Coming back north?

[game fish]

http://oregoninlet.us/flyfishing/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2176

While those big breeders are probably a ways off from our waters still, I have heard rumers of fish moving up the Chesapeake recently. Hopefully when they get here, the Bay Chunkers will show more restraint than the OBX Butchers.

[PortlyRedhead]

The OI fleet hasn't had a good bite since before the snowstorm last weekend. Whales had little bait (bay anchovies) all piled up between Kitty Hawk and Duck and the big bass slid in for snack-time among the air-breathing beasts. The bunker had replaced the little bait and the bass just didn't stick around. The bluefish also moved in and definitely decimated some bait.

The Rudee fleet (VA Beach) has picked away at fish consistently throughout the winter with a few notable exceptions when the gray trout (weakfish) and croakers made a hard push to the southern (as we say down here). They had good beehives of gannets until a few days ago.

The cold snap has officially dropped water temps at the Duck pier (http://www.frf.usace.army.mil/frf.shtml) into the low 40s, which has sent the bait and fish offshore.

As for the "OBX Butchers," taking little fish before they can breed can be as destructive, if not more so, than killing fish who have already bred.

However, there are specks and puppies down towards the Point for anyone fixin' for a bit of Dixie in the coming weeks.