Chesapeake Bay cobia fishing appears to be heating up. The season opened June 1 and as of June 12, the date of the last report, 36 citations had been issued by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament.

As usual, hot spots in this area have produced some citation-size fish. A cobia must be 50 inches or more for a release citation, and 55 pounds or more when the angler keeps the fish.

Kenneth Jarvis of Kilmarnock caught a 54-inch release citation in Mobjack Bay; York Spit Light has produced a number of citation fish, including the following: Jerry Spence of Newport News, 61 lbs. 5 oz.; George Trice of Poquoson, 56-inch fish; Troy Thompson of Seaford, 50.5-inch fish; Zach Harbin of Seaford, 50.5-inch fish, also a 50 incher; Kevin Linkous, 55-incher; Wally R. Veal of Newport News, 50.5-incher.

Also, McKenzie Lewis of Gloucester received a cobia citation for a 61-inch cobia caught and released at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, another hot spot.

W. Mark Flanagan of Susan received a c...