Tangier, Pocomoke, and lower Eastern Shore, May 26 Update:
The shallows of the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds have come to life now that we are nearing the end of spring. Rockfish, red drum, black drum, and speckled trout are all available to target. Most fish are being caught with peeler crab chucked out on fish finder rigs but soft plastics have been putting a bend in plenty of rods as well. We had three reader reports of nice size specks showing up in the shallows of the Tangier including the mouth of the Honga, near Crisfield, and at the salt march islands. Sizes ranged from 23 to 26 inches and the fish were fat with roe, and in all cases, rockfish were mixed in with most being undersized but several keeper-sized fish up to 30 inches. Skitterwalks and soft plastics in white and electric chicken were the hot baits. Matt from Sea Hawk Sports Center has been finding a good mix of species during his trips to the Tangier Sound with some trips producing a Tangier-slam (red drum, rockfish, and speckled trout). Lots of their catches have come on popping corks with four-inch paddletails worked above grassy flats in two to four feet of water.
In deeper water near rock piles and other structure, anglers have been finding decent black drum action. The best bites have been on the hard oyster rocks of the Pocomoke Sound with peeler crab being the critical enticement needed to lure in these beasts. The shoals off Kiptopeake are also a hot spot for black drum and we have also seen an influx of bull reds into the southern Bay over the past few weeks. As the larger schools move north, sight fishing these beasts will become an option, though they are mostly found while keeping a close eye on side scan near schools of bait.
We heard of a report from a boat fishing in the Tangier this week who boated some one-to-three-pound bluefish during their trip. More blues should be moving into the area and the first Spanish mackerel are showing up down at the Virginia Beach fishing pier. As water temperatures continue to trend upward, the speedy mackerel will move up into the Bay as well.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and lower Eastern Shore, May 19 Update:
The sounds of the Chesapeake Bays eastern shore are home to a fishery that can provide some truly remarkable fishing. The beauty of this region in the Bay is that no matter where you are fishing, you always have a chance to catch a plethora of species. As the waters have warmed, many fish have returned to the shallows following schools of bait. Right now, you can find rockfish, speckled trout, red drum, black drum, flounder, and plenty of other species’ cruising around these waters. Sea Hawk Sports Center let us know that boats throwing chunks of peeler crab on fish finder rigs are doing well catching black drum and a few reds. Rockfish and speckled trout are hanging around shallow water structure like grass beds, rock jetties, and shoreline points.
Many anglers in this zone have also been enjoying the ability to head in multiple directions to target very different fisheries. Snakeheads in the upper sections of the river have been active, and we had multiple reports of hectic action this week on fish up to and above the 30-inch mark, including one 31.5-inch, 12.4 founder caught in Dorchester county. We also had a report from a bow-fisher of nonstop action resulting in several dozen snakeheads in the boat. Meanwhile, flounder fishing in the coastal bays created yet another option and was good again this week. If conditions are favorable, most boats have been able to find keeper fish in Wachapreague, Chincoteague, and Ocean City waters. Most keeper fish are 15 to 18 inches, but we have seen some as big as 25 inches come over the rails. Captain Brian Esteppe of Y KNOT Fishing Adventures reports that flounder are eager to hit minnows and shiners. He says color doesn’t seem to matter and all the traditional ones are catching fish at about the same pace. If you can beat the crowds and find clean water, you may be rewarded with some great fishing for the flatties. Brian also let us know that his son, Brian Esteppe Jr., was able to catch a mid-40s bull red and a mid-40s rockfish while soaking cut bait during fishing trips this week.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and lower Eastern Shore, May 12 Update:
Spring fishing in the Chesapeake Bay sounds is really starting to take shape as water temperatures have reached the low to mid 60s. Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that in the shallows of the Tangier and Pocomoke, anglers have been finding a mix of quality rockfish, some of which being “trophy” status, red drum, and speckled trout. The deeper waters with oyster rocks along the sounds are producing some black drum action as well. Fresh peeler crab or clam baits on fish finder rigs are what have been enticing each of these species. When targeting black drum, hard bottom and other bottom structures are key areas to home in on. Tangier Sound Charters captain C. L. Marshall has been finding drum up to 70 pounds during his trips in the Pocomoke. Big rockfish and bull reds have also landed on his boat this week. The shallow grassy areas are seeing an increasing number of speckled trout. Reports on the specks have been sporadic but overall, there seems to be a decent number of fish hanging in the sounds. The further south you fish right now, the more likely you will be to run into these fish. The best artificial baits are usually paddletails and MirrOlures.
On the sea-side big rockfish have been attracting surf anglers to the beaches from Assateague up through Delaware. Dave Moore from Shark Whisperers guided trips checked in to let us know he has been crushing the rockfish at Assateague Island. On a midweek trip, he managed to land a 43-, 44-, and 46-inch rock. Another angler fishing with him was able to land a 35- and 41-inch fish. Sand fleas, cut bait, and blood worms have all been working. We also heard from three anglers hitting the surf that they skunked, and Moore noted that finding good surf structure such as a rip was critical. An increasing number of red drum have been landed this week from the surf too. One angler reported catching a 48-inch rockfish, and a 43-inch red drum side by side during an outing this week. Sand fleas, blood worms, and cut menhaden are all catching fish in the surf. Flounder fishing along the coastal areas is also alive and well. Anglers fishing Chincoteague and Wachapreague are reporting good fishing. Clean water has been key, and the outgoing tide is still best when the sun warmed water puts the fish in feeding mode.
Important Notice: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources made an announcement regarding striped bass regulations this week. New regulations change the size limit for the striped bass recreational and charter boat summer and fall fishery for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Starting May 16th, 2023, the minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches and the maximum size for striped bass is 31 inches. All other rockfish regulations for the Bay remain the same. See Striped Bass Minimum Size Capped at 31 Inches-Update MD Regs for the latest news on this development. Virginia has made no changes thus far to its one fish, 20- to 28-inch spring season slot from May 16 through June 15. However, expect the fall slot maximum of 36 inches to be lowered to 31 inches; we’ll report back if and when the VMRC makes any announcements.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and lower Eastern Shore, May 5 Update:
The weather didn’t do anglers any favors for the start of trophy rockfish season during the beginning of the week. The poor conditions didn’t stop dedicated anglers from hitting the water though, and if you were able to find protected water, the fishing was great. Reports came in from boats fishing areas around South Marsh island that had no problem filling rockfish limits and fish up to 45 inches came out of the shallows. A full moon this Friday should kick off a flurry of fishing action this weekend. Speckled trout, red drum, and striped bass are all available in the shallows right now Captain C. L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters and crew enjoyed a great shallow water rockfish bite this week, finding plenty of rockfish up to 47 inches. Soft crabs and peelers on fish finder rigs did the trick. Captain C. L. also reports that big black drum are still hanging around the deep-water rocks and other structure in the sounds. Remember that Virginias rockfish season does not open until May 16 where there will be a 20 -to -28-inch slot. Catch and release fishing is allowed right now in those waters.
The poor weather conditions didn’t bode well for flounder fishing in the DelMarVa coastal bays this week. The good news is that this weekend’s forecast looks promising and we expect more anglers to hit the water. During the breaks in the weather this week, the flounder action proved to be pretty good. Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that there have been a good number of fish clearing the 16-inch minimum with a few shorties to keep the action steady. They have been targeting the flounder in three to 12 feet of water with flounder rigs paired with Gulp! baits and silversides. Sea Hawk also says that bull red drum have made their presence known in the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Most of the fish have preferred soft crab but a few have crashed topwater spooks too.
A major update to the coastal striped bass fishery was announced by The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Atlantic States Striped Bass Management Board who voted to take emergency action to reduce coastwide harvest of striped bass. This action requires states to lower the top end of the slot limit to 31 inches. Learn more about the measures in Striped Bass Maximum Size Capped.