Coastal Fishing Reports

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 2 Update:

It is an exciting time of year for coastal anglers as there are several bites kicking off. The surf has been very productive this spring and Dave Moore of Shark Whisperers reports an improving bite at the beaches, with multiple trips out on Assateague producing a mix of black drum and big stripers. The ratio of rockfish to drum seems to be on the increase, with both species hitting sand fleas. He also noted that some tautog are hitting at the inlet in OC. Another angler fishing the beaches at Assateague reported a great midweek bite, catching four black drum and three striped bass on sand fleas. The bluefish are running up the coast from the Carolinas, and we are starting to get reports of them being caught on the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Snapper blues in the 20-inch range are being caught at the coastal piers and in the local inlets. These fish should start to show up in the surf north of Virginia Beach and around the Ocean City inlet this month.

The tautog bite at the OC inlet was good again this week with several boats boxing keeper-sized fish from the rock jetties. There are more undersized fish than keepers, but with enough bait, you can weed through the smaller fish to get some for the dinner table. Flounder fishing has also improved in the back bays and Fish In OC reports that there has been good action in the thoroughfare. Scott Lenox was out this week and said he caught several undersized flatties on chartreuse Deadly Double rigs while his co-anglers were able to box a few keepers. Further down along the coast, flounder anglers are reporting good success around Chincoteague, Wachapreague, and Folly Creek. Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle let us know that they have had several anglers this week check in with limits. One angler checked in with fish up to 24 inches caught in the Assateague Channel. The early spring pattern has still been that the best bite is during the outgoing tide when water temperatures are the warmest. Clean water has also been key, so if you are finding dirty water, it may be best to move and search out other areas.