Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 29 Update:

Some boats managed to get offshore this week, and some of those who did were thoroughly rewarded. Readers let us know that yellowfin tuna are hanging around the canyons where water temps are just over 60 degrees, in a big way. Some boats that headed back had landed over 10 fish ranging between 35 and 45 pounds. Several white marlin were reported this week as well, plus a few nice mahi in the mix. We had reports of solid action from both ends of the extreme range: up north in the Baltimore, and down south outside the canyons where the temp breaks were, but not much in-between. Josh on the Talkin’ Trash reported that some boats waylaid ‘em (they had a nine-tuna/five mahi day this week) but some boats missed out on the action, too. He also noted that the Talkin’ Trash photo-documented the first white marlin of the year landed this week… although another boat claimed to have caught one an hour earlier. Evidently there was no photo of that fish, but it was accepted for the $11,000 prize bestowed upon the boat catching the first white of the year. Let the controversy begin…

tuna and mahi ont he docks
Offshore action for 2020 has officially kicked in. Photo courtesy of Josh Lowery

Inshore, the flounder bite has been tricky due to the weather. Clear water has been crucial for the flounder bite, and poor conditions have been making it difficult to catch. In Indian River and in Ocean City more than one angler reported that their day of flounder fishing was saved by picking up bluefish, which have been around in fair numbers in both locations and the coastal bays. Ocean’s East and some readers in Virginia also let us know that bluefish are popping up along the coast. They also mentioned that the surf bite has been solid in Virginia Beach, with a healthy mix of small blues, kingfish, and small stripers. We also had reports from the beaches of Maryland and Delaware of kingfish (on bloodworms) and bluefish (on cut fish) in the suds.


Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 22 Update:

Full Disclosure Warning! High winds and poor conditions forced anglers to stay land-locked for most of the week, through much of our area. Due to these circumstances, most of the info in this week’s report comes from over the past weekend and early in the week. If you get the chance to head out, shoot us an email at [email protected] and let us know how you did!

anglers with sea bass
Between the Covid and the weather getting out has been tough, but the sea bass are there and ready to bite. Photo courtesy of Capt. Monty Hawkins

While rough waters kept many anglers off the water this week, we had a few reports come in from those with boats large enough to brave the conditions. Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star reported good sea bass catches inshore this past weekend, before the waters got too riled to fish. Also off the Delaware Coast sea bass opened on May 15th, and all reports coming in indicate that the fish were thoroughly abundant. We also had one exciting report of a swordfish hitting the docks in Ocean City.

Speaking of Ocean City: flounder fishing experienced a sharp drop off due to poor water conditions. Waters are currently muddied from the foul weather, resulting in most flounder trips being a bust. Anglers from Wachapreague and Chincoteague are, however, still pulling in flatfish according to the folks at Sea Hawk. Remember, when the water gets messy the end of an incoming is usually a good bet as cleaner ocean waters flood into the bays.


Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 15 Update:

Ready for the offshore bite to bust wide open!? Tough conditions made it difficult to get offshore most of this week, but towards the end of the week the window of opportunity opened up and Ocean’s East reported anglers who headed south out of Virginia Beach were rewarded with yellowfin tuna in excellent numbers. A couple of mahi were brought back to the docks, as well. We didn’t hear of any tuna brought in to OC or Indian River but the Wrecker did come home with the season’s first swordfish on ice.

huge rockfish in the surf
Dave Moore enjoyed a rather epic morning fishing in the surf on a VA barrier island, catching a 45- and then a 40-inch striper. Sand fleas were the bait.

Thanks to all the wind, we didn’t have any inshore reports from the wrecks and reefs this week. However, fish are certainly being caught along the beach from Delaware down through Virginia and there’s a mix of kingfish, snapper blues, small rockfish, and puffer fish for anglers casting small baits. Those targeting larger fish have encountered a few black drum on clam. We also had a rather spectacular report from one reader fishing a VA beach just days ago… the pic above says it all.

Flounder are present and accounted for in the coastal bays, though the week’s windy conditions made fishing difficult and finding clean water a chore. The end of the incoming tide has been the best, when cleaner ocean water has flooded the bays. The fish have been taking pink, white, and chartreuse soft plastics bounced off bottom, and squid strips fished alongside a minnow are also working. Reports for the flounder were thin in Indian River, better in OC, and best in the VA coastal bays.


Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 8 Update:

While little is happening offshore due to rough waters and we didn’t hear from anyone getting to the deep to probe for tunas this week, the inshore bite remains consistent. Captain Cook from First Light Charters reported a successful day of toggin’ this week at the wrecks off Delaware in 60 feet of water. Most anglers targeting tog are baiting up with peeler and green crab. Inside at Indian River a few tog are also being caught at the inlet rocks, plus some stripers for anglers casting plastics.

tautog angler holds up his catch
First Light Charters made it off the dock this week, for more inshore tog action.

The wind kept OC anglers bottled up this week, but in the Bay the Route 50 and 90 bridges are still holding (undersized) stripers and there are flounder in the Thoroughfare. Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow reported making a run there last week and found the tog bite lackluster on the outgoing tide, seeing just two (smalls) caught by another boat fishing along the rocks. Fortunately an outgoing tide and low water does make for good clamming — the clams are always biting — behind Assateague and he reports that he and his crew filled a five-gallon bucket mucking in ankle-deep, if frigid, water. We note for MD anglers that as of Thursday, May 7th at 7:00 a.m., recreational fishing activities including catch-and-release fishing opened up again. While this is great, there are still a few restrictions still in place. Anglers are expected to abide by social distancing guidelines, and maintain family groups with fewer than 10 individuals while on boats. Fishing tournaments remain prohibited, but the Department of Natural Resources has reopened fishing piers that had been closed and social distancing must also be practiced while fishing from piers or shore. All normal rules and regulations regarding fishing must be followed, including creel limits, gear restrictions, and seasons.

Reports were also thin from points south along the coast this week, no doubt due to wind and weather, though we did hear from one reader who reported landing a couple of doormats in Wachapreague. There were also good reports for flatfish as well as puppy drum and some specks, from the Virginia Beach inlets.


Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 1 Update:

Standard COVID-fishing disclosure, folks: wherever you live, there are probably some restrictions in place and some waterways made inaccessible. Our Social Distancing While Fishing page has links to the different state authority webpages with the latest info and updates on when, where, and how fishing can be done. With many businesses still closed, again we say thanks to all you readers who sent in reports and pictures. Please keep them coming to [email protected].

catching tautog
Tautog coming up, two at a time! Photo courtesy of Captain Cook.

Tautog remain a top target for the week, both inshore at the wrecks and reefs—when the wind stops blowing long enough to get to them—and also inside the inlets along rocks and pilings. Capt. Cook has returned to Delaware from Florida, and this week he checked in to let us know that the action was so fast out at the reefs one day recently, it was “drop and reel” fishing. Inshore it’s a slower bite at Indian River, and a better bite in the Ocean City inlet but it’s dominated by small fish. Multiple readers said they caught a bunch but only a couple here and there went in the coolers; sand fleas were the hot bait inside the inlets. There’s a better ratio of keepers being found at the mouth of the Bay along the CBBT and at the Cement ships. Tog go out of season mid-month up and down the coast, so get ‘em while the getting is good.

Flounder fishing has picked up around the dial, with catches of zero to a couple-few reported from Indian River, a couple-few to a limit in Ocean City, and strong results in the VA bays along the Eastern Shore. Double-bucktail rigs in white, chartreuse, and pink, sweetened with GULP! shrimp, were fingered as top producers, and the old minnow/squid sandwich on a Fluke Killer also got the nod. We have a great how-to article on fishing these rigs for flounder by our Coastal Correspondent John Unkart, so if you haven’t already seen it check out How to Fish For Flounder in DelMarVa Bays and Inlets. Flounder fishing has also been getting better and better at the mouth of the Chesapeake and there are more (BIG!) drum being reported from that area as well; check the Way South Chesapeake Report, for more details.

What about offshore? Very few boats have been out, but we did hear two rumors (neither substantiated with pictures but both from reliable sources), one from MD and the other from VA, of yellowfin being caught. They were a mix of undersized fish and BLTs at undisclosed canyons. Some just-legal bluefin were also caught inside the 500-fathom line. Get those boats ready, people, we could be in for an early May tuna run in 2020.

Surf fisherman? We didn’t hear a peep from them this week… not a shock since some beaches are closed and the weather has been so tough recently, but if you have a shot at it, there should be some fish in the suds. Anglers fishing the piers in VA have been reeling up panfish (spot, puffers, a few specks, and small bluefish) and the black drum had already made their presence known when the shutdowns started, so if you have the option and the access it should be well worth a shot.