Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, September 4 Update:
Offshore fishing remains strong, with flounder producing excellent numbers on wrecks and reefs while mahi are beginning to rebound around the bass pots. White and blue marlin are also becoming more consistent offshore, with yellowfin tuna mixed in. Closer to shore, sheepshead and croaker are available around the Ocean City Inlet, while the fall red drum migration is beginning to take shape along the beaches.
Capt. Monty on the Morning Star reports that some cool water put a crimp in the inshore mahi bite recently, but the water temps have now come back up, and he expects that action to crank back up (hopefully) into September. He also noted that some reef trips have been producing even more flounder than sea bass recently. The mahi action seemed to pick up this week as we saw reports from a few boats that found limits of them from the bass pots. A subscriber checked in after fishing out of Chincoteague and says that he heard that a few swordfish had hit the deep-dropped baits, so he gave it a shot this week but came up blank. Fortunately, the flounder were biting strong at the wrecks, and they loaded up on them, along with catching some mahi around the bass pots. The offshore flounder fishing has been excellent this summer, and there aren't any signs of it slowing down yet. The crew of the Fish Bound put together a 52 fish boat limit this week, which has been the norm on many trips. Fish In OC reports that the offshore boats are starting to see more opportunities for marlin, and some boats are having really good days. The Boss Hogg was one of the boats that enjoyed excellent fishing this week, catching and releasing nine white marlin, a blue marlin, and also boxing a yellowfin tuna.
Dave Moore of Shark Whisperers says there are some sheepshead at the OC inlet, but small sea bass “almost make things impossible.” He mentioned that he hadn’t been out for the early September reds on Assateague yet, but that action should be cranking up soon. Other anglers fishing the rock jetties at the Ocean City Inlet are also catching some sheepshead. There are also some keeper croaker around the inlet, beaches, and back bays, so baiting up some bottom rigs with squid, shrimp, bloodworms, or Fishbites is a good bet for steady action. There are plenty of undersized flounder in the back bays right now with some keepers in the mix, but the ratio will greatly favor the shorties. Anglers are still finding success from Ocean City down to Wachapreague. The flounder action around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay should pick up steam this month.
As water temperatures begin to fall into the 70s and eventually the 60s, red drum start schooling along Maryland and Virginia’s coastal beaches as they migrate south. The key to finding them from the surf is locating the troughs, cuts, and deeper pockets between sandbars, with the trough immediately off the beach often holding fish as they move in and out with the tide. During higher tides, it’s worth keeping one bait farther out over or beyond the outer bar, while lower tides can reveal productive holes and channels that concentrate feeding fish. A little wave action is generally a good thing, as churned-up water gives drum confidence to move into the shallows and feed. Fresh cut bunker, spot, mullet, croaker, or peeler crab fished on a fish-finder rig are proven producers. The fish can feed throughout the day, although dawn, dusk, and nighttime are especially worth targeting. In Maryland, the recreational red drum limit is now three fish per person per day with an 18” to 26” slot. Virginia regulations also allow three red drum per person per day, with an 18” to 26” slot. Therefore, the large bull reds encountered along the beaches during the fall migration must be released.