Article by Capt. Matt Abell
When you think of August your mind tends to contemplate on summer ending with kids getting ready for school, hot humid heat and afternoon squalls that keep fishermen’s eyes on the horizon to the west. However, the temperature has been bearable, school bells remain silent and rain gear is in good supply. So get out there and enjoy ESVA!
The biggest story of the week has been the onset of the Chesapeake late summer bull red drum run. Some of these drumming dino fish stretch out to the 50 plus inch range and are truly a fish of a lifetime. Super spot tails are being tempted with chunks of cut spot, hardhead, bluefish and kingfish offered on a fishfinder rig with 7/0-9/0 preferably circle hooks on 80-100 pound leader. The area slightly below Onancock down to just south of the cell reef have produced bent rods and big smiles. Small hills and sloughs in 15-30 foot depths have been the scene of some bullish battles and extreme Eastern Shore trophies. Make sure you’re prepared to have plenty of baits on hand as you will encounter numbers of bait stealing blues, sharks and rays that will facilitate feelings of frustration that can only be remedied by the head shaking runs of an ESVA bull.
Spanish mackerel have also been adding some excitement to our little corner of the world. Anglers have pursued these speedy spotted quarry from Smith Island all the way down to the CBBT. Trolling silver, gold, chartreuse and pink Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers have been the dinner bell calling these toothy trophies to the supper table. Some of these fish have raised a brow or two. In fact, our good friend ”Earning Stripes Sportfishing” out of Cape Charles had a massive 5.5 lb., 28 inch magnum this past week…. What a fish!
In the offshore waters of the Atlantic, mahi have taken center stage with good numbers of small to medium sized fish around bass pots and other floating flotsam from the canyon to the 20 fathom line.
The nearshore reefs, while still producing spades and triggers have witnessed a decline in flounder action. However, the slight cool down in water temp has helped reinforce a very late summer inshore flatfish bite. Fisherman have targeted the last of the flood and first of the ebb to obtain the coolest, cleanest water that contains these tasty fillets that would make just about anyones mouth water. Chartreuse, pink and white teasers coupled with Gulp and tipped with minnows and or silversides are the tools of choice to stretch lines and fill coolers.
The slight cool down has refreshed our shallow water bite as well as our shallow water fisherman’s enthusiasm. Specs, rock and even a few pups have chased down paddle tails and surface walking baits to give anglers a glimpse of what the fall has in store for all of us who love to cast the shallows of the Chesapeake.
This past week I was fortunate enough to be spending time with clients, who I am proud to call friends, in search of some brawling bulls in the southern Chesapeake. As dusk approached, we were immersed in a heavenly sunset that would rival sights found anywhere in the world. It was a beautiful painting directly from the brush of God and given to the best folks in the world who call this wonderful place home. §
