Article by Capt. Matt Abell
If you have ever fished the ESVA, or anywhere for that matter, you know the change of a tide can bring a whole new spread of opportunities to all of us in pursuit of battles from beneath. With fall impending, we are experiencing a change of season that will offer new chances to enjoy fishing much like a seasonal tide. Days shrinking and warm water cooling will help mix up the hook ups on our beautiful eastern shore.
The Chesapeake continues to bless us with world class trophy red drum fishing from Cape Charles north to the Maryland line. Bait fishing with cut spot has been the most productive method for targeting fish in 15-30 feet of water around structure. The structure can be man made like the many reef sites in the lower Chesapeake as well as natural shoals and sloughs that provide baitfish a refuge from tide and current. Their have been a few puppies showing up on seaside and bayside alike. Most of these bronze bullet shaped brawlers have been in and around shallow grass beds and oyster rocks.
The offshore scene has been dominated by a great mahi bite. Most of the action has taken place inshore of the 20 fathom line. Any kind of floating flotsam has held schools of small to medium dolphin that are a delight to wrestle with on light tackle as well as with a fork on your dinner plate. While in search of mahi laden reefs floating in the Atlantic, trolling small skirted ballyhoo as well as wahoo walkers and diving plugs have accounted for a fair number of bites from fat alberts, wahoo, kings and a stray tuna. If all else fails there are always seabass, triggers and spade opportunities on the wrecks just off the ESVA coast. Spanish mackerel have been pretty plentiful off the coast of Chincoteague. Anglers have been trolling clarkspoons behind planers to tempt these torpedos full of teeth into the cooler.
Sheepshead continue to provide action as they struggle in the structure of the Tangier Sound and lower Chesapeake. Fish have been lured by chunks of crab fished right in the middle of the ragged reef that they had taken up residence in. Some of these trophies with funny looking teeth have topped the scales at 10 plus pounds, so get ready for a fight and hold on!
The seaside continues to support a pretty good flounder bite. However, a few specs have shown up in the shallows. Sammy and I went out to test the warm waters of the Chincoteague bay with paddle tails. We quickly picked up a couple of spotted beauties before darkness pushed us back to the dock. While we were slowly moving along the banks of the salt marshes, my son Sammy who has an fondness for toothy tussles with sharks, put out a line with cut bait on a wired up circle hook. With in seconds Sammy’s rod was bent and my hopes of catching a pile of nice seaside specs vanished faster than a full moon tide. But that’s the awesome thing about the Eastern Shore, things may not go as planned, but you will always have a blast in this wonderful place we call home! §
