BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, Nov. 14, 2025
Windy conditions continue to affect the local angling scene, as most of the week’s fishing trips have been scrubbed. Better conditions have been forecast for the weekend. Let’s hope the weatherman gets it right!
Tilefish and black sea bass are still available offshore when you can get there. Large bluefish have also been encountered over the ocean wrecks.
On the Chesapeake Bay side, a body of schoolie-sized striped bass has been working schools of bait in the central portion of the upper bay. These fish should move into Pocomoke Sound with the falling water temperatures.
If you enjoy autumn freshwater action, the water temperature in the Pocomoke River has fallen into the lower 50s, resulting in good action with crappies, pickerel, and perch.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, reported that the local rockfish bite has been located near the Maryland/Virginia state line in the central portion of the Chesapeake Bay, specifically the southern part of Tangier Sound and along the marsh islands extending from Tangier Island north to Bloodsworth Island in Maryland.
On a recent charter, Captain Abell reported stripers to 30 inches on paddle tails and Rapala X-Raps. Abell also had a trip inside the Pocomoke River, sheltered from the wind, targeting panfish. Trolling 2-inch soft plastics tipped with live minnows, the group landed a variety of species, including crappie, yellow perch, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and rockfish.
Chincoteague
Jimmy Vasiliou, at Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle, told me that striped bass have been taken around some of the island’s bridges.
The rocks around the Main Street Pier have produced a few tautog.
Captain Tim’s Charters had a catch of flounder inside Chincoteague Bay early in the week.
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the Almost Persuaded, commented that things have slowed down due to the cold, windy conditions and it just getting late in the year.
Lower Shore
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East — Eastern Shore, reported tautog catches are coming from around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and along the concrete ships off Kiptopeke. The togs have been hitting both tog jigs and high/low rigs baited with chunks of crab.
Nestor added that there has been some speckled trout and puppy drum action inshore on Mirrolures and soft plastic baits.
A few schoolie-sized striped bass have been landed as part of the trout and puppy drum fishery. Nestor commented, “Things have been definitely slowing down, but there remain a few fish left to catch.”
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle in Cape Charles, said the bite over the coastal wrecks continues to be strong.
When conditions allow, the black sea bass bite has been described as “incredible,” with some large bluefish also showing up in the catch.
Brady said that the tilefish bite continues to be good for anglers deep dropping near the canyons.
Schoolie-striper catches have been reported by anglers casting artificials along the lower bayside creeks and beaches.
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.
