This month offers a multitude of opportunities with a wide variety of species available in both the bay and rivers. Fishing will peak this month with bluefish, Spanish mackerel, spadefish, flounder, whiting, speckled trout, red drum, spot, croaker, cobia and more.
Water temperatures have been rising steady after a cool spring. Currently, the bay waters are 81 degrees and rising, with slightly higher levels in the rivers. The warm water has enticed a strong migration of surface feeding fish, as well as bottom feeders.
Trolling action has been very productive for mackerel and blues. There’s been a strong showing of bluefish since early July and Spanish mackerel will be storming the region all month. These fish are often found schooling together. When found, they are both attracted to small spoons decorated with various colored reflective tape. Hot pink, silver, chartreuse and gold are among my favorite offerings. Both the Drone and Clark spoons offer a variety of colors.
Larger specimens of bluefish are located on the eastern side of the shipping channel between Smith Island and Tangier Island. When found, surgical tube eels will not only entice bites, but will hold up against their toothy grin.
Chumming is a popular method for catching bluefish, cobia and spadefish. For blues and cobia, the standard grind of menhaden chum works well. Tip your hooks with small chunks of cut menhaden and enjoy light tackle action. Spadefish will also gather with standard chum, but prefer clam offerings.
Blues can be found on the edge at Buoy 62, on the many local reefs and structures, and up to the S.W. Middle Grounds in Maryland. Spadefish frequent structure such as lighthouses, wrecks and reefs. The Bay Bridge Tunnel, Wolftrap Light and the San Marcos wreck are popular locations to try.
Cobia are more free swimming and can be drawn to the boat with chum and live offerings such as cut bunker and eels. Also effective, is casting bucktails or live eels when they are found swimming on the surface. Red drum action has been good along the shipping channel edges. Schools make regular appearances between Buoy 62 and Smith Point as they mug schools of peanut bunker and shiners. Tangier sound and the S.W. Middle Grounds also hold these fish during August.
Although I prefer a large four- or five-inch spoon for drum, they are often hooked with the same small #1 spoons that are landing Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Set your drags loose to avoid lost opportunities on these strong fighters. Most are well over the maximum 26-inch limit, but are a blast to catch and release.
Speckled trout and small puppy drum are frequenting skinny water this month. Marshes, creeks, inlets are all holding these tasty, hard fighting fish. Light tackle anglers are enjoying the best inshore fishing of the year. Late summer has great action on both the trout and small drum. A variety of offerings will entice bites. I have had success with everything from soft baits to surface plugs and even live bull minnows under a popping cork. Take a tackle box full of lures. Fishing in the skinny water for trout and drum is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Their appetite often depends on the weather, water clarity, tide and time of day.
We are running several inshore trips on small boats in addition to our bay trips on the big charter boat. I’ve noticed action has been picking up each week inshore.
Bottom fishing has been good overall. Although spot are plentiful, they remain at modest sizes. The larger spot should show up in the latter half of this month. Whiting and grey trout are scattered throughout the region, and croaker catches have been found with mixed results. Some of the larger croaker have been found in creeks and shallow locations.
Try not to get into a routine of fishing for the same species. Diversify your efforts and realize the potential that this month offers anglers. From shallow water to the deeper channels, a good time and a great meal are waiting for you.
Until next time … Fair winds.
