Tangier and Lower Shore Fishing Reports
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, June 26 Update:
Summer fishing continues to expand around Tangier as anglers target cobia, bull red drum, rockfish, bluefish, and sheepshead across the region's shoals, reefs, and grass flats. Low-light periods remain the best time to target shallow-water rockfish and red drum, while cobia fishing continues to improve around the Middle Grounds and nearby shoals. With so many species now available, Tangier remains one of the Chesapeake's most versatile summer fisheries.
The waters of the Chesapeake Bay are warming quickly, which means that we are moving into the time of year when the best bites will occur during the early morning and late evening hours. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as on peak tide swings and overcast days, but the summer heat can really dampen some bites during the high sun hours. Luckily, there are plenty of species to target in this region, and a few that don’t seem to mind the heat. There are still opportunities for shallow water rockfish and redfish action. Rockfish have been willing to bite in the shallows near creek mouths, shoreline points, and stump fields in low light hours while the reds have been mainly feeding as the sun is going down. Chunks of peeler crab have been the preferred bait for the big reds, but you will likely run into some rays and even a shark or two while soaking baits.
Many anglers have started to focus their efforts on cobia fishing. The bite has been good down around Cape Charles, but there are also some fish that have moved up to the Middle Grounds below the Target Ship, as well as the shoals and edges just south of Smith and Tangier Island. Fresh bunker chunks are working well in chum lines, though it has not been easy to find tackle shops or watermen selling bunker because they are having a hard time catching them. On calm days, boats with towers are able to sight fish for the man in the brown suit, looking for them cruising just below the waters surface. Live eels and brightly colored bucktails usually grab their attention.
There are several wreck and reef sites near the Tangier region that can hold a variety of species in the summer. Bluefish often hangout around these structures and are known to hit topwater lures and jerkbaits aggressively. Red drum, black drum, and even cobia can also be found around these structures but are less common. Speckled trout have been known to retreat to these areas in deeper waters to get relief from the hot water temperatures in the shallows. Another species that has arrived at the hard cover are sheepshead. The southern Chesapeake Bay is known for its excellent sheepshead fishery, but these convicts do make their way up to the Maryland line during the summer months. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and small chunks of crab tipped on bottom sweeper jigs or octopus hooks are the rigs that work best for catching them. They are very good at stealing baits, and bites are very subtle, but they put up a strong fight for their size and are delicious table fare.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, June 18 Update:
The Tangier region continues to offer one of the most diverse fisheries on the Bay, with bull red drum, bluefish, sheepshead, cobia, and rockfish all providing opportunities. Bull reds remain the headline attraction around shallow grass beds and marsh islands, while sheepshead are becoming more common on reefs and wrecks. Rockfish are still available during low-light periods, but warming water temperatures are making early mornings and evenings increasingly important.
The rockfish bite has been limited to the early morning and late evening hours on most days. Topwater action has been good during low light hours, but the bite is falling off quickly once the sun gets up. Some midday rockfish action has been possible around creek mouths and deeper cover when the tide is rolling. Speckled trout reports are still slim, and we did not hear any new reports from the Tangier region this week. Some fish have been reported near the mouth of the Potomac, so it is likely that some specks have moved onto the grass flats around Smith and Tangier Island. Persistence will be the name of the game for anglers looking to land a speck. Reliable lures include topwater spooks, popping corks with paddletail or shrimp soft plastics, and slow sinking jerkbaits.
Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that some sheepshead are showing up around the reef and wreck structures along the lower Eastern Shore. There are several artificial reefs in the area along with some wrecks that are shown on chart plotters. These areas tend to hold sheepshead, bluefish, and some red drum throughout the summer months. Fiddler crabs will be the best bait to use for anglers looking to catch the convicts. Blues will be willing to hit topwater lures and jerkbaits, and the bull reds should be tempted into the net by chunks of peeler crab. C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters reports that he is still finding bull reds in the shallows over grass beds. This bite has been most reliable in the evenings and at night, so during the day he has been searching for rockfish and bluefish with his anglers.
Cobia season is now open in both Maryland and Virginia. The reports have been better in Virginia waters, but some fish have been caught around the Target Ship and around the lumps and shoals stretching from Smith Island down to Cape Charles. Cobia have been lured by a mixture of sight-casting live eels and bucktails, as well as fresh chunks of bunker or crab. Some of the crew from Sea Hawk Sports Center had a great day on the water this week with a few different species in the mix. They caught a couple of bull red drum, a couple big sheepshead, a few black drum, and a bunch of tautog. One of the bull reds measured 48 inches, a true Chesapeake giant! The nearshore waters and open water structures of the Tangier region have plenty of action to enjoy during the summer months, so make sure to get out there.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, June 11 Update:
Bull red drum continue to headline the action around Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, with anglers finding success around grass beds, marsh islands, and shallow flats using crab baits. Large bluefish are also providing excellent action around wrecks, reefs, shoals, and open-water structure, while reports of Spanish mackerel are beginning to increase. Rockfish remain available during low-light periods, though warming water temperatures are starting to make them more difficult to locate.
Big bluefish have been hanging out around the various wreck and reef sites in the Tangier region. These structures are scattered throughout the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds, and some are displayed on nautical charts. The bluefish have also been encountered in the open water of the Bay over lumps and near shoals. Keep an eye out for breaking fish now that we are moving into summer. There is also a chance some Spanish mackerel are starting to show up, and The Tackle Box reported that a pound netter had a few in his net at Cornfield Harbor near the mouth of the Potomac River this week. Trollers looking to catch these toothy fish can find success by pulling small drone or clark spoons behind number one and two planers. Speeds of three to five knots work well for the bluefish, while faster speeds of six to nine knots typically get more bites from the mackerel. The past few summers have not produced great numbers of Spanish mackerel, but hopefully the higher salinity levels and cleaner water conditions will help bring more into this region. It is a good sign that a few have been spotted near the Maryland and Virginia border.
Big bull red drum are still roaming the shallows of the Eastern shore in both Maryland and Virginia waters. The best bites have been in the early morning hours and at night. These fish are still keyed in on crab baits, so if you can find peeler crab or fresh hard crab, that will be your best bet to try and tempt one of these brutes onto your line. C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters has been putting his crew on the bull reds which have been tricky to find at times but often relate to shallow grass beds near marshy islands. There have also been some black drum still roaming around the oyster bottom areas in the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, but as water temperatures warm up, these fish will become less concentrated and will spread out throughout the Bay. Some will stay local and some will head back south. It has been a great spring and early summer for big drum, but the bulk of the action will now transition to bull reds for the remainder of the year.
Water temperatures are approaching 80 degrees in many shallow areas, so the rockfish bite has been best in low light hours and is slowing down once the sun gets up. The rockfish are becoming a little harder to find compared to a few weeks ago, but they are still relating to marsh points, creek mouths, and stump fields. Try to fish these areas when there is a good moving current. Speckled trout and puppy drum reports are still very lackluster, but there are some rumors floating around that a few more speckled trout are starting to move up the Bay. The water clarity has been excellent this year and the grass beds have been the best looking in years, so the habitat is there for if and when speckled trout return to our waters.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, June 4 Update:
Bull red drum continue to provide some of the best action around Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, with peeler crabs proving especially effective. Rockfish are feeding along marsh shorelines and grass beds, while encouraging croaker reports suggest improving opportunities as summer progresses. Consistent bluefish action is also developing around open-water structure and wreck sites throughout the region.
Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that anglers on the lower Eastern Shore have found steady action with bull red drum and black drum. Peeler or sook crabs have been the most productive baits tossed out on fish finder rigs. The shallow grass beds have produced big redfish and plenty of rockfish. Their crew also said that the topwater fishing has been very good in the early morning hours, which is a ton of fun. The rockfish are relating to marsh points, creek mouths, and other nearshore cover like stump fields or old rock jetties. Another fish they reported on which has us hopeful for the rest of the summer is the croaker bite. They have seen several reports of steady action from the edges of the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. These fish should be at depths of 15 to 30 feet, often relating to oyster bottom. The bulk of the fish are still sub-legal, but there have also been a good number of keepers mixed in, which is something we have not been able to say over the past several years. Captain C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters is finding success with bull redfish in the shallows over grass beds while soaking peeler crab. His anglers have also enjoyed more consistent bluefish action in open water and around wreck sites.
Reports Editor Dillon Waters spent a day last weekend fishing with his dad on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Their target species was speckled trout, which have been very elusive this year. Water clarity was great, and they found some beautiful grass beds that looked specky, but did not find any bites while throwing paddletails, topwater lures, and popping corks with a variety of soft plastics suspended underneath. The only signs of life were several stingrays cruising the flats. After a few hours with no luck over the grass beds, they switched to fishing marsh shoreline and found a few rockfish holding on points with current. They caught 10 rockfish ranging from 18” to 25”. Another reader wrote in and said that they got on a good bull redfish bite in an undisclosed location. They said that soaking fresh peeler while night fishing produced several bull redfish in the low to mid 40-inch range. They also tried throwing out cut spot and casting lures, but that only produced a few rays. The bull reds seem to be really keyed in on the peeler crab right now.
