BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, Aug. 29, 2025
Local fishing action has rebounded following the passing of Hurricane Erin. Red drum action has been steady in the late afternoons on the Chesapeake Bay, where slowly increasing numbers of speckled trout are showing up in the shallows. Cobia are schooling up and beginning their seasonal migration out of the lower bay. The offshore fishery has seen a resurgence, with catches of wahoo, dolphin, and tuna, along with white marlin releases. It’s time to enjoy the cooler temperatures and the warming angler opportunities.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reports that red drum fishing has been excellent in the sloughs and on the hills from the mouth of Pungoteague Creek south to the waters off Cape Charles. Most of the late afternoon action has been occurring in 20- to 30-foot water depths. Bycatches in the red drum fishery have included sharks, bluefish, and a few cobia.
In the mid-bay shallows, speckled trout action has slowly improved on the grass flats and around the Tangier target ships, where a few sheepshead and small black drum have also been landed. Schools of feeding bluefish have sporadically appeared chasing baitfish on the surface.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, told me that flounder fishing improved over the weekend after being shut down most of last week due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Erin. Most of the catches, however, have consisted of undersized fish. Captain Paul had not received any reports of offshore angling action.
The Canyon Lady, based out of Stone Harbor, N.J., with Captain Jamie Diller and angler Ronnie Davis, registered the largest white marlin in the recent MidAtlantic Fishing tournament. The 75-pound white, caught on Aug. 20, was worth $875,363.12.
Davis, formerly of Wachapreague, is the brother of Debbie Shrieves, of the Island House Restaurant and Captain Zed’s Bait & Tackle. He spent his youth as a mate on Wachapreague-based charter boats. At the age of 23, Davis earned his own captain’s license, moved to Florida, and began to work with legendary Wachapreague Captain Ray Parker.
Jimmy Hahn, of Pocomoke City, Md., aboard the Tail Chaser, took second place in the white marlin category with a 71-pound fish worth $394,144. There was no third place qualifying white marlin, so the money for that finish was split between the top two fish. The tournament was based out of Cape May, N.J., and Ocean City, Md.
Onancock
The 2025 Onancock Bay Challenge Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Sept. 6. Entry forms and rules for this family-oriented tournament are available at www.esanglersclub.org
Lower Shore
Tyler Nestor, of Oceans East —Eastern Shore, described the recent cobia action as “decent” for anglers casting eels, twitch baits, bucktails, or live croakers to surface-cruising fish. Bottom fishing action for cobia was described as “hit or miss.”
Sheepshead action has been taking place along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the concrete ships.
The flounder bite has improved with the cooling water temperatures.
Large red drum continue to be caught around the second and third islands of the bridge-tunnel.
Spot and croaker catches have come off Kiptopeke. Speckled trout, along with some puppy drum, have been caught in the local shallows.
Jeb Brady, of Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, told me that cobia have started to school up following the passing of Hurricane Erin. The schooling process is a sign that the fish are preparing to exit out of the bay for more southern waters. Sight casting anglers have had some success with pulling a few fish from the schools.
A few sheepshead catches have been made using crab around the bridge-tunnel pilings.
“Decent-sized” croaker are being caught around the concrete ships.
A few speckled trout have been caught when anglers could find clear water conditions. The lower bay piers are reporting catches of croaker 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.
