BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post —
Yellowfin tuna in the Washington Canyon and cobia in the lower Chesapeake Bay have been receiving most of the local angling world’s attention.
Unfortunately, this week’s unsettled weather is making it difficult to pursue these targets, particularly for small vessels.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that the high water temperatures have cooled down the local shallow water fishery.
He said that early morning hours are still producing a few rockfish and speckled trout on surface plugs. He specifically mentioned the “Lonely Angler” model surface lure as being somewhat productive on the mostly lethargic fish.
Most anglers are continuing to target cobia in the lower bay or flounder on the seaside.
Chincoteague
Although flounder are abundant inside the inlet, keeper-sized fish are not. The best inside flounder action has been occurring in the cooler water around the high tide mark.
A larger class of flounder, along with some black sea bass and triggerfish, is hanging around the ocean wrecks.
Farther offshore, yellowfin tuna have been hitting trolled ballyhoo in the Washington Canyon.
COURTESY PHOTO // Finn Mabalot, 7, son of Matt and Angela Mabalot, of Belle Haven, reeled in this 45-pound cobia solo in the Chesapeake Bay on June 21 from his dad’s boat.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, told me that the flounder bite remains steady, though lots of the bites are from undersized fish.
Some of the larger fish have been taken on Berkley Gulp and live minnow or silverside combinations, with red, pink, and chartreuse being the most recent top colors.
Anglers fishing small strips of squid have been having success with sand mullet (whiting).
The offshore wrecks are holding a larger class of flounder and black sea bass.
Tuna fishing was described as “decent” in the Washington Canyon, where a few dolphin (mahi mahi) are also being caught. A 78-pound yellowfin tuna was caught aboard the Teaser.
The Norfolk Canyon has also been producing yellowfin tuna on the troll and blueline tilefish for the deep droppers.
PHOTO COURTESY Lauren Lewis // Six-year-old Axton Taylor wanted no assistance with the landing of this yellowfin tuna.
Lower Shore
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East — Eastern Shore, said the cobia bite has been good off buoys 13 and 16 for anglers fishing live spot, small croakers, and cut bait.
Sheepshead action over bottom structure and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel pilings remains good on jigs tipped with fiddler crabs or sand fleas.
Flounder have been hitting jigs with Berkley Gulp and live baits around Fisherman Island and the third and fourth islands of the bridge-tunnel.
Atlantic spadefish are starting to school around the fourth island and have been hitting small pieces of clam. Large red drum have been caught around the third island and in the Baltimore Channel by bottom fishing, as well as sight casting bucktails to the schools. The bite out of Kiptopeke has consisted of good numbers of flounder, croakers, and a few ribbonfish.
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, corroborated the good cobia action, citing the waters between the bridge-tunnel and Buoy 42 as being particularly productive.
Keeper-sized fish, along with some shorts, have been taken by both sight casting and bottom fishing.
Although some keepers are still being taken, flounder fishing has slowed inside the Ditch, probably a result of the high water temperatures.
Sheepshead action around the bridge pilings remains good for anglers jigging with cut crab, while there has been an increase in spadefish action around the fourth island and up at the Plantation Light.
Sand mullet (whiting) and croakers are abundant around the concrete ships, while the lower bay piers are seeing catches of small croakers and trout.
Large red drum are still being encountered around Fisherman Island, especially during the evenings. Schools of Atlantic spadefish and gray triggerfish are oriented around the ocean wrecks.
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.
