Tangier and Lower Shore Fishing Reports

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

Water temperatures along the Eastern Shore are hovering between the upper 40s and low 50s which has pushed many fish to deeper water. There are still a few rockfish being caught in the pockets of warmer water in the shallows, but their numbers are thinning. Searching deeper water structure and along channel edges will be a safer bet moving forward when searching for stripers. Guide C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters has been working hard to stay on the fish as they go through this transition. A variety of soft plastics, including paddletails and straight tails, along with Crank style baits are working well. Most of the keeper rocks have been in the 20- to 26-inch range. The seaside action on the shore has also been steady with more rockfish moving into the coastal bays and tidal tributaries. Most of the rockfish are holding around creek mouths and bridge structures. The Tautog are also moving into areas with structure where they are being caught with bottom rigs as well as tog jigs tipped with sand fleas.

The Eastern Shore tidal rivers like the Nanticoke, Wicomico, Manokin, and Pocomoke are providing steady catfish action with the onset of the colder weather. Both blue catfish and channel catfish can be found in these rivers where they will be holding in the deeper holes. The Nanticoke is known for producing huge blue catfish that can weigh more than 50 pounds. Some of the largest blue catfish caught in Maryland come out of the Nanticoke in the winter. Freshwater species like crappie and pickerel are also very active despite the cold weather. On top of that, the mill ponds are home to a great pickerel fishery that many anglers are taking advantage of right now. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and live minnows are all favorites of these toothy fish. If you are interested, the CCA Pickerel Championship is currently taking place. The tournament runs until the end of February, and it offers anglers a chance to compete in various divisions for cool prizes and bragging rights. Make sure to check it out!