BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, Oct. 17, 2025
A menacing nor’easter ruined the fishing plans for most anglers with its arrival last weekend and its effects being felt though the first part of the week.
Despite the gusty conditions, land-based surf fishermen were still able to land and release a few red drum out of the Assateague Island suds.
Most of the other fisheries and boating activities were at least temporarily suspended, but I look for the angling action to bounce back quite quickly.
The area has seen the arrival of the first wave of small striped bass and one of the questions that I am most often asked is, “What are the rockfish regulations this year?”
For the sake of the persons asking me that question and to reinforce my fading memory, here are the most recent salt water striped bass regulations for the state of Virginia:
The 2025 striped bass Chesapeake Bay fall season began on Oct. 4 and runs through Dec. 31. There is a recreational bag limit of one fish per person, and that fish must fit into the 19- to 24-inch slot limit. The seaside or coastal season for striped bass opened on May 16 and runs through Dec. 31. There is a one fish per person bag limit, and that fish must fit into the 28- to 31-inch slot.
Good luck finding a fish that legally qualifies.
Chincoteague
Jimmy Vasiliou, at Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle, told me that surf fishermen managed to catch and release a few red drum over the weekend, with fish measuring up to 48 inches reported.
Flounder catches are being made around the docks of the marina, with a few people managing to catch their limits of keeper-sized fish as large as 5 pounds.
A few speckled trout catches have come from the mouths of some of the local creeks and marshes.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, told me that the flounder bite off Wachapreague was continuing to hold its own before the weekend storm. Paul said that anglers had returned with flounder weighing up to 5 pounds. Berkley Gulp combined with live bull minnows or silversides continue to be the best bait offering.
The offshore wrecks are still producing good numbers of black sea bass, as well as a few flounder.
Prior to the storm, the Teaser had landed a catch of dolphin (mahi mahi) and tilefish, but the rest of the week had been a blowout.
Lower Shore
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, said that a few speckled trout were being caught before Sunday’s nor’easter, with the catches coming from both the bayside creeks and along the seaside marshes. The speckled trout fishery produced a bycatch of some spotty puppy drum catches, a few of which were over the maximum slot limit.
The pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel have been producing some nice-sized flounder and sheepshead catches when the sea conditions cooperate.
The offshore ocean wrecks are still holding populations of medium to large black sea bass.
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East —Eastern Shore, reported that the speckled trout and puppy drum fishery has slowly been improving in creeks on both sides of the lower shore. Anglers have enjoyed some success while casting Mirrolures and soft plastics inside the shallows.
Spot and croakers were still being caught on bloodworms, Fish Bites, squid, and shrimp in the waters off Kiptopeke.
Flounder catches continue to rise as the water temperatures cool. Some of the larger flounder have been caught by jigging Berkley Gulps off the bottom.
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.
