BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post —
Gusty conditions continued to create unsafe seas during the majority of the week, which limited opportunities for most anglers to access unprotected portions of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
One popular fishery that refuses to be severely impacted from the winds continues to be the red drum. Red drum of all sizes continue to be caught even during nasty conditions, with anglers using fresh cut bait and chunks of crab when fishing in dirty water, relying on the fish to lock in on the baits’ scents when conditions limit visibility.
For the first time since the early summer, none of our contacted local tackle shops and charter captains included cobia in their reports and/or conversations. It seems that we have seen the best of the cobia fishery for 2024.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that red drum catches still dominate the angling action in the upper and central portions of the Chesapeake Bay. Reds, ranging in size from undersized puppies measuring less than 18 inches to trophy-sized reds approaching and sometimes exceeding 50 inches in length, are still providing action from the shallow grass flats of Pocomoke and Tangier sounds out to the channel edges from Watts Island south to the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Smaller reds have been caught on peeler crab baits and Berkley Gulps suspended under popping corks over grass beds and around shallow water structure such as stump beds, while the bigger reds have been hitting chunks of cut bait along the deeper channel edges, particularly during the late evenings.
Small speckled trout have been a bycatch of the shallow water fishery, while small- to medium-sized black drum, sheepshead, and bluefish have been welcome bycatches for anglers soaking chunks of crab while waiting for the late afternoon trophy drum bite.
Chincoteague
Flounder fishing has been good during the periods when the winds subside long enough to allow the water to clear. Flounder have been scattered along the channel edges, as well as up on the flats. Top and bottom rigs baited with live minnows or silversides and combined with a Gulp Swimming Mullet continue to be the most popular bait offerings.
Puppy drum catches have been made near the mouth of the smaller feeder creeks, particularly during the top of the ebb tide. Popping corks baited with Berkley Gulp shrimp or paddletails or fresh shrimp have been productive offerings for the pups.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, said that the winds have been howling all week, with conditions more appropriate for marsh hen (rail) hunting than fishing. The blue marlin caught by Kate Evans and pictured in last week’s report was incorrectly credited to being caught on the Heat Wave. The impressive fish was actually caught aboard the White Bite.
Lower Shore
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, told me that the recent weather has made the conditions tough for anglers fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay and seaside. When conditions have allowed, anglers have reported an increase in the number of schools of puppy drum along the bayside creeks and seaside shallows. Artificial baits fished under popping corks have been the rigs of choice when targeting the puppy drum.
Speckled trout action has also been improving along and inside the lower bayside creeks, with anglers fishing live baits and casting Mirrolures. Jeb expected the trout action to steadily improve as the water temperatures cool.
Lower Shore flounder action continues to be productive along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and over the ocean wrecks. Berkley Gulp and cut bait combinations have been successful offerings for the southern flounder fishery. Catches off the lower bay piers have consisted mostly of ribbonfish, croakers, and spot.
The writer was the first Eastern Shore resident to achieve Virginia Saltwater Master Angler status. He has been named Virginia Saltwater Angler of the Year and Virginia Saltwater Release Angler of the Year. He has won numerous Virginia Press Association awards for his columns.
