BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, Oct. 3, 2025
Speckled trout and puppy drum, two of the most sought-after autumn species of gamefish, have still not appeared in numbers typical for the beginning of October. There has been an uptick in the number of small trout, though keeper-sized fish remain uncommon. Whether the fish are just late to the party or if they are going to be a no-show remains to be seen.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that bluefish have staged some large blitzes in the main stem of the upper Chesapeake Bay, with catches coming from boats trolling plugs and spoons. Most of the schools of bluefish have been located over submerged structures such as wrecks and reefs.
Red and black drum catches have come on peeler crab baits fished on the bottom around the same structures.
Bayside shallow water action continues to be disappointing for most anglers, as puppy drum action remains practically nonexistent and most of the speckled trout are on the small side.
The small speckled trout are hitting Berkley Gulp and other soft plastic baits fished under a popping cork, while fresh peeler crab has tricked a few of the larger trout.
A few small rockfish are starting to show up in the Pocomoke Sound shallows and can be caught on both surface plugs and soft paddletails.
On the upper seaside, undersized flounder and small speckled trout have been caught when clear water can be found. The flounder have been caught while drifting two-hook bottom rigs baited with large live bull minnows or silversides.
The small speckled trout have fallen victim to soft plastics fished under popping cork rigs.
A few large red drum have been caught and released in the surf on fishfinder rigs baited with cut spot, croaker, or large chunks of peeler crab.
Offshore action has consisted primarily of dolphin catches on the troll or deep dropping for tilefish.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, told me that the flounder bite continues to be “decent.” However, most of the fish continue to be undersized, with only a few keeper-length fish being taken. Most of the flounder catches continue to be taken on Berkley Gulps, combined with live minnows or silversides.
Paul said he has still not received any catch reports of speckled trout or puppy drum, but he is hoping the bite will pick up any time.
Wreck fishing action has been good, with most anglers able to catch their limit of black sea bass, as well as some larger-class flounder.
Offshore fishing reports have consisted primarily of dolphin (mahi mahi) and tilefish.
Lower Shore
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, described the recent lower Shore fishing action as “slow, with wind and wet weather dominating the forecasts.” He said that there have been some sheepshead, along with some small black drum, taken around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel pilings by anglers soaking crab baits.
A few speckled trout have been caught along the lower bayside creeks and beaches when clear water can be located. Most anglers have been casting Mirrolures and soft plastics such as Berkley Gulps.
Puppy drum catches have been few and far between, according to Brady.
The waters around the concrete ships have been producing some larger spot, while the lower bayside piers have reported catches of small croakers and trout.
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East — Eastern Shore, said the puppy drum and speckled trout numbers are “slowly” getting better, with catch reports on soft plastics and Mirrolures from both the seaside and bayside creeks.
Spot and croaker have been hitting bloodworms, Fishbites, squid, and pieces of shrimp off Kiptopeke.
Keeper-sized flounder numbers are increasing with the cooler water temperatures. Jigging Berkley Gulp has been an effective method for catching flounder.
Large red drum have been caught and released on spot, croakers, and cut blue crab along the high-rise section of the bridge-tunnel.
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.
