4/28/2017 Update:
Sea Hawk Sports Center advised us that the sound has been quiet, thanks to the recent lousy weather. As that passes, and we’re met with more sunshine and warm weather, fishing should pick up. Overall the weather has made things tough but in the past few days, but from the few reports coming in most of the action has been on the sea-side. When they could get out anglers had been catching flounder moving into the oceanic bays of Virginia and the Eastern Shore. In the surf, anglers have still been hooking into black drum and rockfish on clam. Bluefish are also now around in more significant numbers, with cut fish providing the top bait. On the bayside, undersized rockfish have been abundant around the banks.
Unfortunately, whether due to the weather or a lack of fish, more reports of speckled trout didn't materialize this week.
4/21/2017 Update:
The guys at Sea Hawk in Pocomoke City reported some pretty hot flounder fishing on the seaside so far, with water temperatures rising on tidal flats. Anglers have been catching them on Gulp, minnow, silverside, and squid at the last of the outgoing tide. Chartreuse and white have been the most popular colors they've been biting, from Wachapreague to Chincoteague. They also mentioned there have been black drum biting peeler crabs and sea clam in the surf, as we heard about in the Coastal Report.
The first reports of speckled trout in the Tangier have also come in. Though few in numbers this week, everyone’s fingers are crossed that more show up soon. Puppy drum should be appearing any time now, too. There are also small stripers to be caught along the rips and drop-offs of the marsh islands. Soft plastics like BKDs, Bass Assassins, and Bust 'Ems in white and chartreuse are the most common choice, but when targeting speckled trout, don’t forget to try bubble-gum pink.
4/14/2017 Update
According to the folks at Sea Hawk running over to the sea-side for flounder is a good bet. (See the Coastal Report for more details). Recommended baits include large minnow, silversides, and large GULPs worked on tandem rigs, bounced and jigged along bottom. Best areas are back bay channels and edges all the way up to three feet of water.
Chesapeake on the Bay guide Chris Kawacki Jr checked in but is spending the early season up north fishing the Susquehanna Flats, so his report will be appearing in the Way North section this week.
One more note from the Tangier: crabs have started becoming active. It's still too early to trot-line, but using pots in deep water (baited with razor clam and bunker) the blue claws are beginning to show up. Stay tuned - if the weather keeps up its warming trend recreational crabbers will be able to get in on the action very soon.
4/7/2017
The guys at Sea Hawk, located in Pembroke City, Maryland, reported that the variety of species we`ve seen as winter wraps up should stick around into spring. White perch, yellow perch, small striped bass and crappie have been abundant in the Pokomoke, as they`d already moved into shallower waters to spawn. To target these species, use either grass shrimp or bullhead minnow. Moving into spring, anglers fishing the Tangier Sound can look forward to the return of flounder and hopefully some speckled trout, in the shallows.
