Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 26 Update:
Most of the anglers on the Lower Shore are still hitting the tribs, where the emphasis has shifted from yellow perch to the whites across the board. The perch have also started showing up in the seaside bay creeks, where grass shrimp are proving effective. In the Pocomoke along with the perch there’s also a nice mix of angry post-spawn pickerel chewing on minnow with abandon, plenty of bass action, and some crappie. The best bite’s been along the channel edges above Snow Hill. Sea Hawk noted that bloodworms have proved effective on the Pocomoke perch, too.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 19 Update:
Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that the bite in the Pocomoke is on fire right now. Between yellow perch, white perch, pickerel, and crappie, there are plenty of species to be caught and plenty of bites going around. There were multiple reports this week of full coolers at Snow Hill and other areas all across the Pocomoke. in general, fishing bull minnows tipped on a shad dart or grubs on a shad dart jigged off bottom is doing it for perch and crappie. Pickerel are loving minnows and will take them slow-trolled or intended for the perch. The yellow perch run in the Pocomoke has been excellent compared to most other waters across the DMV area, and also hasn't shown signs of slowing down. While the yellows are hot, white perch seem to be getting even hotter and many readers and anglers who stopped into Sea Hawk reported absolutely loading up on them this week.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
We checked in with Sea Hawk Sports Center, who let us know that the perch bite is on in their neck of the woods as well as surrounding areas. While they’ve been hearing plenty of anglers coming in with the most solid yellow perch catches we’ve seen thus far, they also mentioned that the white perch bite is excellent. Number four and six hooks on bottom rigs with bloodworm were the ticket to loading up a cooler with the white perch, whereas minnows are the preferred yellow perch bait. The Pocomoke, Nanticoke, and Manokin are all experiencing healthy runs right now, and are easily fishable for anglers bound to the shoreline as well as via kayak or boat. Another reader report from the Pocomoke told a similar story this week, with a limit catch of yellow perch made through the course of the day by fishing minnow on the bottom in the deep channel above Snow Hill, though prior to the recent warm-up the bites were all very slow and delicate.
The Marshyhope is another river that woke up from its winter slumber recently, and a reader chimed in to let us know that although he had to sort through numerous blue cats, minnows fished on a hi-lo rig and shad darts produced a subtle but steady yellow perch bite on the outgoing tide.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 5 Update:
With the weather warming up a bit and spring within sight the southern Eastern Shore millponds are on fire. Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow and Contributor Eric Packard report that the pickerel were pouncing on large minnow under bobbers all weekend, plenty of bass were mixed in, and when small minnow were deployed on small marabou jigs or darts, crappie were biting in good numbers. The bulk of the fish were still out in open water, and had not yet shifted to shoreline or spawning territory, although the pickerel numbers in upper-lake areas near the feeders was on the rise.
Additionally, white perch have finally arrived in the Nanticoke. A reader this week reported catching 15 on bloodworms, with the largest reaching 10 inches (plus six catfish). No first-hand intel from the Pocomoke this week, but water levels had been very, very high after all the rains and were making things a bit tougher than usual. As the weather continues to trend warmer, we’re expecting more productive days with flourishing fish.