Article by Capt. Matt Abell
Well, it took all week but we finally got a break in the weather and were able to get back to doing what we all love to do. The fishing on the southern shore was surprisingly good as the water cleared and sun reappeared.
The flounder fishing on Saturday and Sunday was particularly good in the shallows of the eastern shore back bays. Fish have been feeding in shallow water from depths of 3-12 feet on either side of the tide that produces the best water clarity. Silversides have definitely been the bait of choice coupled with a Gulp swimming mullet, white or pink teaser. Capt. Bryan of Y-Knot Charters out of Chincoteague reported some really nice fish during an ebbing tide on chartreuse Gulp baits tipped with minnows and silversides.
The Virginia sea bass season opened today and anglers anticipation and excitement cut through this mornings fog like Rudolph’s nose in the old Christmas tale. Coastal Killer Kyle had a quick 4 man limit in the waters off Chincoteague on stingsilvers as well as lil’ bunker jigs. The quality was terrific with some impressive knotheads and very few throwbacks.
The Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds have had some really good bait fishing opportunities in the shallow waters which conceal grassy patches and submerged stumps. Peelers and soft crabs have been the most productive baits on an array of finned trophies including red and black drum, speckled trout and even a few big rock that are tardy for their coastal migration. Our good friend Bobby Graves boated a giant 30 inch spec on a trip with Capt. C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters. We’ll be starting our Sea Hawk casting trips around Tangier and Smith this week as the rock season moves into the spring and summer regulations of 19 inch (Maryland) and 20 inch (Virginia) minimum size limits.
The inlets and surf of the Virginia Barrier Islands are yielding some very nice black drum. These swimming monsters are taking sea or hard clams fished on a fishfinder rig with an 8/0 circle hook to seal the deal. The rising tide seems to be the most productive with good bites coming at dusk as well. The surf has also been producing some nice drum along with a few rock and even the first kingfish of the year. The Virginia Coastal Rock season will resume on May 16th with slot limit of 28-36 inches and a creel limit of 1 fish per angler.
The CBBT continues to contribute tog and sheepshead on crab baits fished near and around the pilings. Anglers looking for a battle have rounded the corner at Fisherman’s Island to target the big three (reds, blacks and rock) on the shoals just off the beach.
The wind and rain may have kept us on the hard early on, but we certainly have been blessed with some good fishing by the end of the week. Sometimes when the weather and life in general doesn’t let us do the things we want, when we want to do them, it’s sobering to think that we aren’t in charge and it’s a privilege to get to follow our passion in this wonderful place we call home. §
