In real estate and fishing, there are three keys to success: location, location, location. Virginia Beach sits at the corner of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, where the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current collide. As a fishing location, that can’t be beat. In the summer, northern fish move south and southern fish move north bringing flounder, sheepshead, redfish, striper, spadefish, triggerfish and more to the water surrounding this tourist mecca.
The center of the action is Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT), a 17-mile-long twin span stretching across the mouth of America’s largest estuary. Five thousand pilings and four mile-long rock islands are covered with barnacles, oysters, mussels and crustaceans that offer an all-you-can-eat fish buffet. The clear, green water of Chesapeake Bay surges through the pilings like blood through an aorta. Paddle with porpoise playing in your wake while huge schools of menhaden flick on the surface and bald eagles drop out of the sky for a snack.
The biggest challenge comes from weather. The South Island is three miles from the beach. Summer weather changes fast, best fishing is early in the morning before the afternoon heat and thunderstorms move in. Time the paddle in and out for slack current, fishing is better on moving water, anyway.
Pilings and rocks not your thing? No problem, Rudee Inlet on the Atlantic or Lynnhaven Inlet on the Chesapeake offer sheltered waters to chase down redfish, flounder and trout. Or shoot the surf and search out cobia, Spanish mackerel and drum just beyond the breakers. The worst thing about this fishing location is picking a location to fish.
SCOOP
FISHING HOLE
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
WHAT’S BITING
Spadefish, sheepshead, redfish, triggerfish, cobia
SEASONS
Year-round, late summer is the best time to catch the biggest variety of fish
RIGGED UP
Rig three rods. For spadefish and triggerfish use a medium-action casting rod spooled with 30-pound braid and 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and a half-ounce jig.
Bait with chunks of clam.
To tempt sheepshead use a medium-heavy conventional rod spooled with 50-pound braid and a 50-pound fluorocarbon leader. Tie a single-dropper loop rig with 3/0 live-bait hook and four- to eight-ounce bank sinker. Bait with whole fiddler crab or chunk of clam.
Keep a medium-heavy spinning rod spooled with 50-pound braid and an arm’s-length of 50-pound mono leader. Attach a three-ounce bucktail or six-inch swimbait to sight cast to cobia or big red drum.
KAYAK
Open-water kayak 13 to 15 feet long with plenty of volume to carry angler and full array of fishing gear. Fishfinder to mark fish and structure. GPS for navigation and locating wrecks and reefs.
GAME PLAN
CBBT was made for kayak fishing. An easy launch on Lauderdale Street puts you at the southern base of the bridge. Every piling is a potential fish mine. Work your way along the bridge to the South Island, three miles from the beach, where the rocks hold dozens of sportfish species. Dangle the jig and clam around the pilings and rocks for spades and triggers. Drop the bottomrig and crab to the bottom in search of sheepshead or tog. Always keep an eye out for cobia or big reds meandering on the surface.
PLANNER
OUTFITTERS & GUIDES
Princess Anne Distributor
757-428-1000
www.princessannedistributing.com
Close to the oceanfront and Rudee Inlet
Ocean’s East Bait and Tackle
757-464-6544
www.fishoceanseast.com
On the way to Chesapeake Bay
Bridge Tunnel
First Landing Guide Service
Mark Lozier, 757-754-0062
www.1stlandingyakfish.com
Ruthless Kayak Fishing
Cory Ruth
www.ruthlessoutdooradventures.com
Kayak Kevin Whitley
Links, reports and videos on local kayak fishing action
www.kayakkevin.com
FUEL
Beach Bully
Grab a beef barbeque and ‘slaw
19th and Mediterranean, Virginia Beach
757-422-4222
Dockside Inn
Order the seafood platter for a taste of local favorites
3311 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach
757-481-4545
This article was first published in the Early Summer 2016 issue of Kayak Angler Magazine. 
