The anticipation of autumn angling is upon us as we impatiently wait for fishing to “fall” into place. Whether you are chasing blues in the bay or are chasing mahi in the deep blue, the lower Eastern Shore has got something for everyone!
The Chesapeake has been the scene of some big blue blitzes located out in the main stem of the bay. Trolling plugs and spoons have provided bent rods and aerial explosions from these toothy trophies. A great deal of the blue bite has accrued around structure like wrecks and reefs. In these same havens some red and black drum have also taken up residence in anticipation of cooler water temperatures. Chunks of peeler crab have been the most enticing offering to bring the big bellowing brawlers to the back of the landing net.
The shallows have been slow with the spot-tails being sparse and the specs being small. Peeler and soft crab baits have produced most of the quality fish that have been boated lately. Popping corks and paddletails have accounted for good numbers of juvenile specs that will hopefully grow into future trophies. A few rock are starting to show up in the shallows of the sound. However, most of the striped scrappers are still cruising the creeks that feed into the mouths of the tributary rivers. Casting topwater spook style lures along with subsurface baits like paddletails have been pretty productive . All though, bottom fishing with peeler has been the most consistent method. Perching has also been good up these same tidal creeks. Bottom fishing with bloodworm and crab has added fillets to the fryer, but I enjoy casting 1/8 curltail jigs tipped with a little bit of bait to target these tasty to be tacos. White,chartreuse and pink have been productive when fishing around high water in less than 10’ depths.
The Atlantic side has had some excitement in the surf with a few fall reds showing up in the suds. While the fish have not been super plentiful, there have been enough singing drags to get folks talking. Modified fishfinder rigs tipped with cut spot, mullet, or crab have brought the battle to the beach.
Elsewhere on the seaside, floundering has been fair when the turbidity allows. Sea Hawk Flounder rigs tipped with big bull minnows and silversides have fooled some nice flatties into a trip over the gunwale. Still, with the 17-1/2 inch size limit, most get returned to fight another day. Along with the flounder, using a popping cork for specs has been fairly productive, but again the majority of the fish fall short of the legal limit.
The offshore action has been mainly comprised of a few mahi on the troll or bailing around floating structure. A few marlin have been encountered, but the tuna have seemed to have hightailed it for the time being. Seabass and tile fishing have helped add a tasty topping on an already delicious day at sea.
While fishing has been a little slower than we would like, it’s still pretty awesome we can always find something to get into to scratch that angling itch. So get out there, consider your options, try something new, and most of all….enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
The Chesapeake has been the scene of some big blue blitzes located out in the main stem of the bay. Trolling plugs and spoons have provided bent rods and aerial explosions from these toothy trophies. A great deal of the blue bite has accrued around structure like wrecks and reefs. In these same havens some red and black drum have also taken up residence in anticipation of cooler water temperatures. Chunks of peeler crab have been the most enticing offering to bring the big bellowing brawlers to the back of the landing net.
The shallows have been slow with the spot-tails being sparse and the specs being small. Peeler and soft crab baits have produced most of the quality fish that have been boated lately. Popping corks and paddletails have accounted for good numbers of juvenile specs that will hopefully grow into future trophies. A few rock are starting to show up in the shallows of the sound. However, most of the striped scrappers are still cruising the creeks that feed into the mouths of the tributary rivers. Casting topwater spook style lures along with subsurface baits like paddletails have been pretty productive . All though, bottom fishing with peeler has been the most consistent method. Perching has also been good up these same tidal creeks. Bottom fishing with bloodworm and crab has added fillets to the fryer, but I enjoy casting 1/8 curltail jigs tipped with a little bit of bait to target these tasty to be tacos. White,chartreuse and pink have been productive when fishing around high water in less than 10’ depths.
The Atlantic side has had some excitement in the surf with a few fall reds showing up in the suds. While the fish have not been super plentiful, there have been enough singing drags to get folks talking. Modified fishfinder rigs tipped with cut spot, mullet, or crab have brought the battle to the beach.
Elsewhere on the seaside, floundering has been fair when the turbidity allows. Sea Hawk Flounder rigs tipped with big bull minnows and silversides have fooled some nice flatties into a trip over the gunwale. Still, with the 17-1/2 inch size limit, most get returned to fight another day. Along with the flounder, using a popping cork for specs has been fairly productive, but again the majority of the fish fall short of the legal limit.
The offshore action has been mainly comprised of a few mahi on the troll or bailing around floating structure. A few marlin have been encountered, but the tuna have seemed to have hightailed it for the time being. Seabass and tile fishing have helped add a tasty topping on an already delicious day at sea.
While fishing has been a little slower than we would like, it’s still pretty awesome we can always find something to get into to scratch that angling itch. So get out there, consider your options, try something new, and most of all….enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
From gusty winds and seas to serene sunsets that please, that’s how quickly the Eastern Shore’s saltwater situation can switch. Now that it has, there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in the wonders and waters of the lower Eastern Shore!
The Chesapeake has been a little slow as the September shallows have been challenging to conquer. Speckles have been numerous but on the small side. However, a few decent fish have come over the gunwale after being tempted by soft baits trailing popping corks, as well as suspending jerk baits like mirrodeans. Slot reds are still MIA, but the Lord has seen fit to extend our time in pursuit of big bulls. These bronze brutes are found on the many reefs of the lower Chesapeake and can be tempted with a buffet of cut spot and peeler. While you are hunting on the hangs, you may encounter a nice sheepshead or black drum which will add to the excitement as well as the frying pan. Nice blues also can be found on these same structures. Casting Rapala xraps is probably the most lucrative way to bloody the deck and fill the cooler with these aerial acrobats.
Farther up the bay in the mouths of the Tangier tributaries both rock and perch have kept rods bent anglers busy. Some folks prefer the classic style of bottom fishing with small hooks tipped with bloodworm or peeler for these pan sized prey. However, I love casting small crappy jigs from 1/16 oz to 1/8 oz on ultralight tackle to lure these little but tasty treats into the box. While you are trying to procure a perfect perch dinner, rock have been plenty prevalent, and on that ultralight tackle a solid blast to battle with! While perching isn’t the most famed fishing of the Eastern Shore, it does make a great… TACO…. I mean experience doing what we love!
The Atlantic spent most of the week being ANGRY. However, after taking a day to calm down, fishing was able to resume. We had some better reports of flounder inside the inlets. A few more keepers were accounted for as anglers drifted Sea Hawk and Deadly Double flounder rigs sporting gulp swimming mullets and tipped with silversides and big bull minnows. The undersized fish still dwarfed the number of keepers, but improvement is still improvement. Anglers concentrating on casting have found good numbers of small but fun specs eager to sink a popping cork and give a little fight on a rod that’s super light.
In the deep blue of the Atlantic, conditions have finally improved to allow for pelagic pullage. Once the seas calmed, anglers reacclimated themselves to targeting floating flotsam in search of September mahi. While offshore the tile bite persisted and allowed for some tight lines and delicious dinners.
Whether you are deep dropping in the canyon or stalking the shallows of the sound, the cooling conditions have a lot of promise as we move into autumn. So grab your buddy, family or just the dog and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
The Chesapeake has been a little slow as the September shallows have been challenging to conquer. Speckles have been numerous but on the small side. However, a few decent fish have come over the gunwale after being tempted by soft baits trailing popping corks, as well as suspending jerk baits like mirrodeans. Slot reds are still MIA, but the Lord has seen fit to extend our time in pursuit of big bulls. These bronze brutes are found on the many reefs of the lower Chesapeake and can be tempted with a buffet of cut spot and peeler. While you are hunting on the hangs, you may encounter a nice sheepshead or black drum which will add to the excitement as well as the frying pan. Nice blues also can be found on these same structures. Casting Rapala xraps is probably the most lucrative way to bloody the deck and fill the cooler with these aerial acrobats.
Farther up the bay in the mouths of the Tangier tributaries both rock and perch have kept rods bent anglers busy. Some folks prefer the classic style of bottom fishing with small hooks tipped with bloodworm or peeler for these pan sized prey. However, I love casting small crappy jigs from 1/16 oz to 1/8 oz on ultralight tackle to lure these little but tasty treats into the box. While you are trying to procure a perfect perch dinner, rock have been plenty prevalent, and on that ultralight tackle a solid blast to battle with! While perching isn’t the most famed fishing of the Eastern Shore, it does make a great… TACO…. I mean experience doing what we love!
The Atlantic spent most of the week being ANGRY. However, after taking a day to calm down, fishing was able to resume. We had some better reports of flounder inside the inlets. A few more keepers were accounted for as anglers drifted Sea Hawk and Deadly Double flounder rigs sporting gulp swimming mullets and tipped with silversides and big bull minnows. The undersized fish still dwarfed the number of keepers, but improvement is still improvement. Anglers concentrating on casting have found good numbers of small but fun specs eager to sink a popping cork and give a little fight on a rod that’s super light.
In the deep blue of the Atlantic, conditions have finally improved to allow for pelagic pullage. Once the seas calmed, anglers reacclimated themselves to targeting floating flotsam in search of September mahi. While offshore the tile bite persisted and allowed for some tight lines and delicious dinners.
Whether you are deep dropping in the canyon or stalking the shallows of the sound, the cooling conditions have a lot of promise as we move into autumn. So grab your buddy, family or just the dog and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!