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This week’s Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report marks the 100th episode of the show, and host Luke Barton celebrates the milestone with two returning contributors who helped shape the report from the beginning. First, Luke talks with Capt. Austin Hayne of FINAO Sportfishing about an encouraging early cobia push around Virginia Beach, strong spring signs in the bay, striper, tog, drum, and sheepshead activity, and why a huge presence of surface rays could point toward a strong summer cobia season.
Later in the show, Luke checks in with Capt. Bill Pappas of Playing Hookey Charters for a wide-open offshore report covering sea bass, deep dropping, tilefish, rosefish, early mahi, grass lines, trolling strategy, seasickness fixes, and what anglers can expect as June brings more tuna, cobia, sea bass, and offshore opportunities to the Lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Beach fishing scene.
Conditions Recap
The Lower Chesapeake is moving from spring into early summer, and the overall message from both captains is that the fishery feels alive. Capt. Austin Hayne described a strong early-season progression, with big spring stripers, steady tog around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and inshore structure, drum showing earlier than expected, good sheepshead signs, and then an unusually strong early wave of cobia off the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
Water temperatures were one of the big surprises. Austin reported seeing cobia in 59- to 61-degree water, colder than he normally expects for reliable sight fishing. In past seasons, he usually started getting excited around 65 to 66 degrees, with 68 degrees being closer to a premium early-season temperature. Even so, the fish were on the surface, traveling with rays, and willing to eat. That combination has him optimistic for summer.
Offshore, Capt. Bill Pappas described a Memorial Day stretch that was rainy and foggy for people on land but still very fishable for those who made the right calls. Playing Hookey worked through sea bass, deep-drop, and trolling opportunities, finding quality sea bass, deep-water fish, and a surprising May mahi bite around grass, debris, temperature breaks, birds, and warmer water offshore.
Early Cobia Outlook With Capt. Austin Hayne
Capt. Austin Hayne opened his report with more optimism than usual, and for a captain who is known for being blunt about tough fishing, that says a lot. He said the spring pattern has been one good sign after another. The season began with better-than-normal striper fishing, including fish in the 40- to 46-inch range. From there, tog fishing around the bay structure was productive, drum showed up in good numbers, and sheepshead were present and healthy.
The real headline, though, was the early cobia activity. Austin and a friend went looking off the Lynnhaven to Cape Henry area even though the water looked cold. In 59- to 61-degree water, they still found roughly 50 cobia. During the stretch of good weather that followed, he estimated seeing hundreds more. On one charter, the action was so strong that the anglers eventually stopped trying to hook every fish and started teasing cobia to the boat because they were worn out from catching and handling them.
For Austin, that early May activity matters because years with a strong May bite often turn into strong summer cobia seasons. He also pointed to the number of stingrays on the surface as one of the biggest indicators. Last year, he saw very few rays on top and the cobia season was much tougher. This year, he is seeing thousands of rays, and the cobia are traveling with them.
His advice for anglers who find rays is simple: slow down. Once you get around a big group of rays, there is no need to plow through them. Ease along at the slowest practical speed, stay patient, and let the cobia pop up. Austin compared the pattern to whack-a-mole fishing, where the fish may be down one second and suddenly appear on the surface the next. Running too fast through the rays can split up the school, push fish down, and ruin the opportunity for everyone nearby.
Gear and apparel came up during this section because Austin and Luke spent time talking about how much the sun wears anglers down during long days in the tower. Products mentioned included AFTCO fishing boots, lightweight sun pants, the AFTCO Samurai Sun Protection Shirt, fingerless fishing gloves, buffs, hats, sunglasses, and supportive deck boots. Luke also mentioned the AFTCO Deckhand Pants as a lightweight option with stretch, belt loops, and zipper pockets for phones and tools.
How Rays, Thermoclines And Surface Life Shape The Cobia Bite
Austin explained that cobia are drawn to life. Bait, turtles, stingrays, and surface activity all matter because they point to the kind of zone where cobia are likely to travel and feed. He does not claim to know the exact science behind every surface ray event, but his years on the water have taught him that when rays are up, cobia are usually nearby or will show soon.
Thermoclines may be part of the explanation. Austin said that in some years, especially when surface water is cooler than the water a few feet below, rays and cobia may stay deeper and never give sight fishermen a clean shot. When the surface conditions are right and the rays are up, the cobia tend to be up too. Northeast wind, dirty water, colder surface water, and long stretches of poor weather can all make the sight-fishing game tougher.
For anglers new to sight fishing, Austin’s setup is built around getting customers involved. He runs a 24-foot Pathfinder with a tower and a large casting platform up front, allowing clients to stand ready while he points fish out from above. He targets cobia heavily, but the trip plan can shift with the season and the conditions, including sheepshead and other inshore options when that is the better play.
Anglers can reach FINAO Sportfishing through the website, by finding Austin on Instagram at @finao_sportfishing, or by calling or texting 757-652-8260.
Sea Bass, Deep Dropping And New Boat Tech With Capt. Bill Pappas
Capt. Bill Pappas joined the 100th episode as one of the show’s most frequent contributors and gave a full offshore report from Playing Hookey Charters. One of the biggest updates was on the boat itself. After repowering with new 350 V6 outboards, Playing Hookey added Yamaha Helm Master-style joystick and remote-control capability, giving Bill the ability to drive and maneuver the boat from different areas of the boat and use advanced holding features while fishing.
Bill said the new control system has already helped on tog, sea bass, and deep-drop trips. Spot-lock style boat control can be a major advantage when trying to hold over structure, though he also warned that it is not the answer for every situation. On some wrecks and deep-drop areas, a little movement can actually help trigger bites and cover ground.
One of Bill’s practical deep-drop tips was what he called a “bump drift.” When the boat is too still and the bite gets stale, he will briefly bump the boat in and out of gear to create an artificial drift. He has used that approach for blue line tilefish, sea bass, and even flounder-style situations when fish are present but not responding well to a completely stationary presentation.
On one trip, Playing Hookey ran offshore looking for tuna and mahi before switching gears and saving the day with sea bass in roughly 190 feet of water. The fish were quality, with some citation-class sea bass in the mix. Bill said the bites came quickly once they got on the right structure, and the fish were coming up big, nod-headed, and well worth the run.
Products and gear discussed in this section included joystick boat control, autopilot, radar, sonar, deep-drop tackle, electric reels, heavy bottom rigs, and seasickness patches. Bill gave a strong report on over-the-counter motion sickness patches he has been using on charter customers, saying they have helped multiple anglers recover and keep fishing after getting sick offshore.
Early Mahi, Grass Lines And Offshore Trolling Tips
The offshore surprise of the week was mahi. Bill said Playing Hookey ran east and found a strong bite around grass, debris, warmer water, birds, and current edges. The trip ended with 41 mahi, including multiple gaffer-class fish that were much larger than many anglers expect to see this early in the season.
Bill said the key was not simply running to the warmest water and hoping for the best. Instead, he likes to work the edge where the water is changing, especially where the temperature break, birds, bait, grass, debris, and other signs of life overlap. He advised anglers not to blast straight across a grass line. Instead, approach it like the top of a capital T, turn before crossing, get parallel, and work along the edge while keeping baits close enough for fish to see without constantly fouling lines in grass.
When trolling around grass lines, Bill said ballyhoo produced well, but the grass was bad enough that they eventually simplified the spread. Products mentioned included ballyhoo, Sterling Tackle stingers, Sterling Stinger-style lures, tracker bars, spreader bars, and baitless options that hang up less in grass than rigged ballyhoo. He specifically mentioned liking purple and pink stinger-style presentations.
For mahi that follow the boat or gather around debris, Bill emphasized letting the bait look natural. When throwing squid or bait, he wants anglers to open the bail and let the bait sink freely instead of holding it tight. The goal is to make it look lifeless and easy to eat. He also prefers circle hooks when slowing down and pitching to mahi, and he warned anglers not to overreact on the bite. Close the bail slowly, lift, and let the fish load itself rather than trying to cross its eyes.
Bill also talked about using movement to trigger bites in the trolling spread. When fish are around the boat, having the mate yank or work the lines can make the baits look like they are fleeing, flashing, and separating from the school. That sudden burst can draw reaction strikes from mahi that are already interested but need something to chase.
What To Expect In June Around Virginia Beach
Looking ahead, both captains expect the Lower Chesapeake and Virginia Beach fishing scene to keep gaining momentum. Austin is watching for the cobia season to build around the bay and oceanfront, especially if the ray activity continues and the weather stays cooperative. He is especially encouraged by the number of fish already on the surface, even before water temperatures reached the levels he normally associates with reliable cobia fishing.
Bill expects Playing Hookey Charters to stay focused on offshore opportunities as June arrives. Tuna are the target everyone is waiting on, but deep dropping and sea bass can keep anglers busy and put meat in the boat when the troll needs support. Mahi are already showing in a big way, and if the grass, current edges, and temperature breaks stay organized, that bite could continue to be an important part of the offshore plan.
Bill also mentioned the Tech Tackle Classic, a tuna-focused charter tournament he helped organize. In addition to the fishing side of the event, part of the goal is to raise money to take children connected with CHKD on fishing trips. For Bill, that connection matters because it gets kids on the water, gives them a break from difficult circumstances, and helps introduce the next generation to fishing.
To book with Playing Hookey Charters, anglers can visit the website, check the walk-on trip calendar, or call 757-619-3530.
