This week brought in a few days of driving rains and torrential tropical downpours. But when the rain wasn’t falling the fish were biting. Both the seaside and the Chesapeake offered action and excitement that would dry up all the tears and puddles, no matter how sad the weather was. All these fin-tastic factors are filling dreams of a fillet filled Fathers Day finale on Sunday!
The Chesapeake has continued to offer a palate of colorful pullage as trophies of red, blue, brown (suits), some with stripes and others with spots, take baits and bend rods in the salty shallows of the sounds. Reds have continued to stalk the grassy shallows in search of delicious soft crab delicacies. Most fish are tempted by a chunk of crab on a fishfinder rig. While searching the sweet water of the sound,casting popping corks and mirrolures have pulled specs, rock and even the first few puppies from their grassy lairs. For us ,popping cork’s had the best results when rigged with a 1/8-3/16 oz head and a gulp or assassin with a little procure to make it down right irresistible. In a little deeper water, around structure of natural and man made origins, scrappy sheepshead have been sinking their teeth into crab chunks on tog jigs. This week I have the privilege of taking the Kerrigan brothers on a charter. The rods were bent and the grins were anything but sheepish. We had several nice fish with one toothy trophy approaching the 10 lbs. mark. Around some of these same structures a healthy bunch of blues have been patrolling in tight schools. Casting Rap-10’s and surface walkers are all that is needed to enjoy the aerial antics of these speedy wolves of the bay, should the opportunity surface. The most anticipated arrival to the party will be fashionably dawning a brown suit. Cobia have appeared from Watts Island down to the CBBT, and just in time for the start of the season on 6/15. Chunks of bunker laid out on fishfinder rigs with 7/0-8/0 circles in a chum slick will definitely do the trick. Remember there is NO VA Cobia permit required, however, the minimum size has increased to 43”. Even if they have to go back over the gunwale, it is a lot of fun to stretch your line on these crazy cobes!
The seaside has had some sheepshead action as well. Chincoteague anglers have targeted pilings and other structures to fill coolers with succulent striped fillets. Chunks of peeler crab and sandfleas have been on the menu. The flounder fishing is still fairly consistent with pink and chartreuse teasers tipped with silversides and minnows, bringing flounder to the boat both inside the inlets of the VA Barrier Islands as well as the many reefs just off the coast. While searching the reefs for fine tasting fillets keep a look out for triggers and spades that will always add a extra exotic element to the already delicious day. As long as we are talking dinner, seabass and tile fishing are still strong, but weather has been the limiting factor.
This Father’s Day weekend get the kids, grab some oilskins ( if needed), and do whatever is necessary to make new Dad Day memories or spend time reminiscing about old ones. Just get out there with the ones we love, and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
The Chesapeake has continued to offer a palate of colorful pullage as trophies of red, blue, brown (suits), some with stripes and others with spots, take baits and bend rods in the salty shallows of the sounds. Reds have continued to stalk the grassy shallows in search of delicious soft crab delicacies. Most fish are tempted by a chunk of crab on a fishfinder rig. While searching the sweet water of the sound,casting popping corks and mirrolures have pulled specs, rock and even the first few puppies from their grassy lairs. For us ,popping cork’s had the best results when rigged with a 1/8-3/16 oz head and a gulp or assassin with a little procure to make it down right irresistible. In a little deeper water, around structure of natural and man made origins, scrappy sheepshead have been sinking their teeth into crab chunks on tog jigs. This week I have the privilege of taking the Kerrigan brothers on a charter. The rods were bent and the grins were anything but sheepish. We had several nice fish with one toothy trophy approaching the 10 lbs. mark. Around some of these same structures a healthy bunch of blues have been patrolling in tight schools. Casting Rap-10’s and surface walkers are all that is needed to enjoy the aerial antics of these speedy wolves of the bay, should the opportunity surface. The most anticipated arrival to the party will be fashionably dawning a brown suit. Cobia have appeared from Watts Island down to the CBBT, and just in time for the start of the season on 6/15. Chunks of bunker laid out on fishfinder rigs with 7/0-8/0 circles in a chum slick will definitely do the trick. Remember there is NO VA Cobia permit required, however, the minimum size has increased to 43”. Even if they have to go back over the gunwale, it is a lot of fun to stretch your line on these crazy cobes!
The seaside has had some sheepshead action as well. Chincoteague anglers have targeted pilings and other structures to fill coolers with succulent striped fillets. Chunks of peeler crab and sandfleas have been on the menu. The flounder fishing is still fairly consistent with pink and chartreuse teasers tipped with silversides and minnows, bringing flounder to the boat both inside the inlets of the VA Barrier Islands as well as the many reefs just off the coast. While searching the reefs for fine tasting fillets keep a look out for triggers and spades that will always add a extra exotic element to the already delicious day. As long as we are talking dinner, seabass and tile fishing are still strong, but weather has been the limiting factor.
This Father’s Day weekend get the kids, grab some oilskins ( if needed), and do whatever is necessary to make new Dad Day memories or spend time reminiscing about old ones. Just get out there with the ones we love, and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
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As the month of May goes away June fishing is here to stay. Fishing, on the Lower Eastern Shore, is shifting to an early summer pattern. The red hot fishing action is a mere precursor of the hot and humid conditions to come. So grab a rod and enjoy the start to summer.
The Middle Chesapeake has continued to hog up the main stage with great action from several species. There has been a excellent grade of rock around structure and grass flats, with most ( but not all) fish exceeding the slot limit and offering spectacular striped action on both artificial as well as bait offerings. As long as we’re talking spectacular… the spec bite has improved a good bit. Most fish are lured into the net by chunks of crab presented on the edges of the many grass flats of the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. However, others are lured by just that….lures. We did great this week on the Sea Hawk “ POP-A-LICIOUS” popping corks trailed with a 3/16 oz Freedom Bait jig head tipped with a Gulp swimming mullet. The black drum have slowed ( not stopped) a bit while bull reds continue to scarf up crab baits and make your drag scream. The only worry is the lack of pups to pacify the plate at the dinner table. Around some of the Chesapeake reefs we have scraped with some striped sheepshead. These light biting but delicious dinner fare have taken tog jigs tipped with crab as an invitation to supper . Around some of these same reefs, some brutally aggressive blues have bullied there way to the gunwale in pursuit of surface walking plugs and suspending baits like the Rap-10. A few of the Ariel acrobats have exceeded the 30” mark… a true Chesapeake Challenge!!
The lower bay has continued to produce reds , blacks, and lots of Sheepshead on the piles of the CBBT. Fish are targeted with crab baits on tog / sweeper jigs. The new news comes from the “ Man in the Brown Suit “. Pre-season Cobia have started to show and are patrolling their typical haunts. From the CBBT to Cape Charles fishermen are encountering early yet eager cobes providing lots of fun! It hopefully will continue for opening day in the middle of the month.
The productivity of inshore seaside fishing has shrunk a bit as the flounder limit has grown. There are still plenty of fish, with a few keepers mixed in. The best tide has been the last of the flood and first of the ebb, and the best baits have been pink teasers tipped with gulp, big minnows or silversides. The nearshore bite has consisted of sheepshead and a few flounder starting to show on shallow wrecks and seabass on deeper structures. Tiles have been prevalent in the deep. Hopfully, some pelagic prey will swim into the picture soon.
This week I had the privilege of having my oldest son Ethan home from the USCG Cutter “Tiger Shark “. E, his Mom and sister ( complete with boyfriend) actually stole an afternoon and fished out of Crisfield. We had a limit of rock (with more to release), some huge blues, specs, and even some tog and sheepshead. I noticed that despite E having the opportunity to fish all over the country, the Eastern Shore is still pretty much as good as it gets. So grab your family (while you can) and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!!
The Middle Chesapeake has continued to hog up the main stage with great action from several species. There has been a excellent grade of rock around structure and grass flats, with most ( but not all) fish exceeding the slot limit and offering spectacular striped action on both artificial as well as bait offerings. As long as we’re talking spectacular… the spec bite has improved a good bit. Most fish are lured into the net by chunks of crab presented on the edges of the many grass flats of the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. However, others are lured by just that….lures. We did great this week on the Sea Hawk “ POP-A-LICIOUS” popping corks trailed with a 3/16 oz Freedom Bait jig head tipped with a Gulp swimming mullet. The black drum have slowed ( not stopped) a bit while bull reds continue to scarf up crab baits and make your drag scream. The only worry is the lack of pups to pacify the plate at the dinner table. Around some of the Chesapeake reefs we have scraped with some striped sheepshead. These light biting but delicious dinner fare have taken tog jigs tipped with crab as an invitation to supper . Around some of these same reefs, some brutally aggressive blues have bullied there way to the gunwale in pursuit of surface walking plugs and suspending baits like the Rap-10. A few of the Ariel acrobats have exceeded the 30” mark… a true Chesapeake Challenge!!
The lower bay has continued to produce reds , blacks, and lots of Sheepshead on the piles of the CBBT. Fish are targeted with crab baits on tog / sweeper jigs. The new news comes from the “ Man in the Brown Suit “. Pre-season Cobia have started to show and are patrolling their typical haunts. From the CBBT to Cape Charles fishermen are encountering early yet eager cobes providing lots of fun! It hopefully will continue for opening day in the middle of the month.
The productivity of inshore seaside fishing has shrunk a bit as the flounder limit has grown. There are still plenty of fish, with a few keepers mixed in. The best tide has been the last of the flood and first of the ebb, and the best baits have been pink teasers tipped with gulp, big minnows or silversides. The nearshore bite has consisted of sheepshead and a few flounder starting to show on shallow wrecks and seabass on deeper structures. Tiles have been prevalent in the deep. Hopfully, some pelagic prey will swim into the picture soon.
This week I had the privilege of having my oldest son Ethan home from the USCG Cutter “Tiger Shark “. E, his Mom and sister ( complete with boyfriend) actually stole an afternoon and fished out of Crisfield. We had a limit of rock (with more to release), some huge blues, specs, and even some tog and sheepshead. I noticed that despite E having the opportunity to fish all over the country, the Eastern Shore is still pretty much as good as it gets. So grab your family (while you can) and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!!
