BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post —
Local fishing action continues to improve with the warming water temperatures.
Black drum action is now occurring on both sides of the peninsula, from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel all the way up into Maryland waters.
Red drum action continues to become more consistent in the shallows of Pocomoke Sound.
Speckled trout have made an appearance in the shallow grass beds of the Chesapeake Bay.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that the middle Chesapeake Bay is seeing good action with black and red drum.
The black drum have been concentrated in 12- to 25-foot depths over the oyster rocks in Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Anglers targeting the “big uglies” have enjoyed success using 6/0 to 8/0 circle hooks on fish finder rigs baited with a big chunk of peeler crab.
The red drum action has been occurring primarily in the shallows along the deeper edges of grass beds and around shallow stump fields. The reds have been hitting peeler and soft crab baits.
Striped bass and speckled trout have been welcome bycatches, taking the same baits in the same areas as the red drum.
Chincoteague
Jimmy Vasiliou, at Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle, said the Assateague Island surf fishermen enjoyed a great weekend, with catches of red drum, black drum, and stripers.
Kingfish (whiting) numbers are increasing, with the tasty fish hitting baits of squid, shrimp, and Fish Bites on small hooks.
Flounder action was described as “good” in the back bay, but the best flounder action of the week has been coming from the deeper waters of Assateague Channel when light winds and clear water can be found.
Tautog and sheepshead catches have come from over the inshore ocean wrecks.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, told me that the flounder bite out of Wachapreague continues to be productive during periods of good weather. Most of the flatfish have been caught on Berkley Gulp with live minnows and silversides. Fishing in the warmer waters during the outgoing tide in 2- to 10-foot depths has produced the most consistent action.
Captain Paul said the black drum action off the surf remains “decent,” with the fish hitting peeler and clam baits.
The offshore wrecks have been producing some good black sea bass catches.
Lower Shore
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East — Eastern Shore, said the flounder action is heating up off Kiptopeke and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge- Tunnel.
The best action has occurred while drifting with live minnows and strips of squid, as well as jigging with Berkley Gulp and a strip of squid off the bottom.
The Virginia tautog season will soon be coming to a close, but there are plenty of togs out there on the structure for anglers bottom fishing with peeler or hard crabs.
Black drum catches are still being made out of Oyster and off the bridge-tunnel. The larger fish have been coming from Oyster and have been hitting sea clam and peeler baits.
The shop has weighed in several sheepshead that have been caught on the shoals on clam and peeler baits. Catches off the Kiptopeke State Park Pier include large sand mullet (whiting), flounder, puppy drum, and blue crabs.
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, told me that the black drum fishery has been excellent over the last week on both sides of the peninsula.
The seaside inlets have seen good runs of drum, particularly in the evenings during the tide changes, with the fish taking clam and crab baits.
Lower barrier island surf anglers are catching small black drum on cut crab, along with large red drum and striped bass. On the bayside, the areas around buoys #13 and #16 have produced black drum action during the flood tide.
Nice-sized sheepshead are being taken on crab baits dropped down along the pilings of the bridge-tunnel. The lower bayside beaches have seen some large schools of striped bass, with some fish measuring up to 40 inches in length.
The rockfish have been hitting Mirrolures and top water baits.
Flounder fishing has been picking up along the Ditch and near the bridge-tunnel on cut bait and Gulp combinations.
Catches of small mullet (whiting) and croaker have been reported off the lower bayside piers.
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.
