Anglers across the Eastern Shore are finding spring fishing productive—when the wind allows. Flounder, black drum, and red drum are being caught in solid numbers, particularly during calmer weather windows and when water clarity improves.
Upper Shore: Flounder Bite Strong on the Seaside
Captain Matt Abell from Sea Hawk Sports Center noted the flounder bite on the seaside has been the main draw. Clear water during the ebb tide has produced the best results. Productive bottom rigs feature white, pink, or chartreuse colors, often tipped with frozen silversides.
Black drum remain active, with fish caught in the surf on sand fleas and crab chunks. On the bayside, black drum are being pulled from the shell piles in Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds using crab baits. Red drum have made a few early appearances in the shallows, though action remains spotty.
Chincoteague: Flounder Holding Despite Winds
Flounder fishing around Chincoteague has held up well even with gusty conditions, according to Jimmy Vasiliou at Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle. Anglers are favoring pink and orange bucktails paired with Berkley Gulp, live minnows, or silversides.
As of early this week, a 5-pound, 3-ounce flounder was leading the shop’s annual tournament. Meanwhile, Assateague surf anglers are reporting solid black drum action and increasing striped bass catches. Bluefish up to 20 inches and the year’s first sand mullet (whiting) have also been landed.
Wachapreague: Productive Tides and Consistent Flounder Action
Captain Lindsay Paul of the Almost Persuaded said Wachapreague’s flounder bite has been reliable during periods of calm wind. Bucktails with Gulp and live baits are helping many anglers reach their limits. The most productive windows have come around tide changes, though bites are happening throughout the day.
Hot spots include Bullshead and the Green Channel. In tournament news, a 6-pound, 11-ounce flounder was topping the leaderboard at the Island House Flounder Tournament. The barrier island surf is producing black drum on clam and peeler crab baits, while black sea bass have been hitting offshore wrecks when weather permits.
Lower Shore: Red Drum Thick on the Flats
At Oceans East – Eastern Shore, Tyler Nestor reported excellent red drum fishing on the flats off Smith Island, where paddletails and crab baits are producing steady catch-and-release action. Black drum activity continues to pick up around Oyster and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Chowder clams, sea clams, and blue crab chunks have been the baits of choice.
Tautog fishing at the Cabbage Patch Reef and the bridge-tunnel has been outstanding, with fiddler crab and crab chunks leading the bite. Flounder fishing is starting to show signs of life around Wise Point and Kiptopeke, with anglers using live minnows and Berkley Gulp.
The Kiptopeke State Park pier has seen some puppy drum action on shrimp and cut mullet baits.
Seaside Surf: Mixed Bag Heating Up
Bailey’s Bait & Tackle reported warming temperatures continue to spark better catches along the seaside. Black drum dominate the surf and inlet reports, with a few striped and red drum in the mix. Incoming tides paired with crab and clam baits have been the most effective combination.
Flounder action is improving as well, with strong numbers and size reported from the inlets. Anglers using cut bait, live minnows, and Gulp are seeing success. On the lower bay, tautog are still being caught near the Cabbage Patch, and striped bass are hitting topwater lures along the lower bayside beaches.
Image/Source: easternshorepost
