Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, August 7 Update:
Bluefish remain one of the most reliable targets around Tangier, while increasing numbers of Spanish mackerel are adding to the trolling action around shoals, lumps, and channel ledges. Cobia fishing has been slow and many of the fish being caught are undersized, but red drum, black drum, perch, spot, and croaker are providing plenty of alternatives. Bottom fishing has been particularly productive around the mouths of the region's tidal rivers.
Cobia fishing has been on the slow side, but we should hopefully see a push of fish in the next few weeks. With a little over a month left in the season, anglers are hoping to box a few before the season closes. This week, most of the reports showed that most fish were just below the minimum size limit. Most fish are being caught around lumps and shoals from the Tangier Sound south along the Eastern Shore. Chummers and boats live lining eels are picking up some fish, but there are pesky rays and sharks around that you may have to weed through. Trollers are also starting to get in on the action as cobia have been willing to hit large surgical eel lures. This method of targeting them usually gets more productive the later in the season we get. Bluefish have been one of the more reliable fish to target as they are abundant around the wreck and reef sites in the sounds. Casting jerkbaits and paddletails in these areas is producing bluefish in the 18” to 25” range. Trollers are also doing very well along channel ledges near shoals and lumps. Increasing numbers of Spanish mackerel are also showing up, and there have been some reports of them being caught on the south side of the Target Ship.
Red drum and black drum are being caught around oyster bottom and some reef sites in the Tangier Sound and the Pocomoke Sound. Chunks of peeler crab hooked on fish finder rigs is doing the trick. The bulk of the bull red drum are schooled up, roaming around the open waters of the main stem of the Bay, but in September, some will start to move back into the shallows of the lower Eastern Shore. This will be a reliable late summer and early fall bite that usually lasts through October. Sea Hawk Sports Center reported that the perch fishing has been good in a few of the tidal creeks. Some of their crew recently took a trip and found plenty willing to bite. Slow trolling crappie jigs tipped with bits of peeler crab was all it took to put several of the Bays tastiest fish into the cooler. The mouths of the tidal rivers in this region have also offered up some excellent bottom fishing opportunities. The Nanticoke, Manokin, Wicomico, and Pocomoke are holding croaker, spot, white perch, and even some blue catfish. Anglers should remember that rockfish season is closed in all Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The no target closure will be in effect until the end of the month. In Virginia waters, the rockfish season is closed, but you can still target them for catch and release.