September has met us with a few good opportunities to bend a rod, but has also offered a fairly hostile environment to test our skill and resolve. Stiff winds have provided a deluge of salty sea spray, even in somewhat sheltered waters. However, even in these conditions there is always something to get “Hooked up” with on the beautiful Eastern Shore!
The easterly wind has forced most anglers to the Chesapeake in search of calmer waters. The southern bay is still providing pullage from big bronze bulls. Most action has been late afternoon and into the evening as anglers lure drum by offering chunks of spot on 8/0 circle hooks on fish finder rigs. The area that we’ve been targeting is from just south of Watts to the Cell reef. On some of the same Chesapeake reef sites, black drum and sheepshead have been tempted to the back of the dip net with chunks of peeler on a tog sweeper style jig. While you are out on the structure, keep a lookout for some blue action. There has been some nice bluefish landed ( some pushing 30 inches) on swimming plugs like x-raps and yozuri’s.
The shallows have remained fairly quiet with a few keeper specs among droves of juveniles, both in the bay as well as seaside. A popping cork with a gulp chaser is probably as good of a trout presentation as you could offer. Suspending mirodeans have accounted for some higher quality fish but don’t seem to have near the frequency of engagements. The slot reds for the most part are MIA. However, a few are starting to show on both sides of the ESVA, but the numbers are still grim compared to last year.
The Maryland portion of the lower bay has provided some perch and rock action around the mouths of the rivers from the Wicomico down to the Pocomoke. Most fish have come from deeper holes on the small brackish tributaries of the lower rivers. A T&B rig with small # 4 beaded spinner hooks tipped with a tiny piece of peeler will do the trick. But I personally like to cast an ultra light spinning rod with a peeler tipped 1/16 ounce crappie jig and 2” curltail grub. This method allows me to cover more ground while getting a little more fight out of the fiesty but tasty targets. Along with the perch you will almost undoubtedly scrap with some stripes. And if you do happen to hook a nice rock with that super lightweight tackle, it’ll be like bear hunting with a switch. Definitely the most fun you can have while fishing in a glorified ditch!
Don’t forget there are several Chesapeake tournaments on the horizon that are family friendly and FUN. On September 26-28 grab your rod and try your luck at the Tangier Classic. It a great time and ALL proceeds go to an Eastern Shore family in need. Registration is open and can be completed at http://WWW.TANGIERCLASSIC.COM!
Hopefully, soon the wind will stop and we’ll “FALL” right into some great autumn angling. But till then find a leeward shore and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
The easterly wind has forced most anglers to the Chesapeake in search of calmer waters. The southern bay is still providing pullage from big bronze bulls. Most action has been late afternoon and into the evening as anglers lure drum by offering chunks of spot on 8/0 circle hooks on fish finder rigs. The area that we’ve been targeting is from just south of Watts to the Cell reef. On some of the same Chesapeake reef sites, black drum and sheepshead have been tempted to the back of the dip net with chunks of peeler on a tog sweeper style jig. While you are out on the structure, keep a lookout for some blue action. There has been some nice bluefish landed ( some pushing 30 inches) on swimming plugs like x-raps and yozuri’s.
The shallows have remained fairly quiet with a few keeper specs among droves of juveniles, both in the bay as well as seaside. A popping cork with a gulp chaser is probably as good of a trout presentation as you could offer. Suspending mirodeans have accounted for some higher quality fish but don’t seem to have near the frequency of engagements. The slot reds for the most part are MIA. However, a few are starting to show on both sides of the ESVA, but the numbers are still grim compared to last year.
The Maryland portion of the lower bay has provided some perch and rock action around the mouths of the rivers from the Wicomico down to the Pocomoke. Most fish have come from deeper holes on the small brackish tributaries of the lower rivers. A T&B rig with small # 4 beaded spinner hooks tipped with a tiny piece of peeler will do the trick. But I personally like to cast an ultra light spinning rod with a peeler tipped 1/16 ounce crappie jig and 2” curltail grub. This method allows me to cover more ground while getting a little more fight out of the fiesty but tasty targets. Along with the perch you will almost undoubtedly scrap with some stripes. And if you do happen to hook a nice rock with that super lightweight tackle, it’ll be like bear hunting with a switch. Definitely the most fun you can have while fishing in a glorified ditch!
Don’t forget there are several Chesapeake tournaments on the horizon that are family friendly and FUN. On September 26-28 grab your rod and try your luck at the Tangier Classic. It a great time and ALL proceeds go to an Eastern Shore family in need. Registration is open and can be completed at http://WWW.TANGIERCLASSIC.COM!
Hopefully, soon the wind will stop and we’ll “FALL” right into some great autumn angling. But till then find a leeward shore and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
Summer has ended and for some the sounds and salty smells of the beach, are replaced by school bells and sunsets commencing far too early. However, for the fishermen of the Eastern Shore, our intro to fall sounds more like the chugging of popping corks and the sizzle of a drag as a big red drum cooks up your reel for dinner. So take a minute to enjoy watching our fishing “fall” into place.
The leaves have not turned red and gold yet, but the Chesapeake has. The bull red bite is about as hot as a summer heat wave in Mississippi. We’ve had bent rods and big smiles as we battle big bronze bulls to the back of the boat. These trophies have been taking chunks of crab and cut baits like spot or hardhead on 8/0 circle hooked fishfinder rigs. The areas from the lower Tangier and Pocomoke Sound all the way down to just north of Cape Charles have been the most fertile, as anglers aggressively engage with these monsters in depths of 15 to 30 feet of water. Structure like natural hills and sloughs, as well as man made reefs are providing the scene for some of the best physical therapy around. While you are soaking crab chunks around the many reefs sites of the lower bay, don’t be surprised if you encounter a sheepshead or big black drum as a bonus. Several smaller, yet tasty, blacks have been boated right along with the reef resident reds.
The seaside has a little autumn excitement. The surf has been a bit quiet this summer but is now offering up some nice spot and a couple of reds. The reds have not been super numerous, however, the spot have been eager to scrap in the suds. Small float rigs tipped with bloodworm casted just beyond the break will provide plenty of panfish for the frying pan.
Farther east (when the wind allows) the offshore bite has been pretty darn good. A mix of white marlin and mahi made for an experience that will provide an unforgettable airshow that’ll make stress disappear faster than the line on your reel. The marlin have chose to do battle on the deep depths of the offshore canyons abreast of the ESVA. But the mahi have made it in a little closer to lay under floating flotsam around the twenty fathom line. Don’t come back without trying some tiles from the deep blue depths. These fish are a bountiful bonus that taste fantastic!
This week I had the privilege of taking my good friends, the Kriger’s. It came to my attention that neither of my good friends had ever boated a trophy red. To my delight, I got them out on Wednesday night and was able to witness both of them experience something brand new and breathtaking. They were perfect on the rod as they landed nine big bulls with citations for everybody. As I watched Miss Vanessa battling the last fish exactly as the sun retired behind the horizon, it became apparent how much we take for granted. In other words grab the ones you love and don’t dare let them miss any of the opportunities forwarded to us by this wonderful place that we call home!
The leaves have not turned red and gold yet, but the Chesapeake has. The bull red bite is about as hot as a summer heat wave in Mississippi. We’ve had bent rods and big smiles as we battle big bronze bulls to the back of the boat. These trophies have been taking chunks of crab and cut baits like spot or hardhead on 8/0 circle hooked fishfinder rigs. The areas from the lower Tangier and Pocomoke Sound all the way down to just north of Cape Charles have been the most fertile, as anglers aggressively engage with these monsters in depths of 15 to 30 feet of water. Structure like natural hills and sloughs, as well as man made reefs are providing the scene for some of the best physical therapy around. While you are soaking crab chunks around the many reefs sites of the lower bay, don’t be surprised if you encounter a sheepshead or big black drum as a bonus. Several smaller, yet tasty, blacks have been boated right along with the reef resident reds.
The seaside has a little autumn excitement. The surf has been a bit quiet this summer but is now offering up some nice spot and a couple of reds. The reds have not been super numerous, however, the spot have been eager to scrap in the suds. Small float rigs tipped with bloodworm casted just beyond the break will provide plenty of panfish for the frying pan.
Farther east (when the wind allows) the offshore bite has been pretty darn good. A mix of white marlin and mahi made for an experience that will provide an unforgettable airshow that’ll make stress disappear faster than the line on your reel. The marlin have chose to do battle on the deep depths of the offshore canyons abreast of the ESVA. But the mahi have made it in a little closer to lay under floating flotsam around the twenty fathom line. Don’t come back without trying some tiles from the deep blue depths. These fish are a bountiful bonus that taste fantastic!
This week I had the privilege of taking my good friends, the Kriger’s. It came to my attention that neither of my good friends had ever boated a trophy red. To my delight, I got them out on Wednesday night and was able to witness both of them experience something brand new and breathtaking. They were perfect on the rod as they landed nine big bulls with citations for everybody. As I watched Miss Vanessa battling the last fish exactly as the sun retired behind the horizon, it became apparent how much we take for granted. In other words grab the ones you love and don’t dare let them miss any of the opportunities forwarded to us by this wonderful place that we call home!
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.