Tangier and Lower Shore Fishing Reports

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, May 1 Update: 

Warming water temperatures are ushering in a classic spring transition across the Tangier region, with big black drum leading the charge as they push up the Bay and provide shots at true trophy fish, though the bite has been inconsistent day to day. Smaller, better-eating drum and increasing numbers of red drum are expected to follow soon, while striped bass action is also heating up as post-spawn fish move through the shallows and schoolies settle into summer patterns around structure. As the season opens across Maryland—and soon Virginia—anglers have a wide range of opportunities, but should stay mindful of area-specific regulations.

Water temperatures are warming, and we are seeing the arrival of several migratory species into the Tangier region of the Chesapeake Bay. Good numbers of black drum have moved into the Bay from Cape Charles up to Tangier Sound, and even into areas farther north (see Middle Bay report). These brutes are some of the biggest fish that can be caught in the Bay, with their upper range of sizes being anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds. These big fish are usually the first ones to push up the Bay in the spring, and we have had several reports of anglers encountering them for a few weeks now. The smaller drum often arrive a few weeks after these big ones, so we should start to see some better-eating fish shortly. Black drum over 20 or 25 pounds are often full of worms—as well as being full of eggs—and aren’t very good to eat, so they should be handled with care and released asap after a quick pic. Red drum will also be arriving to this region in greater numbers throughout the month of May, and a few bull reds have already been caught.

C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters is very tuned in with the spring black drum run in the Tangier area, but reports that the drum bite has been finnicky lately. A few trips have been very productive, while others have only produced a few bites. Most of these fish hang out around shoals and areas with rocky bottom. When the drum are playing hooky, C.L. has usually been able to find rockfish to catch. Right now, big post-spawn fish are moving through the shallows on their way out of the Bay, so his anglers caught some trophy fish this week. The shallows are also coming alive with schoolie fish returning to their usual summer hangout locations. This includes shallow cover such as stump fields, wrecks, marsh points, and creek mouths. Striped bass season in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay opens on May 1st, but make sure to check the striped bass regulation maps, because some areas are still closed to targeting. Virginia’s striped bass season will not open until May 16th. In both jurisdictions, anglers will be able to keep one fish per person per day with a slot limit of 19 to 24 inches.