BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, Sept. 26, 2025
There were lots of changes in the weather over the last week but not too many changes in the local angling action. Puppy drum continue to be scarce, while speckled trout action has not improved at the rate most anglers have expected. Barring any major storms, it looks like red drum action is going to extend into October on the Chesapeake Bay. Offshore action has been good when the weather permits.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that action in the Pocomoke and Tangier sound shallows has been “challenging.”
There has been an increase in the numbers of speckled trout, but the overwhelming majority of the fish have been on the small side. He added that a few decent fish have been tempted by popping corks with trailing soft baits, Mirrodeans, and other suspending jerk baits.
Puppy drum are still virtually nonexistent, at least locally. Large red drum continue to be caught in the evenings around bottom structure and over hard bottom. Cut spot, croaker, and bunker baits have all been effective. There have been plenty of bluefish and rays snacking on the baits intended for the big reds.
A few sheepshead and small black drum still linger around the bottom structure and have been hitting cut hard crab, peeler, and fiddler crab baits.
On the upper shore seaside, the last week brought a myriad of sea conditions, ranging from unsafe to slick calm.
Flounder fishing inside the inlets actually improved as long as clear water could be found, though most of the fish remain undersized. Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet and live minnow or silverside combinations have been the go-to flounder setups.
A few speckled trout have been caught along some of the seaside marshes and guts. Offshore, bluelined and golden tilefish have been cooperative, provided there are productive numbers to find them. White marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin (mahi mahi), and wahoo catches have been reported.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, told me that the flounder bite “had picked up,” with some nice-sized fish in the mix. A lot of the flatfish have been caught on pink and white or fire tiger-colored Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet.
There has been no recent reports of speckled trout or puppy drum catches.
The ocean wrecks have been producing some large sea bass and flounder. Frank Large weighed in a 6-pound flounder, according to Captain Paul. Carol “Chope” Greer registered a white marlin release from the Marlena. The Teaser had catches of dolphin (mahi mahi) and tilefish.
Lower Shore
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, told me that a few speckled trout are showing up along the lower bayside creeks and beaches. Trout anglers have reported a few keepers while casting Mirrolures and soft plastics in clear water.
Large red drum are still abundant during the evening, hitting cut bait from Cape Charles down to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Nice-sized flounder are being caught along the bases of the bridge-tunnel pilings on squid and Berkley Gulp baits.
The offshore wrecks are producing medium to large-sized black sea bass, with anglers reporting no problems catching their limits of fish. The lower bay piers are reporting catches of large spot and small 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.
