Trophy cobia like this one can be taken by chumming with ground menhaden just off the shoals of the lower bay in the fall. Photo by Charlie Coates.

Although Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer fun for many people, you won't find many of Virginia's hard-core saltwater anglers among them. For this savvy brotherhood, September's falling temperatures signal the beginning of a "second season," one that can often be more rewarding than the first.

From early September through the fall, anglers can get in on some of the year's best action for nearly all of the Commonwealth's inshore game-fish species. As days get progressively shorter and nights get longer and cooler, game fish that have been nearly dormant through the heat of summer become active and hungry. Much to the delight of anglers, the effect is even greater on larger fish that will need to store up more calories for winter.

This is also a special time for boatless anglers to get in on the action as migrating fish, including many trophy-sized specimens, come within range of the shoreline on their way to winter homes in the Atlantic Ocean. And, as an added bonus, pier- and beach-anglers, as well as those fishing from boats, are liable to find a few surprises on the end of their lines, as numerous species share the same travel routes and appetites.

Just about any species that swims in Chesapeake Bay is likely to show up for dinner at any time or place during the fall, but the ones noted here have earned the loyal attention of Virginia's fall anglers over the years.

RED DRUM
After being absent from the Chesapeake Bay for many years, large red drum have made a remarkable comeback over the past decade. A prohibition against keeping fish exceeding 26 inches has been embraced by anglers who delight in catching and releasing these hard-running warriors, and the big reds have returned the favor by making themselves more accessible each year.

The "traditional" season for big drum is May and June when they first enter the bay before disappearing to unknown upper-bay sanctuaries for the summer. But late-summer and fall anglers have discovered that the drum's return trip down the bay's Eastern Shore to the ocean can be just as good, if not better. In 2005, fishing success during the fall exodus far exceeded that of a rather lackluster spring season. Last year, anglers were treated to seasons that blended together, as many large fish remained in their spring quarters throughout the summer.

The fall migration usually begins in late August, with action increasing along the edges of the shipping channel throughout September. The best fishing is usually concentrated between Nassawadox Creek and Kiptopeke. Perennially productive hotspots along the way include Grayson's Hole at buoy 42A and the deep waters off Cape Charles around buoy 36A.

When these migrating red drum reach the lower bay, they will linger awhile around Fisherman's Island and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) complex. Others will hold along the lower Eastern Shore's barrier island beaches, where they will be available to anglers fishing the surf.

Big red drum, most in the 30- to 50-pound class, can also be found along the lower western side of the bay from Hampton to Virginia Beach. By late September, they will move closer to the beaches, where surf and pier action can be spectacular, especially following a strong northeast blow. Red drum made a strong showing in the Virginia Beach area last fall, although that showing failed to match the previous year's run when pier-anglers hauled in more than 200 trophy fish measuring between 46 and 53 inches during a three-week period.

These fall drum are big and strong, requiring sturdy equipment and line in the 20- to 30-pound-test range. Cut bait and peeler crabs should be impaled on 7/0 circle hooks attached to a fishfinder rig. The best fishing is during a moving tide, preferably between late afternoon and dark, over a jagged bottom that features troughs, sloughs and points. Be sure to carry a large net to facilitate release.

COBIA
Cobia and red drum share many of the same traits, habitat and bait preferences. They are often caught together on the same baits and gear in June, when their traditional fishing seasons along the bay's Eastern Shore shoals overlap.

While cobia can still be found just off the shoals during September, some of the best early-fall fishing in recent years has been on the western side of the bay. Summer hotspots, such as Bluefish Rock, York Spit and the Back River Reef, can remain productive through most of September. Good catches also come along the CBBT complex.

Most anglers will fish these areas by chumming with ground menhaden from an anchored boat. Fresh cut menhaden is a favorite bait throughout the season, but live eels are effective as well. Live offerings of menhaden, spot, croaker or mullet can also draw attention. A 5/0 to 8/0 hook is best for cut bait, but a slightly smaller short-shank hook should be used when fishing with live bait.