellations, redfish biomass varies annually, (and you have to put up with me!)

Skillset required: beginner to advanced

FALL FLY FISHING

(species: “the big three”: redfish, speckled trout, stripers; offshore: mahi, false albacore)

Fall is my most consistent flats season.  All three inshore species are available.  Lots of small speckled trout make days fun from a numbers standpoint.  Slot redfish and school stripers are abundant in our flats.  Fall days frequently yield “Chesapeake Slams” for TOTF anglers.  Shutouts are rare but still occasionally happen. Fall is excellent for burgeoning fly anglers to develop skills.

Offshore fishing for mahi, Spanish mackerel and false albacore is available under our “Adventure” service. 

Upside: perfect boats, nice time of year, generally good fishing, new angler fishing opportunities

Downside: hurricane season, (and you have to put up with me!)

Skillset required: beginner to advanced