[Guest]

Greetings fishermen! I'm relatively new to salt water fishing and was looking to see if anyone would be willing to share some knowledge with the new guy! I grew up fishing in Michigan with all the fresh water you could ever want. I moved down here to beautiful Virginia a few years ago for work. I've gone fishing a handful of times now, both surf and pier, but still don't feel like I have much of a good grasp on the tactics. I've mainly stuck to a few basic rigs similar to what I'd call a perch rig and whatever the bait shop is recommending.

My general questions I'm hoping you all can help me with , or at least guide me in the right direction about, are: 1) what are some go to tackle suggestions to keep on hand, 2) when are the best times to fish, and 3) what are you all fishing for? I fish mainly for sport purposes only with a lot of catch and release. My wife doesn't care for fish so it generally stays off the table.

Thanks all in advance!

 

[Benji]

Various jig heads 1/4 to 1/2 ounce and 4" gulp swimming mullet in chartreuse and white and/or some saltwater bass assassins. Hopkins spoons 1/4 and 1/2 for inshore 3/4 and up for the beach , I swap the treble hooks out for a single vmc in line on mine. Those will pretty much catch anything from trout, puppy drum, striper, and blues. Drum and cobia when around you'll need a heaver with a fish finder rig, fresh fish head like spot, mullet, or bunker for bait is best.... what part of va you move to?
The best time to fish is every chance you get!

 

[Guest]

Recently moved to Hampton. I spent a bit of time in Norfolk and Portsmouth before heading to the peninsula. Ive spent a bit of time at nob pier, lesner bridge, and the James river pier.

 

[Benji]

James River pier is ok some striper and a good place for black drum at the end . If you go all the way down Jefferson there's a pier next to the m&m tunnel that I got some pups and small striper off of the past week lots of small speckled trout too. The pier is free and has lights till 10 but is in the ghetto. Not sure if buckroe is still open but that's a good pier also. So is fort Monroe.

 

[saltwaterrunner]

looking for saltwater primer

Yankee. Since this is striper season you might want to try the Buckroe pier in hampton. The end "T" is well positioned to take advantage of the near channel with plenty of bait around the pier to bring them inside. Jigs with plastics or gulp work as well as dead and live bait. With a saltwater license it costs $6.00 for 24 hours. Turnover is at 6:00am. Good opportunity to land some good eating and assistance from the pier guys. Good Fishing sir! Buckroe is 24 hours and is open till the end of December.