JAMES RIVER

Castaway Sporting Goods, (706-9100), reports Russell Slusser caught a 48-pound, 3-ounce blue cat in the Dutch Gap area; Steven Thompson , 42.8 blue cat, James River; James Salmon , 1-pound rock bass, private pond, Chester.

Bass fishing remains hot near the Dutch Gap area. Crappie fish still is going well. The next tournament is July 26, Osbourne Landing. About 100 boats are expected.

Results from the Friday morning invitational out of Hopewell: 1. Jimbo Rice-Robin Yost 13.95 (big fish 4.84); 2. Larry Gibbs-Corbin Gibbs 8.55; 3. Kenny Newsom-Jimmy Glass 3.31.

Results from Sunday's tournament on the James River. There were 23 boats with a four-fish limit: 1. John Seay 8.14 pounds; 2. Todd Long-Clay Lewis 7.14; 3. Bill Petzold-Thomas Harper 7.11; 4. Tripp Mister-Brent Mister 7.07; big fish, Bill Mathews-Jim Stevenson 3.48. The next tournament will be on the Pamunkey River at Williams Landing on Sunday from 7 a.m.-noon.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE/RIVER

Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat Guide Service (746-2475) out of Ed Allen's Boats and Bait, reported lake water temperatures in the low 80s early this week. The lake level was up a little, about 6 inches below full pool.

Small to medium bluegill and crappie, shellcrackers, white perch and yellow perch were widely scattered over weedbeds and wood cover around the shoreline of the main lake. Bass were active around wood cover and weedbeds in the main lake and creek mouths. Wright Bait Co. one and two inch curly tail grubs, small swim baits, flies and live worms and crickets were the most effective baits for panfish. Fishing with Capt. Conway, Bruce King caught 33 bluegill, four crappie, two yellow perch, one shellcracker and seven bass.

LAKE CHESDIN

Lindsey at Whippernot Marina reports the following catches: Buddy and Andrew Rhodes , Dinwiddie, two crappie, 1.14 and 1.11 pounds, and largemouth bass, 5.14; Chris Overby , Matoaca, largemouth bass, 4.3, 20 inches long; Jeff Glass , Prince George, largemouth bass, 5.14, citation length 22.5 inches; Sydney Lambert , catfish, 3.12; Aaron Stell , largemouth bass, 4.0; Tyler Travis , catfish, 2.5.

Results from the Cactus Worms tournament: 1. Knuck Crowder-Bryant Lewis , 5 fish, 22.04 pounds; 2. Larry Lester-Joe Mitterer , five fish, 15.74; big fish 7.62; 3. Jim Yopp-Rich Redd , four fish, 15.61.

Results from June 26 Mini Series: 1. Knuck-Cathy Crowder , 16.65; 2. Floyd-Hunter Crowder , 14.97; 3. Josh-Jeremy Neville , 14.73; 4. Spencer Hale-Ray Graham , 14.56.

Results from July 10 Mini Series: 1. Knuck-Cathy Crowder , 15.14; 2. Rick-Chris Smart , 9.6; 3. Larry Lester-Bill Dibble , 8.92; 4. Carl-Aaron Sadler , 6.15; Big fish: Wayne-Ryan Drewery , 5.31.

CHESAPEAKE BAY

Dr. Julie Ball reports the debut of the much anticipated Virginia king mackerel. The arrival of these toothy hunters kicks off the pier angler's big scene. These fish are one of the most desirable species within range of fishing piers. The first reported king landing of the year came from the Little Island fishing pier. Two kings, with one smoker exceeding 50 pounds, were hooked from the pier using live bait on a pin rig. Another king was landed from the Virginia Beach fishing pier using similar techniques.

Although king mackerel will dominate the interest along beaches, Spanish mackerel continue to hit small spoons trolled at 6 to 8 knots along the beach in about 25 feet of water. Use small planers or 4 to 6 ounces in line sinkers to place the spoons within range.

Flounder weighing in at more than 10 pounds are hitting live bait along lower bay structure, but drifters are scoring with respectable fish. The hottest spots for dragging baits for flounder are the Baltimore Channel, the eastern section of the Thimble Shoal Channel, and the Cell and Buoy 36A areas. For live baiters, the Cell, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and inshore wrecks still are providing good results. Be mindful of the flounder closure from July 21-30.

Cobia are starting to show signs of their late summer pattern as they begin grouping in the lower bay and along coastal waters. More cobia are cruising the top waters, but most of the fish within the bay are ranging to around 30 pounds. Larger fish to more than 70 pounds are coming from the CBB-T structure and the oceanfront buoy lines and wrecks.

Big red drum also continue to provide good top water action as they school around lower bay shoals and structure. Ben Shepherd and Rudy Levasseur , both of Chesapeake, released six bull reds hooked from a school they spotted while flounder fishing this week. Black drum are hitting for casters around the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBB-T on Storm lures and grubs.

Grey trout averaging around 16 inches are mixed in with nice sea mullet and croaker near the Concrete Ships and the Kiptopeke pier right now, while grays also are available around the high rise section of the CBB-T. Respectable croaker also aremaking their usual run within the back waters of Oyster. Puppy drum are hitting within lower bay inlets, along with half-pound spot and some keeper-sized flounder.

Spadefish are schooled around ocean wrecks and buoys, the Chesapeake Light Tower, the CBB-T and the Cell. Although some larger fish are noted within the schools, most spadefish are raging to about 5 pounds. Triggerfish also are out in full force in these same locations, basically becoming a nuisance. Sheepshead catches are scattered, but the biggest fish are coming from the Seagull fishing pier located at the 1st island of the Bay Bridge-Tunnel, where a sheepshead of more than 12 pounds was landed this week.

Another highly esteemed species is stirring a subdued rumbling among Eastern Shore anglers. Reports of hookups and landings of tarpon are circulating throughout the community this week.

Amberjack are taking live bait and jigs at the Southern Towers, as well as several offshore wrecks, which offer a great fight for those ready for a brawl.

Offshore, the billfish are gaining more consideration with white and blue marlin catches on the rise. This should be a good weekend for marlin, with an easterly wind complimented by a full moon. A few large yellowfin tuna now are showing up at the docks, but the main catch still is revolving around nice bluefin tuna ranging to more than 100 pounds. Most boats also are encountering dolphin, king mackerel, as well as some big Wahoo. For information, go to www.drjball.com.

Capt. Jerry Thrash reports the following citations: Speckled trout, Tony Hudgins , North, 26 inches, 5-1 pounds, July 8, Cherry Point, using mirrolure; Dean Bray , Gloucester, 26-0, 5-8, on Saturday, Mobjack, live mullet; Noah Adams [12 years old], Charlottesville, 26-0, caught and released, Saturday, Piankatank, live bunker. Flounder, Jerry Morgan , New Point, 28-0, 8-13, Sunday, the Cell, cut bait; E.W. Inge , Moon, 28-0, 7-5, July 11, Buoy 42, cut bait; Jay Penick , Richmond, 26-0, 7-9, July 11, the Cell, live spot; Grady E. Baker, Jr. , 27-0, 9-9, Saturday, Cape Charles, croaker belly; Tanner Hurst , Gloucester, 27-0, 7-10, Saturday, Buoy 42, cut bait; Brian K. Copal , Chesterfield, 29-0, 8-8, Saturday, Buoy 42, minnow; Darryle W. Ashmore , Disputanta, 27½ , 7-10, Sunday, Buoy 42, cut bait.

OUTER BANKS

Leonard Nuchols reports fishing still is slow on the Outer Banks for surf anglers but fishing is doing well from boats and kayaks. Reports from the Rodanthe area in the Pamlico Sound are good catches of speckled trout, flounder and puppy drum on Berkley's Gulp! Shrimp Alive New Penney and Molting Shrimp.

The Ramp 43 area reports sea mullet, pompano, croakers, blues and flounder. Taylor Cavins landed a 3-pound Spanish mackerel on her recent trip to Hatteras Island. The Hatteras Village Beaches report puppy drum, flounder, blues, speckled trout, sea mullet and a couple of big drum.

Ocracoke Island reports puppy drum, croakers, sea mullet, gray trout, blues and flounder.

The northern beaches report sea mullet, croakers, blues and spots. The southern beaches report sea mullet, croakers, puppy drum, pompano, blues, spots and a few Spanish mackerel landed on the pink/white Glass Minnow lure.

The offshore boats out of Hatteras Inlet report dolphin, amberjacks, wahoo, African pompano and barracuda along with releases of white marlin, sailfish and blue marlin. The inshore boats report speckled trout, puppy drum, Spanish mackerel, flounder and blues.

The offshore boats out of Oregon Inlet report big eye tuna, yellowfin tuna and dolphin up to 55 pounds along with releases of white marlin, blue marlin and sailfish. The inshore boats report blues, cobia, speckled trout, flounder, amberjacks, spinner shark, Spanish mackerel and black tip sharks.

OTHER AREAS

Ben Davis , a 15-year old from Mechanicsville, caught an 8.2-pound, 27.5-inch flounder at Bridge Tunnel in Virginia Beach to tie for first place in the Salt Ponds flounder tournament.