October Tangier Sound Fishing Report 10/27/2017:
The Sound has been alive this week, with Sea Hawks Sports Center reporting a fair number of specks still around for this time of the year. Most have been hanging relatively close to shore, although there have been reports of some holding in 10 to 12 feet of water. Look for the deep holes scoured out by the current along points and you may find significant numbers of fish holding in them. Little number-one spoons have been catching the specks, along with topwater at dusk. There have been plenty of rockfish mixed in with the shallow water bite, especially for anglers fishing topwater. The shorelines of Hooper's and Deal's Islands, the bridge at Little Hooper's, and Spring Island were all mentioned as good bets for shallow water stripers but most of the rockfish have been smaller in size and the keepers few and far between. Those focused on bigger rockfish have done better trolling in open water, near drop-offs and channel edges in the 15' to 25' range. Tsunamis and bucktails dressed with white shad tails are the best bets.
Spot have continued to hold in the Sound as well, although they're getting tougher to find and the live-lining bite has significantly dropped off. Puffers and a few weakfish are in the mix for bottom fishermen although all of the warm-water species are thinning out. We didn't hear of croaker this week though there should still be some around. Same goes for redfish, which are being caught here and there but not in significant numbers; the best fishing of the year for this species seems to be past.
October Tangier Sound Fishing Report 10/20/2017:
Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that although rockfish in the Sound have been fairly small and dropping in numbers, spot have been packed into the Sound. Many of the spot have been large, and for those looking to travel into deeper waters, are abundant enough to fuel both a full fishbox and a livewell, for livelining after bottom fishing. There are also still some puffers, white perch, and a few straggling kingfish coming to the net for bottom anglers. Bloodworms remain the top bait.
We didn't speak with anyone who targeted flounder in the Sound this week but the presence of sea robins is an indication some may still be around, for those interested in some late-season prospecting. We note that last week, there were a LOT of reports of small flounder just north of the Sound, and this week, flounder fishing picked up to the south of the Sound (see the Way South & VA report).
Speckled trout have still been hanging around marshy edges, and are taking topwater. Tide changes and dusk have been the best times to target them. We didn't hear any reports of reds in the shallows the week, so thanks to the recent relatively chilly nights, that bite is probably more or less done for the year.
Crabs are still in the Sound, but but are moving deep.
October Tangier Sound Fishing Report 10/13/2017:
The rockfish bite in the Sound has slowed down this past week, and most being caught have been mixed in with the speckled trout bite. Specks and stripers alike are hitting topwater lures, and typically stripers are just mixed in with the catch. Sea Hawk Sports Center said they haven't heard much about jigging in the Sound, or anyone targeting rockfish in particular, as the week's weather was anything but ideal for fishing out in open waters. We also heard from a reader who went to the Sound for a two-day trip, but strong winds kept them pinned down near Deal Island. They did still manage to find plenty of stripers in the shallows of protected areas in the lee, but all were small. Redfish may have thinned out or at least taken a break thanks to the weather, as we didn't hear a peep about them this week.
Some croaker, spot, an occasional kingfish, and perch are still being reported by bottom fishermen in the Sound, and are hitting cut bait (especially bloodworms) on bottom rigs. Farther up the tributary rivers of the sound perch fishing has been good and once you reach fresher areas, crappie are also biting strong on shad darts and marabou jigs tipped with small minnow.
October Tangier Sound Fishing Report 10/6/2017:
Although not as large and plentiful as in previous weeks, speckled trout and rockfish are still hanging around the Sound. Most anglers targeting them have been heading out in the early morning to catch the sunrise bite, which has been killer for those casting topwater and soft plastics. Fish are staying active later in the day than in previous weeks, and have been primarily sticking to the shorelines. Bait anglers are doing best with cut peeler crab and/or shrimp. The edges of Bloodsworth and Smith, the cut behind Wroten Island in the Honga, and also the structure around the bridge to Hooper's have all been mentioned as good areas to hit. We also had a reader report from Janes Island and the surrounding waters of both specks and stripers in the shallows, but they were mostly small fish.
Redfish have been in the mix through all these areas, particularly farther to the south, and though they're fewer in numbers recently, these are mostly slot fish. Anglers targeting them at night, however, have had a surprise or two (see below).
In addition to shallow water fishing, bottom fishing has been great in deeper parts of the Sound, where perch, a few kingfish or puffers, and croaker are hanging out in deep pockets and holes. Up in the rivers, catfish are also a part of the mix. A bottom rig with bloodworms has been the way to go for all of the above.
Crabs are still in the Sound, and are hanging around in decent numbers.