Article by Capt. Matt Abell
The ESVA has had a lot to offer as June comes to a close. Fisherman have enjoyed an array of angling opportunities that would rival any world class destination which lures rod and reel laden folks like us.
Flounder have been in the spotlight this past week. The Sea Hawk Jones spent this week fishing the inlets of the ESVA for inshore summer flounder…. which, I guess just makes them flounder. All jokes aside, fishing was excellent with limits of fish going home with happy clients. The key was not necessarily the bait or rigs or even the boat captain, it was definitely the tide. Those fish turned on, with the last couple of hours of the flood and continued to bite on into the start of the ebb. We did well on Aquaclear rigs with pink, white, and chartreuse teasers tipped with swimming mullet Gulp and large bull minnows or silversides. The bulk of the fish were coerced from depths of 5-15 feet of clean, clear water in or near the inlets of the barrier islands. Elsewhere, these compressed predators are making an appearance on nearshore wrecks and reefs. The Blackfish Banks Reef off of Chincoteague has produced good numbers of flatfish. They were tempted by not only the typical top and bottom style rigs adorn with minnows, long strips of squid, silversides and smelt, but also 1 1/2 to 4 oz bucktails with 5”-6” gulp grubs. These spro/Gulp lures do best when jigged directly over the structure in reach of hungry flounder. Along with the prize of a flounder dinner, anglers have enjoyed a bycatch of ribbonfish, spadefish and triggers. The spadefish and triggers have been chummed up and taking small bits of clam fished on 20-30# fluorocarbon with #4-#1 short shank hooks under a slip float.
Cobia have commanded the majority of attention in the lower Chesapeake Bay area as anglers have pursued these scrappy brown suits with a combination of bunker chunks fished near the bottom along with live eels and brightly colored (pink and orange) jigs tipped with 7-9” jerk style soft plastics. However, the majority of fish have come on cut bait fished in a chum slick in water depths of 15-25 feet from the CBBT north to the lower reaches of the Pocomoke Sound. Anglers who have ventured south in pursuit of cobia have also had the opportunity to troll Clarkspoons for spanish mackerel and fish crab baits for some trophy sheepshead around the pilings. There is always something to do in the lower Chesapeake!
The surf and inland waters of the VA islands have also produced decent kingfish and croaker activity. These fish, small but numerous, have helped add a positive spin on many young anglers’ experiences. They readily take small pieces of squid fished on top and bottom rigs and are the antidote to any family fishing trip that is in danger of being labeled boring. Along with these promiscuous panfish, our krankin’ kiddos also have had a blast with Grade A catch and release shark fishing. These inshore sharks have been gobbling up cut chunks of mackerel and bunker fished on wire leadered 8/0 circle hooks. While some of us as seasoned fishermen turn our nose up at some of these trashy trophies, we sometimes forget that our number one goal is to have fun, fellowship and fishing memories forever.
Whether your fishing the salty seaside of the VA Barrier Islands or the excellent estuary of the Chesapeake, we need to remember that we are truly blessed to have a place like this that we call home. §
