Windy conditions have been the nemesis of anglers aiming to take advantage of the local springtime fisheries. When the winds subside and clean water conditions can be found, flounder fishing is productive on the seaside. Black drum action has been good off the seaside barrier islands and over the bayside shell piles.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that the seaside is receiving the bulk of attention from local and visiting anglers, as the flounder bite has been productive when clear, clean water can be found. He said that the best action has been occurring during the ebb tide, though clear water is the biggest factor with getting the bites.
The most productive bottom rigs have been white, pink, and chartreuse lures with the hooks tipped with frozen silversides. Black drum catches continue to be made from the surf by anglers casting fishfinder rigs baited with sand fleas or chunks of crab.
In the upper bay, black drum catches have come from anglers soaking chunks of crab over the shell piles in Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. A few schools of red drum have been encountered along the shallows of the upper bay, but the red drum action has not been consistent yet.
Chincoteague
Jimmy Vasiliou, at Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle, described the flounder fishing around Chincoteague as “pretty good despite the windy conditions.”
Pink and orange-colored bucktails, combined with Berkley Gulp and live minnows or silversides, have been the hot color combinations recently.
The shop’s annual flounder tournament concludes this weekend. A 5-pound, 3-ounce fish was leading the event during the early part of the week.
The Assateague Island surf has been producing some good black drum action, as well as increasing numbers of striped bass. Bluefish to 20 inches in length, as well as the first sand mullet (whiting) of the year have also been landed from the beach.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, said that the flounder fishing out of Wachapreague has been good “as long as the winds stay low.” He added that lots of boats are catching their limits using bucktails and Gulp combined with live minnows or silversides.
The most productive time period, according to Captain Paul, has been around the tide changes, but the fish have been caught throughout the tidal cycles. Bullshead and the Green Channel have been the most productive locations for the flatfish.
A 6-pound, 11-ounce flounder was leading the 34th Annual Island House Flounder Tournament early in the week.
The black drum bite in the barrier island surf remains productive for anglers casting clams and peeler crab baits. Black sea bass have been taken over the offshore wrecks when winds have subsided.
Lower Shore
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East — Eastern Shore, told me that red drum are “thick” on the flats off Smith Island, with anglers enjoying successful catch and releases while casting 5-inch paddletails and soaking peeler and hard crab baits.
He said the black drum bite is getting “better and better” out of Oyster, with catches being made on chowder clams, sea clams, and chunks of blue crab. Black drum catches are also being made off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
According to Nestor, the tautog bite at the bridge-tunnel and on the Cabbage Patch Reef was “on fire,” with the fish taking fiddler crab and chunks of blue crab.
The lower Shore flounder bite has started around Wise Point and off Kiptopeke, with anglers drifting live minnows and Berkley Gulp. The Kiptopeke State Park pier has produced some puppy drum catches for anglers soaking shrimp and cut mullet.
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, reported that the lower Shore spring fishing continues to improve with the warming water temperatures.
He said that anglers fishing in the seaside inlets and from the surf have been rewarded with good catches of black drum, along with some striped bass and red drum mixed in as well. The best action has occurred during the incoming tide on crab and clam baits.
Flounder reports from the seaside have been promising, with both good numbers and sizes of the flat fish. Cut bait, live minnows, and Berkley Gulp combinations have been effective baits.
On the lower Chesapeake Bay, Brady reported that some tautog catches have been reported along the Cabbage Patch on chunks of crab. Striped bass action has been hitting top water baits along the lower bayside beaches.
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.
