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!
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!
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