While most people put their boats and fishing equipment up after Labor Day, those in the know understand that fall brings the best fishing in the Lynnhaven River.

Spot move into the Lynnhaven to feed up before their migration.  Many years, large citation size spot are caught in good numbers inside the river.  You can tell where the best action is as boatloads of "paper chasers" (anglers trying to win a citation plaque) are bunched up wherever the hot bite is.  Nice size spot can also be taken this time of year from local docks by fishing with bloodworms.  Remember that no matter how good the fishing is, it is still against the law to block traffic in marked channels.

Speckled trout action also peaks in the river in September and October.  Mirror lures or plastic grub tails fished on light line are good producers but this action is hard to find out about, because speckled trout fisherman are so secretive.  Good eyes are the best way to find out what is happening when and where.

Flounder action has already been unusually good inside the river this year.  As the water cools in early fall, there should be a flurry of flounder action as they too feed up for the migration.  Best action should be near the mouth of the river on live baby menhaden or fresh cut strips of bluefish.

Striped bass season opens on October 4.  Most years, you can catch larger stripers inside the Lynnhaven than you catch at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel for the first month of the season.  Structures like docks with lights on them produce extremely well several hours after the sun goes down.  Any small lure will do.  Leave your dock lights on and go out to make several casts to the edge of the shadow line before you go to bed.  Hang On!  You just might be rewarded with a 30-inch rockfish for the next night's dinner.

Nice days, cool nights, hungry fish, Fall really is the best time to fish the Lynnhaven.

See you out there.

-Richard Welton                    

Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia