Article by Capt. Matt Abell
We definitely have been reminded that we still are in a summertime weather pattern, but all and all August has been pretty pleasant. While the thermometer reminds us that fall fishing is not in casting distance yet, there is plenty to reel in on the beautiful southern Eastern Shore.
The best news from this past week has been courtesy of the 3 A’s. Awesome August Atlantic fishing.
White marlin have made a great showing in the deep to our north, while mahi have bent rods off Chincoteague and Wachapreague. Most fish have been on the smaller side but a lot of fun on light tackle. On Sunday morning, we hopped aboard the 10-4 Joker with Crazy Larry and boated a bunch of mouthwatering mahi in short order. It was an unforgettable experience as I got to witness Belle, Michelle and even my second daughter Reagan ( one of Belle’s best friends) smile , laugh and battle a bunch of crazy , colorful fish amongst the chaos of the mahi mayhem. We caught good numbers of fish on both chunk baits as well as by casting X-Raps around floating structures like pot floats and other debris found floating on the surface of the salty sea. The tuna bite continues to under perform, but tile fish save the day by providing a dinner from the deep.
The inshore Atlantic continues to provide Spanish and blues on the troll and also some late summer brown suits . Early this week there was considerable cobia carnage on some of the shoals between Chincoteague and Ocean City. Sight fishing has definitely been the most productive technique to lure these tussling trophies over the gunwale. A few flounder keep ambitious anglers pacified as they are reluctantly pulled from the structures of the inshore reefs.
The Chesapeake’s waters may not possess the deep shades of blue and beautiful crystal clear waters of the canyons, but it does have a tint of red as it has granted world class red fishing that shouldn’t ever be taken for granted. Both mature and puppy drum has straightened lines and created happy memories for anglers of the ESVA. The bull red bite has been hot from Watts Island south along the sloughs and hills of the Eastern Shore bay side. Cut spot on 8/0 circles with a fish-finder rig, have been the recipe for the channel bass challenge. We have been boating 5-7 reds a night with several breaking the 46” Va release citation mark.
The puppies have provided pullage in the shallows of the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Popping corks continue to produce predatory responses from passing pups that inhale jig heads tipped with paddle or curly tails as well as chunks of peeler crab. While targeting small spot tails, you may encounter a nice spec among the smaller trout that terrorize baits with much larger ambitions.
On some of the man made Chesapeake reefs and structures, sheepshead have finally made a striped toothy appearance. Chunks of peeler on sweeper jigs have convinced these timid biter’s to step up to the plate.. or maybe on the plate if everything goes as planned!
This week I have had the opportunity to see the sun rise up out of the Atlantic like a mahi trying to dislodge an anglers hook. I have also witnessed the sun sink beneath the western horizon like a drum pulling your rod tip down to the water. I saw my daughter in awe at the aerial acrobatics of a multi colored mahi and I saw a 7 year old boy boat his first bronze brawling red as he took a step in the right of passage to be a man. To witness and partake in all these things proved that we are so blessed to be the folks that get to live in this wonderful place we call home! §
