Planning a trip to the Eastern Shore

[HeaveToo]

This summer I am planning a trip around the first week of June.  I am going to take my bay boat down to Kiptopeake.  I think that I have a lot of options for fishing and I really want to try to hit the barrier islands.  I figure I will try to hit the Bay one day or so depending on the weather, but I really would like to fish the other areas some.

I have read the rumors of tarpon etc and I know that I am way early for that.  Still, the idea of flounder and Reds is very alluring.

Have any of you guys been down there and fished the inside of the barrier islands?  Other than bug spray, any suggestions or tips?

I do realize that the area can be dangerous and I respect it a lot.  The boat is set up with VHF and a chartplotter (then again I know that the shoaling and shifting sands render charts out of date quickly in an area like that).  I plan to proceed with caution and give the place the respect it is due. 

[John Smith]

Based on my experience down there if I were going the first week in June I would try the bayside creeks. There are not a lot of boat ramp options on the creeks themselves, but you could launch at Cape Charles or Morleys Wharf and run to Hungars, Plantation, or one of the other creeks and target specks (if this past winter didn't affect them too much?). 

On the oceanside, I think that time of year is mostly for the big red drum in the inlets which i know very little about. I'll defer to others on that. Just gotta use good judgment fishing the inlets. As for running around down there, try to launch around low tide so you can see the oyster bars as you head out away from the launch and then you'll have your GPS track to follow at higher tides. At high tide you can run just about anywhere. Its the intermediate tides that can ruin the day. I don't take shortcuts during those times. To be honest the barrier island backwaters is a tough place to fish unless you put in a lot of time over the years. The bugs are the least of the problem. Its usually breezy (windy) enough that once you leave the ramp you'll wonder what the fuss was all about. The most annoying thing for me is the floating sea grass that the wind churns up and then drifts out with the tides. Deep, fast, turbid water is very typical. I use lines that will sink pretty fast. 

Mid to late June through August brings tarpon and lots of sharks (just missed one on a fly last time down there), along with hordes of croaker anglers from NC.  Even ran into some tripletail one summer. That is when I like to fish down there. Its a very cool place. Very humbling though.

Good luck with your trip. John

[namfos]

You''l probably find some useful intel in Brett Gaba's book, 

Fly Fishing the Tidewaters of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay

On Friday, April 13, 2018 at 4:59:57 PM UTC-4, HeaveToo wrote:

[HeaveToo]

Thank you for the information.

What about Wise Boat Ramp and the area around Fisherman's Island?

Good suggestion about running on low tide.  Being that it is a new area I don't mind creeping.  My boat drafts about 12" and I do have a front trolling motor for when I fish.

I would love to get into some trout, puppies, or even schoolie stripers.  I also know that it is wise to bring other types of tackle besides the fly rod because the area is like the OBX and it can get very windy, making it almost impossible to cast.

[John Smith]

I have not used that ramp before. I usually go out of Oyster. Also, I like to launch before sunrise and I'm not certain if the refuge ramp is open that early. I know there are flounder down that way and you are also close to the bay bridge tunnel. I have not heard of stripers in that area. There are schoolies up in the bayside creeks. Always a chance the puppy drum could be there, but the last year that i recall them being really abundant in the ES backwaters was around 2014. From what I've read though the Fishermans Island area is great for the big reds. I just can't help much with that.

[Charlie Church]

Wise Point is an easier ramp than oyster to launch out of as long as you head south.

Most of the reds will be in deeper water by June. If it's calm, you could spend the day sight casting to cobia with a shot at seeing reds along the drop off. I agree with John Smith. I'd fish some bayside creeks. The winter was harsh on the trout population but there are still some around and we will know more about how many survived this week. 

As far as puppy drum, there should be plenty around. Same with stripers. 

[HeaveToo]

Hrm...my biggest Fly Rod is an 8 weight and I don't have the funds in the boat account to get a bigger outfit so a cobia on that could be a bit interesting!

I do like fishing the creeks.  Particularly the grass as the tide falls from High Tide.  I had a great trip on the Coan River where that pattern worked out well.  Any creeks on the south end worth hitting?  How about Fisherman's Island?

My big plan is to go down there with flexible targets.  If one situation doesn't work out try something else.  I wouldn't mind flounder either, stripers are nice, and of course I puppy drum, or what ever else we can get to bite at the time.  If the Bay is rough fish inside etc. 

[October Caddis]

I'm planning a similar visit in early May. While we'll have access to a boat, I may have some time on either end of the trip when I'll be there without a boat. Any suggestions for canoe or SUP activities would be very welcome. I'm of the impression that the backbays on the ocean side may not be advisable for SUP action thanks to the significant shark population. 

[John Smith]

Caddis, I think a kayak would probably be the best non-motorized craft down there. Plenty of folks kayak in that area. I think a canoe with the higher sides would be problematic due to the frequent wind and you wouldn't catch me on a SUP for the reason you mention. At least not behind the barrier islands. The water is turbid enough that you cant always see what's coming. It is just filthy with sharks down there and big ones at that. You could try a SUP over on the bayside at Kiptopeake if the wind is favorable. Or, if you have a canoe you could try a place like Saxis Wildlife Refuge further north on the bayside.

[Charlie Church]

I think I have video of a shark over there from last April. It was around 8ish feet and just belly crawling over the shoals. It nearly got stuck.

As long as the weather is good, I will be out that weekend as well Caddis. It's only a 40 minute drive for me. As far as other activities to do, the northern bayside creeks would probably be a lot of fun on a SUP. Some of them have some great shallow water flats that are protected.