Tangier and Lower Shore Fishing Reports

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 6 Update:

It was cold and windy for most of the week as winter has started to knock on our doorstep. Weather windows were limited and not many anglers made it out on the water, so unfortunately, our reports were very slim. Water temperatures have dropped into the low 50s and upper 40s, so most of our warm water species have moved south. Striped bass and sea bass will make up most of the opportunities moving forward in the sounds and on the Bay. Stripers can be found in open water along main ledges and around deeper structure. Sea bass have also likely moved to deeper depths with the cold temperatures and will be found around wrecks and reef sites in the 40’ to 50’ range with some in even deeper depths.

The protected waters of the Pocomoke River are much more manageable to fish in the wind and it has been fishing well recently. The crappie bite has turned on and trolling minnows is working well to catch them. Casting jigs will also work to catch bass and pickerel in the river. The Eastern Shore mill ponds also have excellent pickerel fishing and are known for producing some of the bigger fish in the state. Anglers planning to fish for pickerel should consider signing up for the CCA Pickerel Championship. The tournament runs until the end of February 2025 and there are several divisions to compete in for great prizes.