BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, Aug. 15, 2025
There’s an old Eastern Shore saying that goes, “Wind from the east, fish bite the least,” and the last week and a half certainly lends credence to those wise words.
The recent weather systems that had been hanging out offshore of our coast have been a severe detriment to both our inshore and offshore fisheries.
Hopefully, the cooler water temperatures produced by the northeast winds and the oxygenation of the water column’s surface waters from the increased wave action will spark a resurgence in the angling action.
On the bright side, the late afternoon/early evening red drum run along the channel edge that runs from Pungoteague Creek to Cape Charles has started and should produce a good catch and release fishery for the next several weeks.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that the recent string of cooler temperatures and windy weather conditions has lowered the upper Chesapeake water temperatures downward into the upper 70s.
As expected, the cooler temperatures have produced a slight uptick in the shallow water fishing action. Small rockfish have been caught and released for anglers casting Rap-10s and surface plugs.
A few speckled trout were taken on paddletails fished slowly under popping corks over shallow water grass beds. The first red drum of the late summer/autumn deepwater run have been taken along the channel edge that runs from south of Pungoteague Creek down to Nassawadox Creek.
Recent action on the seaside has been hampered by the northeast winds; however, a few flounder and small croakers have been caught by anglers willing to put in the effort.
Offshore action has been limited to large vessels willing and able to handle the rough seas.
Wachapreague
The last week has been a blowout, with the northeast winds keeping most anglers in port, according to Captain Lindsay Paul aboard the Almost Persuaded.
Lower Shore
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, said the recent weather conditions, especially the northeast winds, have played havoc with the fishing.
When conditions have allowed, the recent cobia action has been limited to sight casting to schooling fish on the surface.
Catches of large sheepshead have been reported around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and on some of the inshore wrecks for anglers dropping down chunks of crab.
Flounder have been caught inside the Ditch during periods of clear water conditions. Croakers and sand mullet (whiting) have been caught on squid strips and small chunks of clam in the area of the concrete ships off Kiptopeke.
The shop has received some early reports of speckled trout action on both the bayside and the seaside for anglers casting artificials. The recent lower bay pier catches have consisted primarily of small spot and croakers.
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.
