Article by Capt. Matt Abell
July is upon us, and we all want to see fireworks in the night sky as well as at the end of our line. So wrestle a RED, jig up a flaty with some WHITE gulp , and bend a rod on a scrappy BLUE. Just make sure you take time to participate in the sport that we enjoy so much in the country we love even more!
The BLUE of the Atlantic has stolen the spotlight as an offshore extravaganza offers great opportunity to tangle with a tuna as well as pursue other pelagics like mahi and deep-water tiles. The Washington to the Norfolk canyons have been the most productive region as anglers troll sidewinders and daisy chains along with skirted ballyhoo to tempt tasty tuna to the gunwale. Blue/ white, pink/white, and purple/ black have been among the most tantalizing treats to lure fish to the cooler. Hopefully the tuna action holds and the mahi action magnifies as the summer surges on.
The waters closer to shore are offering some fine floundering with a side of superb seabassing. The flounder have taken up residence at wrecks and reefs in the 50-100 depth range and are targeting 2-4 oz jigs tipped with Gulp curtail selections such as the swimming mullet and grub-style baits. Spades and triggers are also abundant and will take suspended small chunks of clam when in the feeding mood.
Inside and around the inlets of the VA barrier islands, floundering is still flourishing. However, keepers continue to be hard to find. The period of time encompassing high water seems to be the most productive. Kingfish also have made their presence known around the inlets and in the surf. A small piece of bloodworm, crab , shrimp, or even Fishbites is all that is needed to get these tasty panfish into the frying pan. Inshore sharks continue to bend rods and provide sport. While most are species that need to be released, the action is second to none as anglers tempt these toothy predators with cut bait sweetened with a little chum.
While fishing has slowed a bit, the Chesapeake continues to offer some cobia encounters as folks set out to tangle with the man in the brown suit from the Maryland line south. The CBBT has had the most action with good numbers coming from the bridge itself, as well as from shoals and reefs like the Cabbage Patch. Who knows, you may even be blessed enough to partake in a surprise that will make memories for life. This past week I had two reports of large tarpon taking cut cobia baits. One report ended in an unintentional release and the other with a boatside memory that will be talked about for years to come.
The shallows of the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds are heating up…. in temperature, that is. The fishing, on the other hand, seems to have cooled down, with the exception of the early morning hours providing a speck of hope. Rock and speckled trout are still lurking around the grass flats of the sounds. Surface plugs like “The Lonely Angler” have produced aggressive surface explosions that rival any Fourth of July fireworks.
As I sit here watching the fireball in the sky disappear, and hopefully turn into fireworks on my line, it’s very clear that we are so fortunate to live in this wonderful place that we call home!
