A recent trip aboard the Obsession out of Pirate's Cove produced this 90-pound white marlin for Joey Conduff (middle) of Floyd, shown with his brother Justin (right) and the boat's mate, Richard Wright.

Mark Taylor is outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times.

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Mark Taylor

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Overview
Over the next couple of months many of us will head east for beach vacations, and plenty of us will spend some time fishing.
Coastal fishing can be complicated, but it doesn't have to be. The same kind of tackle -- and even the same lures -- that work for bass located in Virginia's mountains and piedmont will work fine for much of what the coast offers.
Massive rods really aren't needed for summer surf casting when the waves and currents are usually mild and the targets small stuff such as snapper bluefish, whiting, spot, croaker and Spanish mackerel. Colorful swimbaits are great baits, and it's tough to beat the Berkley's Gulp shrimp.
Bass-sized rods and reels will also work fine for pier fishing for fun and tasty species such as spadefish and triggerfish.

Lakes

Blaine Chitwood at the Virginia Outdoorsman said striper fishing remains good at Smith Mountain Lake, where live bait on downlines is producing good numbers of smaller stripers in the lower lake.

Most bass fishermen are going out at night. Those who brave the heavy recreational boat traffic during the day can catch fish from deep brush and rocky structure. "But you may have to hold on to your boat seat," Chitwood said.

At Claytor Lake, Mike Burchett at Rock House Marina said bass are holding around hydrilla, where small crankbaits are picking up some good fish. Burchett said good areas will even produce fish during the heat of the day.

After dark, black and blue chatterbaits are catching some bass. Striper fishing remains good at night in the lower lake on surface plugs. Catfish action also has been good.

Streams

Steve VanMetre at Orvis in Roanoke said he's heard reports of good smallmouth action on the New River, where fish are hitting poppers.

The Jackson River has been producing decent trout action in the evening with a variety of presentations working, according to VanMetre.

James River smallmouth action has been fair on soft plastics.

Most mountain creeks are pretty much unfishable because waters levels are so low.

Saltwater

TW's Bait and Tackle on the Outer Banks reports good bluefish action in the surf, and triggerfish and bluefish from piers.