Some breaks in the weather have allowed eager anglers to get out on the water and pursue their prey. The Lower Eastern Shore has provided some productive tides and times. We are all pretty lucky to have all of this right out our backdoor.
The Chesapeake continues beating it’s drums ( both black and red). Blacks have been located in their normal haunts , around oyster rocks in depths of 12-25 feet. Along with hard bottom a chunk peeler on a 8/0 circle hooks with fish fishfinder style rigs. On these rocky knolls, bull reds have also started to appear and give extra pullage but unfortunately not adding filets to fill the family dinner table. The shallows are improving as far as speckled and striped adversaries. While chunks of crabs have been the main stay for attracting specs, rock and reds, popping corks and surface walking plugs are starting to grab more attention as well as opportunities to grab the net. The start of the transition from bait to artificials has been welcomed, as the bait stealing croakers, spot and kingfish, emaciate crab baits as fast as they can be presented. Along with stalking the shallows, casting for some big blues can get the excitement boiling and drag screaming. These fish have been around some of the man made structures and taking surface plugs and rap-10’s. While you are around these same snaggy structures, put a sweeper jig on, tipped with crab for a striped sheepshead struggle that is as much fun on the rod as it is on the plate.
The seaside has produced some welcome sea bass action as anglers dunk squid strips on inshore wrecks to lure lunker knotheads out of the lares. Farther inshore floundering fishermen fill limits ( on the good days) and have family fun corralling up some of the most coveted fillets a fish could provide. Pink teasers and silversides are still in the lead for productivity. However, clear water is the most crucial component to a delicious dinner. The water has been cleanest during the last of the flood and first of the ebb. Remember, as June 1 approaches the size limit will change to a 17.5 inch minimum.The 4 fish creel remains the same. Summer is almost here!
The surf has given up some beautiful spot-tails and a few rock as well. The sportsman of the sands have been using a combination of hi-lo rigs and modified fishfinder rigs to sneak these big guys from the bar through the suds and onto the sand. Some blues and kingfish also have come to play, however, until the titans of the beach move on , their presence will barely raise a brow.
Today in the store I got opportunity to see a friend of mine sneak away from work and school with is son for a school year flounder finally. After getting there bait and anything else they needed, they were off to make memories that will last longer than those summer nights of chasing fireflies that seemed to never end. As Ethan, Sammy and Belle get older and more immersed in (nearly adult) life we all need to remind ourselves to not take time for granted. So get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
The Chesapeake continues beating it’s drums ( both black and red). Blacks have been located in their normal haunts , around oyster rocks in depths of 12-25 feet. Along with hard bottom a chunk peeler on a 8/0 circle hooks with fish fishfinder style rigs. On these rocky knolls, bull reds have also started to appear and give extra pullage but unfortunately not adding filets to fill the family dinner table. The shallows are improving as far as speckled and striped adversaries. While chunks of crabs have been the main stay for attracting specs, rock and reds, popping corks and surface walking plugs are starting to grab more attention as well as opportunities to grab the net. The start of the transition from bait to artificials has been welcomed, as the bait stealing croakers, spot and kingfish, emaciate crab baits as fast as they can be presented. Along with stalking the shallows, casting for some big blues can get the excitement boiling and drag screaming. These fish have been around some of the man made structures and taking surface plugs and rap-10’s. While you are around these same snaggy structures, put a sweeper jig on, tipped with crab for a striped sheepshead struggle that is as much fun on the rod as it is on the plate.
The seaside has produced some welcome sea bass action as anglers dunk squid strips on inshore wrecks to lure lunker knotheads out of the lares. Farther inshore floundering fishermen fill limits ( on the good days) and have family fun corralling up some of the most coveted fillets a fish could provide. Pink teasers and silversides are still in the lead for productivity. However, clear water is the most crucial component to a delicious dinner. The water has been cleanest during the last of the flood and first of the ebb. Remember, as June 1 approaches the size limit will change to a 17.5 inch minimum.The 4 fish creel remains the same. Summer is almost here!
The surf has given up some beautiful spot-tails and a few rock as well. The sportsman of the sands have been using a combination of hi-lo rigs and modified fishfinder rigs to sneak these big guys from the bar through the suds and onto the sand. Some blues and kingfish also have come to play, however, until the titans of the beach move on , their presence will barely raise a brow.
Today in the store I got opportunity to see a friend of mine sneak away from work and school with is son for a school year flounder finally. After getting there bait and anything else they needed, they were off to make memories that will last longer than those summer nights of chasing fireflies that seemed to never end. As Ethan, Sammy and Belle get older and more immersed in (nearly adult) life we all need to remind ourselves to not take time for granted. So get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
Angler Ayden Elliott landed this nice drum with Capt CL from Tangier Sound Charters this morning. It’ll definitely be a memorable Memorial Day for this young man!
It has been a bit challenging this week to bend a rod, but those that persisted were those that persevered. From seaside to the Chesapeake anglers endured sea, spray, and swell in pursuit of their passion. As the weekend draws near, our hopes of a screaming drag rises like an incoming tide during a northeast wind. (And we should know after the last couple of days of high water, we could have started fishing in the parking lot at the boat ramp.)
The Chesapeake has offered up some dynamite but diverse opportunities. Bluefish have taken up residence around some of the structure in and around the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Casting surface walking plugs like the Rapala Skitterwalk or subsurface suspending baits like the Rap-10 is all that is required to send these toothy turbocharged trophies into an arial assault that will bend your rod into a frown and your mouth into a smile. The skinny water scene had been anything but scarce as anglers target stripes , specs, and spots with chunks of crab soaked on the edge of grass flats. As the water warms and the tides turn- lures like mirrolures, paddletails, surface plugs and popping corks are starting to get some love. Specs and rock have been the most eager takers in regard to the artificial offerings. Hopefully, some pup sized reds will make an appearance to steal the “spot” light!
The Atlantic has been fairly angry with a northeast wind fanning the flames that result in high tides and tall seas. The Assateague surf has provided pullage from reds, rock and a few remaining black drum . Modified fishfinder rigs with peeler crab anchored with heavy surf style or Sputnik sinkers have brought these brawlers to the beach.
The water, although high the last few days, has been fairly clear leading to some unexpected floundering on the seaside. With the winds and the rain from this past week we would of bet on a slow bite in muddy water. However , to our surprise the water was clear and the wind manageable enough to put some dinner on the table. Lately pink teasers tipped with gulp swimming mullets and silversides have been the fist choice for floundering fishermen.
While most are in search of flatfish fillets, others are starting to look for a striped opponent with a sheepish grin ( with some wild looking teeth). Sheepshead have started to make their presence known inside the inlets and just offshore of the VA Barrier Islands. These bullish battlers can be targeted around structures like wrecks and pilings with sweeper style jigs and a chunk of crab or sand flea.
As the weekend draws near and we fret about wind, weather, and what kind of fishing we want to do, we do need to remember the ones who gave their lives making this the greatest country in the world. So grab the kids, family, and friends and make this a memorable Memorial Day doing what we love in this wonderful we call home!
The Chesapeake has offered up some dynamite but diverse opportunities. Bluefish have taken up residence around some of the structure in and around the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Casting surface walking plugs like the Rapala Skitterwalk or subsurface suspending baits like the Rap-10 is all that is required to send these toothy turbocharged trophies into an arial assault that will bend your rod into a frown and your mouth into a smile. The skinny water scene had been anything but scarce as anglers target stripes , specs, and spots with chunks of crab soaked on the edge of grass flats. As the water warms and the tides turn- lures like mirrolures, paddletails, surface plugs and popping corks are starting to get some love. Specs and rock have been the most eager takers in regard to the artificial offerings. Hopefully, some pup sized reds will make an appearance to steal the “spot” light!
The Atlantic has been fairly angry with a northeast wind fanning the flames that result in high tides and tall seas. The Assateague surf has provided pullage from reds, rock and a few remaining black drum . Modified fishfinder rigs with peeler crab anchored with heavy surf style or Sputnik sinkers have brought these brawlers to the beach.
The water, although high the last few days, has been fairly clear leading to some unexpected floundering on the seaside. With the winds and the rain from this past week we would of bet on a slow bite in muddy water. However , to our surprise the water was clear and the wind manageable enough to put some dinner on the table. Lately pink teasers tipped with gulp swimming mullets and silversides have been the fist choice for floundering fishermen.
While most are in search of flatfish fillets, others are starting to look for a striped opponent with a sheepish grin ( with some wild looking teeth). Sheepshead have started to make their presence known inside the inlets and just offshore of the VA Barrier Islands. These bullish battlers can be targeted around structures like wrecks and pilings with sweeper style jigs and a chunk of crab or sand flea.
As the weekend draws near and we fret about wind, weather, and what kind of fishing we want to do, we do need to remember the ones who gave their lives making this the greatest country in the world. So grab the kids, family, and friends and make this a memorable Memorial Day doing what we love in this wonderful we call home!
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Sometimes you have to stop and think how lucky we are to have the opportunities given to persue our passion. As time and tide flow, more rod bending quarry swim into the prestine waters of the Eastern Shore. With the start to rock and sea bass seasons, many anglers are excited to indulge in what was previously, forbidden fruit. From the Chesapeake to the Atlantic, these waters are providing plenty of pullage for the southern shore.
The surf continues to roll in with rock, black and red drum. The bait of choice is a mix of peeler chucks and sand fleas offered on modified fishfinder rigs with 6/0-8/0 rock ready non-offset circle hooks. Keep in mind the slot for rock is pretty slim with a 28”-31” size limit. Along with these sizable surf trophies, some bluefish and kingfish are starting to appear, adding to the variety available on the ESVA sands.
The flounder action, while still strong, has gotten a bit slower… or actually smaller. Numbers of undersized fish increased this week in relation to keepers. No worries though, there are still plenty of doormats to decorate the dinner table. Pink and white teasers have been pretty productive when tipped with a silverside or big bull minnow. Both tides have been productive with the best action coming on the flats of the ESVA in clear water.
The middle Chesapeake has been hot with good catches of black drum on the oyster rocks of the Pocomoke sound and reds, rock and a few specs lurking on the the edges of the many grassy flats in search of a soft crab dinner. It’s legal to take rock now in the Chesapeake as-well as the Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds, but keep in mind the mandatory use of non-offset circles, 1 fish bag limit and 19”-24” slot size restriction. In addition to the big bayside brawlers, some nice blues have shown up and eagerly come to play. These aerial acrobats have eagerly pursued a variety of artificial baits including Rap-10’s and topwater spook style baits. My good buddy Capt CL Marshall had a client who kept his fly rod bent on bullish blues and the captain busy with what is probably the most underrated sport fish around.
The nearshore Atlantic was the seen of an onslaught of seabassers, as anglers took to the big blue to engage in excellent fishing that leads to exquisite cuisine. Anglers rigged up in search of their limit of 15 fish (not to be less than 13”) and came back to the dock smiling and craving delicious fillets that we have been waiting for all spring.
The CBBT has had some great sheepshead and black drum fishing around the pilings. The sheepshead bite is early and plentiful. Hopefully these striped crab eaters will make their way up the bay as the year progresses.
With all these options and so little time, make sure that you don’t miss the chance at a memory with your friends or family. We are truly blessed to have these opportunities and especially blessed to enjoy this wonderful place that we call home !!!!!
The surf continues to roll in with rock, black and red drum. The bait of choice is a mix of peeler chucks and sand fleas offered on modified fishfinder rigs with 6/0-8/0 rock ready non-offset circle hooks. Keep in mind the slot for rock is pretty slim with a 28”-31” size limit. Along with these sizable surf trophies, some bluefish and kingfish are starting to appear, adding to the variety available on the ESVA sands.
The flounder action, while still strong, has gotten a bit slower… or actually smaller. Numbers of undersized fish increased this week in relation to keepers. No worries though, there are still plenty of doormats to decorate the dinner table. Pink and white teasers have been pretty productive when tipped with a silverside or big bull minnow. Both tides have been productive with the best action coming on the flats of the ESVA in clear water.
The middle Chesapeake has been hot with good catches of black drum on the oyster rocks of the Pocomoke sound and reds, rock and a few specs lurking on the the edges of the many grassy flats in search of a soft crab dinner. It’s legal to take rock now in the Chesapeake as-well as the Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds, but keep in mind the mandatory use of non-offset circles, 1 fish bag limit and 19”-24” slot size restriction. In addition to the big bayside brawlers, some nice blues have shown up and eagerly come to play. These aerial acrobats have eagerly pursued a variety of artificial baits including Rap-10’s and topwater spook style baits. My good buddy Capt CL Marshall had a client who kept his fly rod bent on bullish blues and the captain busy with what is probably the most underrated sport fish around.
The nearshore Atlantic was the seen of an onslaught of seabassers, as anglers took to the big blue to engage in excellent fishing that leads to exquisite cuisine. Anglers rigged up in search of their limit of 15 fish (not to be less than 13”) and came back to the dock smiling and craving delicious fillets that we have been waiting for all spring.
The CBBT has had some great sheepshead and black drum fishing around the pilings. The sheepshead bite is early and plentiful. Hopefully these striped crab eaters will make their way up the bay as the year progresses.
With all these options and so little time, make sure that you don’t miss the chance at a memory with your friends or family. We are truly blessed to have these opportunities and especially blessed to enjoy this wonderful place that we call home !!!!!
