Читать книгу Fly Fishing Virginia - Beau Beasley - Страница 16

Few Virginia locales offer fly anglers the variety of saltwater fishing opportunities of the “islands” of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Situated off the Virginia coast between Cape Henry and Cape Charles and extending for 20 miles, this four-land engineering marvel connects Virginia’s mainland to its Eastern Shore through a series of low-level trestles and an underwater tunnel. As part of Route 13, these two sections of tunnel offer Virginia drivers the chance to travel nearly 100 feet below sea level—though I for one would rather not think about that while actually doing so. In fact, I find myself watching the walls as I am driving along just to make sure that they’re not leaking. I’m not sure what I would do if I actually did spot a leak—it’s not as if I could back out!

The “islands,” as they are commonly known, are a number of enormous manmade rock piles built to support the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as it enters and exits the water. Each of the islands covers about five acres and serves as outstanding habitat for all manner of sea life. I have fished these islands several times with saltwater fly fishing guide Captain Tommy Mattioli, and I can tell you that they are well worth the trip.

Anglers can choose their island fishing approach. One method consists of anchoring up to a likely looking point and casting sinking or intermediate lines into a moving tide to search for feeding fish. Another method is to drift alongside an island with the current and cast flies into the surf as it recedes from the rocky island shore. Often large fish lie just a few feet off the islands in the hopes of ambushing baitfish that stray too far from the safety of the rocks. Finally, fly anglers can observe the bird life and look for stripers, blues, and other fish that literally chase baitfish right out of the water. Anglers may find casting surface flies and streamers both exciting and frustrating as fish often bite through the line or miss the fly altogether in the mad feeding frenzy.

This drum fell for a B.H. Goldilox, probably thinking that it was a shrimp. Photo by Steve Probasco.

Captain Tommy Mattioli with a striper caught near one of the four “islands” that support the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Photo by Beau Beasley.