Powered by RedCircle
This week’s Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report is a community-focused episode with host Luke Barton covering the roots of the fishing report network, a major veterans fishing event, and a wide-open early-summer Tangier Sound fishing report. The episode features Capt. Butch Thierry, who talks about how the weekly fishing report concept grew out of the need for local, real-time fishing information; Nate Myers, who shares details on the upcoming TFO Day on the Water for The Fallen Outdoors; and Capt. C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters, who breaks down cobia, redfish, black drum, bluefish, rockfish, croaker, spot, sheepshead, flounder, sea bass, and shallow-water opportunities around Tangier Sound and the middle Chesapeake Bay.
Conditions Recap
Summer fishing is beginning to fire up across the Lower Chesapeake Bay, with warm water and hungry fish moving into the system. The overall theme of the episode is that the bay feels alive, especially after a spring that has been more stable than some recent years. Nate Myers said the cobia have already pushed well into the middle and upper bay, with fish showing near Wallace’s Bait & Tackle, the oceanfront, and other areas. He has seen a good class of 48- to 50-inch fish, although some have been difficult to make eat.
Capt. C.L. Marshall described a broad Tangier Sound and middle bay fishery with cobia, redfish, black drum, bluefish, rockfish, croaker, spot, and other options all in play. He said the black drum fishery is still available but becoming more challenging because of small croakers stealing bait. Redfish remain a strong option and should continue through summer, while increasing numbers of bluefish point toward more topwater action. He also noted that water clarity improves farther north, with very clear water in areas like the Choptank, likely helped by oysters and the lack of a major hot-water algae bloom so far.
The Roots Of The Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report With Capt. Butch Thierry
The episode opened with Capt. Butch Thierry of Great Days Outdoors, who joined Luke Barton to talk about how the Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report came to life. Butch explained that the idea grew from a simple need that every angler understands: people want to know what is happening locally, right now. The old bait-shop chalkboard fishing report has evolved into a weekly podcast format where local captains and respected anglers share what they are seeing on the water.
Butch talked about moving from Alabama to Virginia Beach and discovering that local knowledge does not always transfer from one fishery to another. Even with a lifetime of charter boat experience, he found that fishing a new region can be frustrating without help from people who are on that water every day. That experience helped shape the idea behind the fishing report network, which started with the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report and eventually expanded to the Northwest Florida Fishing Report, the Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, and the Louisiana Delta Fishing Report.
A major part of the conversation focused on conservation, stewardship, and the responsibility anglers have to protect the resources they enjoy. Butch and Luke talked about shifting away from the mindset of keeping every fish possible and toward making better decisions about what to harvest, how to handle fish, and how to leave the fishery better for the next generation. Butch also talked about taking better care of harvested fish through bleeding, proper handling, vacuum sealing, and the Japanese fish-care method known as ikejime, which can improve meat quality and reduce waste.
Safety was another recurring point in this segment. Luke and Butch emphasized wearing life jackets, carrying communication devices, operating boats carefully, and remembering that good fishing memories are only worth it if everyone gets home safely.
The Fallen Outdoors Day On The Water With Nate Myers
Nate Myers joined the show to talk about the upcoming TFO Day on the Water, with TFO standing for The Fallen Outdoors. The event is scheduled for July 11 and is designed to get active duty service members and veterans out on the water for a day of fishing, friendship, and community. Nate explained that this is not a tournament and there is no money on the line. The goal is simple: get people fishing and give back to those who have served.
This will be the third annual event, and Nate said participation has doubled this year, with close to 30 boats involved. The main event will be hosted at Wallace’s Bait & Tackle, where there will be tents, raffles, a food truck, and opportunities for the public to stop by, buy raffle tickets, and support the cause. Items expected for raffles include coolers, custom rods, reels, and other quality fishing gear. Proceeds go back into events that get TFO members and other service-focused groups on the water.
Nate said one of the best parts of the event is that it builds more than a single day of fishing. Veterans, service members, captains, and volunteers often form lasting friendships and continue fishing together beyond the event itself. Boats may also leave from locations beyond Wallace’s, including areas like Little Creek and Lynnhaven, so captains who want to participate can coordinate based on where they launch.
Nate also mentioned that Jenny from Shutter Speed will be involved again this year to capture photos from the event. Her work has become an important part of documenting local fishing moments, especially from angles and distances that cell phone photos cannot match.
Nate Myers’ Cobia Report And Gear Notes
Nate Myers also gave a cobia update from the middle and upper bay. He said cobia are already in his area and that he has run over fish coming out of the creek near Wallace’s. He has also fished the oceanfront and found good activity there. The fish he has seen include a solid class of 48- to 50-inch cobia, but the challenge has been getting them to eat. Nate said some fish have had lockjaw, which may be tied to water temperature or other seasonal factors.
Even beyond cobia, Nate said the bay looks healthy and active. Sheepshead fishing is still good, tog remain part of the mix, and flounder are starting to kick off. He likes the variety that comes with sheepshead fishing because anglers may also run into tog, flounder, triggerfish, red drum, and black drum depending on where they are fishing and what they are presenting.
For cobia artificials, Nate said he keeps a jig tied on and likes the Bowed Up Lures Puffer Cobia Jig, especially the natural-looking yellow and brown pattern. He also uses the No Live Bait Needed 5-inch Paddle Tail with a three-quarter-ounce to one-ounce jighead. He prefers the lighter head because it allows a long cast while keeping the bait higher in the water column and easier to track on cobia.
Once harvest season opens, Nate expects to incorporate finfish such as croaker and spot, as well as eels. He also made a strong case for circle hooks when fishing live bait for cobia. With the size limit making it harder to instantly judge fish in the low- to mid-40-inch range, circle hooks can help reduce gut-hooking and keep fish buttoned when smaller or borderline fish need to be released.
Nate also discussed his boat setup, a 25-foot Sea Hunt Gamefish with a cobia tower, trolling motor, and Seakeeper Ride. He said Seakeeper Ride has been a major upgrade, especially for stability while fishing from the tower and with anglers moving around below.
Tangier Sound Fishing Report With Capt. C.L. Marshall
Capt. C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters joined the show with a wide-ranging Tangier Sound report built around cobia, redfish, black drum, bluefish, rockfish, and classic Chesapeake Bay adventure fishing. He also talked about his book Seasons of the Chesapeake, which captures stories, history, hunting, fishing, and the outdoor lifestyle around the bay.
Capt. C.L. recently completed a bridge-to-bridge style trip with the Reel Ladies fishing team, starting under Fisherman’s Island and working north through a variety of bay fisheries. The trip included shallow bluefish on topwater, cobia on a nine-foot shoal, black drum fishing, Tangier Island, shallow red drum, Smith Island, South Marsh, Bloodsworth, and the Honga River. The group fished topwater, cast lures, soaked bait, and threw popping corks, covering nearly every style of fishing except trolling.
For cobia, Capt. C.L. said he caught fish on the bottom using fresh menhaden on his usual non-fish-finder rig with a 9/0 circle hook and eight ounces of lead. He said the setup pinned the bait to the bottom and produced several cobia with very little unwanted bycatch. He mentioned one shark and one ray, but the primary target remained cobia.
That cobia bite appears to be starting in his region, especially behind Onancock and farther north than many anglers might expect. Capt. C.L. said the late May and early June cobia window he normally watches looks like it is beginning to fire. He plans to continue looking for them while also using bluefish as part of the overall pattern, since cobia often feed on them.
Redfish, Black Drum And Shallow-Water Opportunities
Capt. C.L. described the redfish bite as interesting and tide-dependent. Some redfish have shown up as bycatch during black drum trips, and he noticed reds following baits back toward the boat while he was checking bottom rigs. That observation led him to stop the bait and work it erratically during the retrieve, which produced redfish bites. He has also been soaking half crabs over shell piles in 12 to 13 feet of water for black drum.
For black drum, he made a strong point about fish care. If anglers are going to keep black drum, he recommends bleeding them because it produces a much better end product on the table. That advice fits the broader conservation and stewardship theme of the episode: keep what you need, handle it properly, and do not waste fish.
Redfish have been better north of him around areas like Bloodsworth and South Marsh, with some anglers doing well late into the evening and into the night. Capt. C.L. is working to dial in the early morning and midday bite, especially around creek mouths on outgoing tides. He described one shallow-water redfish in roughly a foot and a half of water that hit hard and made a strong run on a 4000-size reel, creating the kind of visual fishing experience that makes shallow-water redfish so exciting.
Rockfish, Bluefish, Croaker, Spot And Family Fishing
For anglers looking for consistent action, Capt. C.L. said croaker and spot are available and can be a good choice for kids or newer anglers. When he has young anglers onboard, he may run into small creeks or rivers where they can catch white perch, rockfish, and possibly puppy drum on light tackle.
He also expects a strong topwater bluefish bite based on the number of fish he has seen around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the way they appear to be moving toward his area. Bluefish on topwater can be one of the most exciting and visual bites in the bay, and they may also help lead anglers to cobia.
Rockfish are another major part of the current menu. Once anglers cross into Maryland waters, Capt. C.L. said rockfish are a strong option around places like Smith Island and the rock jetties, with artificial lures producing fish in the 20- to 30-inch range. He has also noticed more smaller rockfish this year than in recent seasons, which he sees as an encouraging sign.
The speckled trout report was much less encouraging. Capt. C.L. said trout have been nearly absent in his area so far, and the best local report he knew of was only a handful of fish. For now, redfish, black drum, bluefish, rockfish, croaker, spot, and cobia are carrying the action.
Looking Ahead Into June And July
Looking ahead, Nate Myers and Capt. C.L. Marshall both expect the bay to keep building as summer takes hold. Nate is watching the middle and upper bay cobia pattern, especially as more fish push north and anglers begin mixing artificials with live baits. His biggest advice is to use the right gear, stay patient with picky cobia, and consider circle hooks when fishing live bait.
Capt. C.L. expects to keep working the cobia bite, the black drum bite as long as it lasts, and the redfish bite through summer. He is also watching the increasing bluefish numbers because they create fun topwater opportunities and can tie directly into the cobia pattern. With rockfish, croaker, spot, sheepshead, flounder, sea bass, and shallow-water redfish also available, anglers around Tangier Sound and the middle bay have plenty of options depending on weather, tide, and what kind of trip they want.
The episode closed with a reminder to be safe on the water. Luke encouraged anglers to run through pre-trip checklists, make sure Coast Guard-required equipment is onboard, operate boats responsibly, and avoid drinking while operating. The fishing is getting good, but safety remains the most important part of every trip.
