reefs

October 3, 2024
Large natural formations along with wrecks and obstructions along the lower east side of the Bay provide good structure for everything from croaker to cobia. In fact, this portion of the Bay is so…
September 8, 2024
During 1969 the USS Manta became the fourth demolished submarine to adorn the Bay’s bottom, when it was blasted into oblivion by the Navy as a bombing target and sunk somewhere in the area we report…
June 21, 2024
Why do we need to have reef building efforts along the DelMarVa coast? After World War II, surplus diesel engines and even boats were cheap as Uncle Sam looked to reduce inventory. Post-1950 stern-…
June 1, 2024
There’s no mistaking the “rattle-rattle-THUMP” of a feisty flounder attacking your bait. These oddly shaped bottom dwellers strike with authority and fight with a unique combination of vibrating head…
April 9, 2024
It’s a curious thing that we might learn something about fishing structure from Edward Teach, dba Blackbeard the Pirate, or more precisely, from physical changes around his late ship, the Queen Anne’…
September 23, 2023
Oyster bars are the spots to go for tasty seafood and in the case of striped bass, that means crabs, bay anchovy, Norfolk spot, and peanut bunker. Unfortunately, natural oyster bars today are but a…
September 5, 2023
Cape Hatteras is aptly known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, but Cape Henry at the Chesapeake Bay entrance has collected its share of wrecks - which have become fishing reefs - as well. A cluster…
August 11, 2023
The Chesapeake Bay entrance is best known for its fishing at the CBBT, but there's far more structure through this area than many anglers realize. Chart I of Chesapeake Bay entrance fishing spots…
November 29, 2022
A varied array of natural, accidental, and artificial reef building bottom features marked by blue circles on Chart 1 are available for sportfishing off the southern end of the Delaware – Cape…
November 10, 2022
During this leg of examining Delaware coastline structure and reef fishing, the focus is on a dozen offshore features shown by black circles on Chart 1 south of the Cape Henlopen – Five Fathom Bank.…
September 15, 2022
The Delaware seacoast is rather short, yet the saltwater wreck and reef fishing opportunities along it abound. Through the treacherous Delaware Bay ships carry local, regional, and international…
July 3, 2022
Previously we looked for rock formations in the Upper and Middle Bay and this month we pick up that theme off Cedar Point, where there are excellent online sonar resources that facilitate the scoping…
May 27, 2022
East Ocean View Reef, originally known as ODU College Reef, or ODU Reef, was sponsored by The Institute of Oceanography at Old Dominion University (ODU). The reef’s purpose was to support student…
April 23, 2022
Just how much can you learn with modern electronics, like a Furuno NavNet system with DFF3D capabilities? The scans tell the story. Off the middle of Assateague Island about 4.1 miles out, look for a…
March 25, 2022
“That reef’s not fishable” said the late Charter Captain Eddie O’Brien, who was dedicated to trolling for rockfish. “Why did they build it that way?” His complaint: the rubble was indiscriminately…
March 13, 2022
Established in 1970, the Tower Reef is one of Virginia’s early artificial reefs and was originally sponsored by the Tidewater Artificial Reef Association of Virginia (TARAV), before becoming part of…
February 15, 2022
Couch-potato scouting for fishing structure seemed like a worthwhile diversion during the pandemic shelter-in-place and scanning my computer screen for wrecks and obstructions started well; then the…
September 13, 2021
When the wind kicks up a nasty chop at favorite main-stem hotspots, knowledge of Bay area geography and tributaries like the Chester River can save a fishing day. Advance preparation enables…