Fair weather continues to lend us favorable sea conditions and improved fishing. Anglers fishing in boats of all sizes have been able to enjoy the bounties of our waters this week. With water temperatures well into the 70’s, a variety of species have become available.
BLUEFISH action can be enjoyed while both top water casting and trolling as well as chumming.
Chumming action continues to offer modest catches of 2-3 pound specimens along the channel edge from the Northern Neck reef and Buoy 62. Catches are best when few boats are around and a limited amount of chum is placed into the water. I have found the greatest chumming success during the morning or late afternoon hours. In Maryland waters, chumming continues to go well on the S.W. Middle Grounds under the same conditions as mentioned above.
Surface feeding schools have been found below the Tangier target ships, and scattered schools from Wolf trap light up to Windmill Point. The area around R2 outside of the Rappahannock river has a few fish as well. Many locations are yielding a mix of SPANISH MACKEREL along with the bluefish. Mackerel are beginning to show in the local area with numbers remaining lighter than those to the southern reaches of the bay where action is hot. The mackerel are not always found on the surface. A #1 or #2 planer will take your spoon a bit deeper and entice bites when they are not top-water feeding. Spoons working well for the bluefish include: #0 Clark spoon and #14 Tony Accetta spoons in both silver and gold, and a variety of #0Drone spoons in hot pink, green or chartreuse flash scale.
I use sixteen feet of 20# test leader with a black swivel in the middle. Sometimes a brass colored swivel will attract the fish and get cut off. Tie the spoon direct to the leader and at the opposite end use a quality snap swivel that may be attached to either an in-line sinker or a planer.
Although surface action has yet to blossom, if you prefer to cast or jig on these fish, cut the engine and drift slowly into the feeding schools. Gotcha plugs in silver, gold and chartreuse work well on the mackerel yet chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps are a favorite on bluefish. This is merely the beginning of surface action.
STRIPED BASS (rockfish) action has slowed in the Potomac river and southern Maryland waters. Although reduced in number, fish remain available along the channel edges.
CROAKER remain available throughout the region. The larger specimens are located in creeks and tributaries of the rivers as well as in the deeper water of the bay. Generally, croaker are averaging 10-12 inches in length with locations where bottoms have structure and grasses, fish are stretching the tapes to over 18 inches.
FLOUNDER fishing has not blossomed, but anglers are finding some legal size fish around the Cell, the mouth of Tangier sound, the flats atop the Middle Grounds and scattered landings while chumming the top of the shipping channel edges. Drifting long strips of squid, bluefish or flounder belly, sometimes sweetened with a bull minnow, will entice these flat fish. Fish finder rigs as well as drop rigs can be used in this application. I like to place a white or chartreuse skirt forward of my baits.
SPADE FISH are moving northward with action heating up at the Cell, Wolftrap light, and other areas of structure in the middle bay waters. Clam is the key to success with these tasty fish.
SPECKLED TROUT action has picked up in the shallows from Windmill Point up to the Great Wicomico River. The rental boats at Ingram Bay Marina have been landing a mix of trout, croaker and small blues at the mouth of the Great Wicomico River and its tributaries this week.
If you would like to have a picture of your catch included with this article, send me a photo captbilly@captbillyscharters.com or just call in your catch to me at 580-7292 .
On this 4th of July weekend, fly your flags proudly and reflect on the selfless acts of heroism that our forefathers and veterans have given us to preserve our freedom as a nation. While you’re out having a great time on the water, take a quiet moment to say a prayer for our solders-both past and present.
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend with your families.
