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This week, host Luke Barton checks in with Capt. Robbie Bryan of Reel Release Sportfishing and Capt. Colt North of Litigator Sportfishing. The captains cover everything from phenomenal flounder fishing and tough opening-day cobia conditions to yellowfin tuna success offshore and what’s heating up inside the bay. Along the way, they share valuable tips on flounder technique, cobia conservation, and how to adjust when weather, salinity, and pressure affect the bite.
Conditions Recap
Persistent winds, rain, and freshwater runoff have influenced Chesapeake Bay fishing this week, creating tough sight-fishing conditions for cobia and pushing fish deeper. Water temperatures have fluctuated between the low 70s and upper 70s, with salinity drops affecting surface action. Offshore, however, conditions lined up for incredible yellowfin tuna fishing in clean blue water. Inshore, steady structure and bay temperatures are fueling one of the best flounder seasons in years, with average catches between 20–22 inches and larger fish pushing the 30-inch mark.
Capt. Robbie Bryan – Reel Release Sportfishing
Capt. Robbie Bryan reports that the flounder bite on inshore and nearshore wrecks has been outstanding—arguably the best in five or six years. Many fish are averaging 20–22 inches, with trophy flounder reaching 30 inches and 7 pounds. He attributes the strong bite to cyclical biomass shifts and cooler spring temperatures that allowed fish to push inshore earlier than usual. Robbie shared practical tips: when jigging for flounder, keep baits moving with light taps on the bottom, recognize the “heavy tension” bite, and fight with steady pressure to prevent head shakes from throwing the hook.
Opening day of cobia season brought miserable sight-fishing weather with overcast skies and glare, but persistence paid off—Robbie and crew landed a 57-pound cobia on a bucktail after a 32-minute battle, plus another fish over 50 pounds the same day. He noted that salinity drops after heavy rain pushed fish lower in the water column, making them harder to spot. Robbie also raised thoughtful points on cobia conservation: releasing larger breeder fish when possible, avoiding unnecessary catch-and-release pressure after limits are filled, and being mindful of handling to reduce mortality. “If you’ve had your fun, leave a fish for the next angler,” he advised.
Capt. Colt North – Litigator Sportfishing
Capt. Colt North had a stellar run down in North Carolina before turning attention back to the Bay. Fishing clean blue water at 72–73 degrees, he and his crew caught yellowfin tuna up to 70 pounds, filling the fish boxes by midday two days in a row. Standard sea witch/ballyhoo rigs trolled at 6–7 knots did the trick, with many bites even coming on the drift while fighting other fish.
Back in Virginia waters, Colt reports a mixed bag: cobia are present but finicky with fluctuating temps, spadefish and sheepshead are arriving at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and flounder fishing is strong. On a recent scouting trip, he and his mates boated close to 30 flounder with 11 keepers up to 24.5 inches. His top tip: don’t rush the hookset—let a flounder chew for several seconds before coming tight. Double rigs with bucktails tipped in Gulp or strip baits were the most effective setups, though anglers should be prepared to lose tackle fishing tight to structure.
Colt also highlighted Litigator’s popular summer kids camps, offering hands-on fishing experiences for ages 8–16. Each three-day camp covers different fisheries—cobia, drum, reef fishing, and inshore species—while teaching rigging, boat handling, and fish care. This season, campers will also receive donated tackle packs and rods courtesy of Horns Ace Hardware, making it an even more memorable experience.
