Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 2020

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 25 Update:

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and welcome to the final fishing report of 2020. Considering how this year has been we’re thrilled to see it finally end, and we’re wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2021 filled with bent rods and slimy coolers. Due to the holidays (and some pretty lousy weather), gathering intel was difficult this week and the reports are a bit abbreviated. But rest assured, we’ll be back in 2021 ready to fish hard and bring you all the how-to, where-to fishing information possible. Thanks for staying tuned to FishTalk, and if you see the chance to do some fishing in the near future…

pickerel in the rivers
Yes it's cold out there, but the pickerel will still come out to play.

AIC Lenny Rudow says a visit to the southern Eastern Shore millponds was productive, but a little bit too productive for his son David who out-fished him to take the current lead in the CCA Winter Pickerel Championship (ouch!), after sliding the net under a 26-incher. Minnow on white jigs suspended deep under bobbers were the ticket. He also notes that the bass were biting (for David – 3 to 0. Ouch, again). Three-inch Z-Man paddle tails in dark green also proved productive. Sea Hawk’s latest reporting is that the Pocomoke is a good bet for the crappie.


Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 18 Update:

Warning: almost all of our reports came in pre-storm. Naturally, we're expecting that the conditions will have deteriorated a bit in some areas. Anglers fishing the lower shore have been running out south and into the open Bay to search for stripers, or heading up the Sound’s tributaries for a mix of pickerel, perch, and crappie. With Maryland waters now closed for rockfish, that makes the choice an easy one for anglers in the northern part of this range. Fortunately, the trib bite has been a good one, with minnow on small jigs, Road Runners, and/or under a bobber attracting the most hits. Channel edges and holes in the Wicomico and Pocomoke are good bets. The crappie bite this season has been excellent so far, as well as the perch bite. Perch are increasing in numbers and can be found in deep holes and pockets right now. Soaking minnows is a great way to open yourself up to a variety of species and all of the aforementioned are taking them.

pickerel in the tribs
Pickerel are a good bet on minnow and paddle tails.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 10 Update:

With rockfish closed in Maryland waters and other species having vacated, the lower shore options have shifted inland and south. There are still some trout to be found on the east side way down the shore (though their numbers have thinned for sure) and slot-sized stripers are hitting diving plugs and swimbaits. However, strong winds out of the west and south have made it tough to get out at times recently. Unfortunately, all the rain we had also washed out most of the tributary options earlier this week. By the weekend the waters should hopefully be back to reasonable conditions.

flooding eastern shore
Much of the lower Eastern Shore was a wash-out as of last weekend. This is actually coastal correspondent John Unkart's driveway, and the markers are yard art. Seriously - this is dry land.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 4 Update:

Many anglers in the area have turned their attention to stripers on the oceanside, fishing freshwater up the tribs, or deer hunting, but there are still stripers to be caught in the Sounds. By all reports, however, most of the larger fish moved out to deeper haunts (and the specks and reds have gone MIA). The latest from Sea Hawk is of working jigging spoons over structure to put rockfish up into the upper 20s into the box.

angler holds up a striped bass caught on light tackle
Bundle up tight and get out there, there are still fish to be caught!