Article by Capt. Matt Abell
Some breaks in the weather have allowed eager anglers to get out on the water and pursue their prey. The Lower Eastern Shore has provided some productive tides and times. We are all pretty lucky to have all of this right out our back door.
The Chesapeake continues beating it’s drums (both black and red). Blacks have been located in their normal haunts, around oyster rocks in depths of 12-25 feet. Along with hard bottom a chunk peeler on a 8/0 circle hooks with fishfinder style rigs. On these rocky knolls, bull reds have also started to appear and give extra pullage, but unfortunately not adding fillets to fill the family dinner table. The shallows are improving as far as speckled and striped adversaries. While chunks of crabs have been the main stay for attracting specs, rock and reds, popping corks and surface walking plugs are starting to grab more attention as well as opportunities to grab the net. The start of the transition from bait to artificials has been welcomed, as the bait stealing croakers, spot and kingfish, emaciate crab baits as fast as they can be presented. Along with stalking the shallows, casting for some big blues can get the excitement boiling and drag screaming. These fish have been around some of the man made structures and taking surface plugs and rap-10’s. While you are around these same snaggy structures, put a sweeper jig on, tipped with crab for a striped sheepshead struggle that is as much fun on the rod as it is on the plate.
The seaside has produced some welcome sea bass action as anglers dunk squid strips on inshore wrecks to lure lunker knotheads out of their lairs. Farther inshore floundering fishermen fill limits (on the good days) and have family fun corralling up some of the most coveted fillets a fish could provide. Pink teasers and silversides are still in the lead for productivity. However, clear water is the most crucial component to a delicious dinner. The water has been cleanest during the last of the flood and first of the ebb. Remember, as June 1 approaches the size limit will change to a 17½” minimum. The 4 fish creel remains the same. Summer is almost here!
The surf has given up some beautiful spot-tails and a few rock as well. The sportsman of the sands have been using a combination of hi-lo rigs and modified fishfinder rigs to sneak these big guys from the bar through the suds and onto the sand. Some blues and kingfish also have com1e to play, however, until the titans of the beach move on , their presence will barely raise a brow.
Today in the store I got opportunity to see a friend of mine sneak away from work and school with is son for a school year flounder finally. After getting there bait and anything else they needed, they were off to make memories that will last longer than those summer nights of chasing fireflies that seemed to never end. As Ethan, Sammy and Belle get older and more immersed in (nearly adult) life we all need to remind ourselves to not take time for granted. So get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!
