5/26/2017 Update:
Alan with Sea Hawks Sports Center let us know that fishing in the Tangier Sound has produced good numbers of rockfish and speckled trout. Most rockfish being caught are not keeper size, but slightly smaller, at around 17 inches. Anglers have caught the most fish around Smith Island, and are using quarter-ounce jig heads with Bass Assassins, BKDs, and similar lures in chartreuse and albino ghost white. Those who prefer bait have also been catching both the specks, rockfish, and a few red drum on peeler crabs and bloodworms, but that tactic is likely to become more and more difficult as the rays spread throughout our waters and start slurping up baits left and right.
If you want to focus on those speckled trout in particular, look for points with visible rips, holes close to the shorelines of the marsh islands, as well as stump fields. Make sure you’re carrying some bubblegum pink plastics, which the specks seem to favor at times.
Perch fishing in the Sound has steadily stayed good, and most are being caught on bloodworms in the creeks on or under structure. Catfish have also been hot this season up in the rivers, and are taking most cut baits.
5/21/2017 Update:
Though this isn't the "normal" fishery we usually think of when it comes to the Tangier, we've had some reports this weekend which we just can't ignore: Snakeheads in and around Toddville, in the tidal creeks.
The hot bait for these fish was - hold on to your hat - chunks of chicken meat on a bottom rig. While many anglers were probing the marsh islands and cuts in search of specks, reds, and stripers (all of which are now around; check out the below report) David Garcia enjoyed a rather mellow and straight-forward bite, pulling these Frankenfish out of the creek. Nice.
5/19/2017 Update:
The Tangier Sound is lit up with fish! Our friends at Sea Hawk Sports Center let us know that the invasion of quality fish is now in full swing, with large red drum, schoolie rockfish, and speckled trout all coming on strong recently. All three species are biting on peeler crabs and cut bait around marsh banks, and in and around grass beds. Rockfish and speckled trout are also hitting on quarter-ounce jig heads with BKDs, Saltwater Assassins, four inch GULP Jerk Shad and twister tails, and other assorted soft plastics - and smaller rockfish can be found in large numbers.
Remember that the window of opportunity to target these fish with bait will slam shut when rays arrive in big numbers, and make it difficult to catch anything else. Smart anglers will leave the dock armed with both peelers and artificials, so they can start casting when rays become a serious problem.
Drum are also being found in the deeper parts of the Sound, again on peeler crab. Try drifting chunks on top-and-bottom Trout Scout rigs with chartreuse, pink, and yellow teasers.
Guide Chris Karwacki of Chesapeake On the Fly Charters chimed in to tell us that when wind isn't kicking too hard, there are plenty of schoolie rock in the shallows and some specks as well. Finding clean water is key, especially for the specks. Jig heads with pearl shad tails are working great. When it's been windy, the best bet has been to seek shelter and find clean water in the tidal creeks to find some nice rockfish.
The good fishing is expected to get even better in the coming days as waters in the Sound have been muddy for the past week due to debris and run off from rainstorms. As the waters clear up, the fishing should pick up even more. Local watermen an also look forward to crabs coming into the Sound in the next week, as they migrate North. Currently crabs are few and far between, with many being smaller in size.
5/12/2017 Update:
Flounder have moved into the back bay and inlet, according to our friends at Sea Hawk. Flounder are being caught slowly but steadily, and fishing is expected to pick up as water temperatures increase. Most of the flounder are biting on minnows and silversides, as well as GULP lures. Some anglers are using them on fluke killer rigs, others on bucktails, and also on regular lead-heads. Remember that on jig heads or bucktails the shad bodies are usually best, but on fluke killers, twister-tails work better.
Red drum have made their initial appearance within the Tangier, with the early catches coming on peeler crabs. What about those speckled trout? A few more confirmed reports of one here and there have trickled in (mostly from anglers casting soft plastics to the marsh island edges and points) but small stripers remain the dominant species in the shallows. That said, we also caught wind of an UNCONFIRMED report of large numbers of speckled trout coming in on a boat leaving from the Solomon's Island area. This report comes to us second-hand and we were not able to confirm this with anyone who's laid eyes on the fish first-hand. At this time of year it's entirely believable, though, especially since a boat in this area can easily hit the eastern shore marsh islands as well as the western shore hotspots.
5/5/2017
On the oceanside black drum have remained abundant, and more smaller schoolie sized rockfish are now around. The rock are biting on soft plastics, peelers, and minnow, and the black drum are hitting clams.
5/5/2017
Unfortunately, the heavy winds we saw on and off throughout the week have kept many of the anglers at the dock and this week's report is a short one. The marsh islands are holding small stripers, but additional reports of speckled trout just haven’t come in. Most anglers are still heading for open water and trolling for trophies.
White perch have been abundant, and are biting bottom rigs baited with grass shrimp and blood worms. Most fish are being caught around structure near shore, such as fallen trees. Catfish are also being caught up in the rivers, and are biting cut baits.
