BY BILL HALL, Eastern Shore Post, July 25, 2025 —
Inshore fishing continues to suffer as a result of the warm water temperatures. Even the cobia action, which has been excellent up until recently, has slowed noticeably. On the positive side, a nice class of flounder is coming from around the ocean wrecks, while the deep waters of the ocean canyons continue to produce yellowfin tuna on the surface and blueline tilefish off the bottom.
Upper Shore
Captain Matt Abell, at the Sea Hawk Sports Center, described the fishing in the upper Chesapeake Bay as “hit or miss,” elaborating that the fishing can be decent one day and virtually nonexistent the next.
There has been some limited action on speckled trout early in the morning for anglers casting top-water baits.
The striped bass season is closed in both Virginia and Maryland waters. Puppy drum were described as few and far between in the Tangier and Pocomoke sound shallows.
A few cobia are around, with catches having been reported as far north as the target ship, Mariner.
On the more positive side, some large schools of bluefish have been feasting on schools of bunker in the central portion of the bay, where schools of red drum have been also been encountered.
The yellowfin tuna bite in the canyons is becoming more consistent, with lots of boats running south to the Norfolk Canyon, but catches are still coming from the Washington and Poor Man’s canyons. Deep droppers have been scoring with golden and blue-lined tilefish.
Chincoteague
Pete Vasiliou, at Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle, said that flounder remain the primary target species inside the inlet, but there are also good numbers of spot and kingfish (whiting).
Plenty of sharks are also available for those who want a more challenging fight.
Kingfish and spot are producing the most consistent action in the surf, but anglers are also landing an occasional red drum and plenty of sharks. The near shore ocean wrecks are producing flounder.
Atlantic spadefish and gray triggerfish have been caught over the “little wreck.”
Wachapreague
Captain Lindsay Paul, aboard the charter vessel Almost Persuaded, told me that the flounder bite out of Wachapreague continues to be good in the cooler water around high tide. Water temperatures have been closing in on 80 degrees. The catches have consisted of lots of undersized fish, along with a few keepers to 5 pounds. Some of the most productive teaser colors have been pink/white and salmon red, along with a live minnow or silverside.
Sand mullet (whiting) are hitting small strips of squid. Inshore ocean fishing has been productive on black sea bass and flounder.
Blue water offshore fishing has been productive, with yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi catches occurring in the canyons, as well as “Wayne’s World.” The Heat Wave boated three yellowfin on two separate rips over the weekend, while the Teaser reported 11 yellowfin on Saturday. Shawn Lewis released a blue marlin on Saturday. Deep droppers are finding good catches of blueline tilefish in the canyons, with some boats making limit catches.
Lower Shore
Jeb Brady, at Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, reported that fishing has slowed, blaming the decline on the increase in the water temperatures.
Anglers targeting cobia are reporting that they are not seeing as many fish cruising on the surface, while anglers bottom fishing are also seeing less fish.
Still, a few large fish remain for anglers who are determined and willing to put in the time. There have been a few large schools of red drum encountered by cobia sight fishermen from the mouth of the bay down to the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach.
Large Atlantic spadefish have been reported around the Chesapeake Light Tower, south along the windmills, and at the fourth island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Flounder fishing inside the bay and seaside island inlets has slowed, but limits of large fish have been taken along the ocean reefs and offshore wrecks. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been caught by anglers trolling spoons off Kiptopeke.
The area around the concrete ships is producing sand mullet (whiting) and small croakers. Small croakers and spot are being caught off the lower bay piers.
Tyler Nestor, at Oceans East — Eastern Shore, told me that there has been very little change in the fishing action from last week. He did add that ribbon fish have started to show up in the waters around Kiptopeke.
The writer was the first Eastern Shore resident to achieve Virginia Saltwater Master Angler status. He has been named Virginia Saltwater Angler of the Year and Virginia Saltwater Release Angler of the Year. He has won numerous Virginia Press Association awards for his columns.
