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This week, host Luke Barton checks in with Capt. Bill Pappas Jr and Capt. C.L. Marshall to talk wreck, drum, and rockfish action around the Lower Chesapeake Bay. Warm water and late-season tides are bringing steady bites from red drum, sea bass, and triggerfish offshore, while inshore anglers are finding consistent striped bass action along the Tangier Sound and neighboring rivers. Capt. Bill shares offshore highlights and a killer blue-crab sandwich recipe, while Capt. C.L. brings an inshore update packed with local seafood insight, reef-building news, and some delicious rockfish table fare.
Conditions Recap
Late fall temperatures have kept the Bay in the low-70s, and a stretch of wind finally gave way to calmer days that opened the offshore windows. Bait remains plentiful, and anglers are seeing strong activity over wrecks in 25–30 miles of water. Inshore, striped bass are pushing out of smaller creeks as daylight shortens, and artificial reefs and channel markers are holding solid numbers of fish. Expect cleaner water clarity in the afternoons and mild tides providing excellent sight-casting opportunities.
Capt. Bill Pappas Jr – Offshore and Nearshore Report
Capt. Bill Pappas Jr of Playing Hookey Charters reports that the offshore bite has been nothing short of “red hot.” On a recent wreck trip, his crew boated well over 100 fish, including trophy-size triggerfish and hefty sea bass pushing the five-pound mark. Productive depths ranged from 25 to 30 miles offshore, where cut bait and small “trigger squares” proved deadly for bigger fish.
Inshore, Capt. Bill found solid red drum action, with fish measuring 51 and 52 inches, alongside a few sharks and steady bites during custom evening and early-morning trips. With weather windows tightening, his flexibility to run when conditions allow has paid off for anglers chasing both drum and reef species.
Between fishing days, Bill shared his signature “Ph.D. Crab Sandwich”—a classic Chesapeake recipe using fresh blue crab meat, Old Bay, and butter-toasted King’s Hawaiian bread. He’s also keeping an eye on the upcoming swordfish and bluefin tuna runs, noting that local stocks appear strong despite restrictive international regulations.
Capt. C.L. Marshall – Inshore Report
Capt. C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters brings a detailed look at the inshore bite and a few stories from around the dock. His new Suzuki-powered rig has been putting anglers on consistent striped bass along Fishing Bay, Hoopers Island, and up toward the Choptank. Most fish are in the 19–27-inch range, hitting 3/8-ounce jigheads tipped with “Dill Pickle” soft plastics from Freedom Bait USA.
C.L. also noted that Maryland’s alignment with Virginia’s red drum limits has simplified regulations for anglers crossing state lines. Artificial reef sites—many built through the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland in partnership with the Kenny Chesney No Shoes Foundation—are producing a variety of species, from black drum to tautog and sea bass.
For rockfish, Capt. C.L. recommends watching the birds: smaller Arctic terns often mislead anglers, while larger gulls and gannets usually mark bigger fish. When the bite slows, he shifts deeper, dropping metal jigs or trolling slowly along the banks to locate schools.
True to his Eastern Shore roots, C.L. also shared several mouth-watering recipes for preparing rockfish—ranging from baked with bacon and onions to fried, buffalo-style bites.
Beyond fishing, Capt. C.L. continues to advocate for local watermen and farmers and hopes to represent the lower shore in Maryland’s legislature. Anglers looking for a full Chesapeake experience can now stay at his rustic four-person lodge in Sanford, Virginia, complete with full kitchen and waterfront views.
