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This week on the Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, host Luke Barton checks in with Capt. Kenny Mills of Sea Shift Sportfishing in Virginia Beach and Capt. Eric Meyers of Heads~N~Tails Charters. Capt. Kenny shares an offshore wreck-fishing success story with jumbo black sea bass and dives deep into sonar tips, fishing etiquette, and gear setup for bottom fishing. Capt. Eric shifts the focus inshore with strategies for targeting puppy drum, trout, and flounder as cooler fall tides push shrimp and bait into the rivers. Both captains offer practical advice that anglers can use right now to improve their time on the water.
Conditions Recap
Warm summer water continues to drive plenty of action across the bay. Offshore wrecks are loaded with black sea bass, while inshore anglers are seeing steady pushes of trout and puppy drum as flood tides and cooling temperatures reshape the bite. Shrimp are moving into the rivers, making them a key food source for redfish and flounder around mud bottoms, docks, oyster beds, and grass flats. Clearer water on big low tides is helping anglers sight fish, and overall fishing opportunities are strong in both the bay and its tributaries.
Offshore & Wreck Fishing Report with Capt. Kenny Mills
Capt. Kenny Mills of Sea Shift Sportfishing has been splitting time between cobia charters and productive wreck trips. Recently, his crew enjoyed a “one-stop drop” offshore, boating a full limit of 105 black sea bass in short order. The fish ranged from 2–4 pounds, with a strong class of larger fish over four pounds.
Kenny emphasized etiquette when multiple boats converge on productive wrecks. His approach: be friendly, communicate, and share the action when space allows. “A good mood on the water goes a long way toward keeping your charter happy,” he explained.
On the technical side, Capt. Kenny offered detailed sonar tips for locating productive hangs. Turning up gain to detect subtle bottom lumps, watching for “fuzz” above structure, and learning to differentiate between bait, fish, and hard bottom are critical skills. He compared sonar use to golf—small tweaks in equipment setup can create big improvements.
For gear, he adjusts rigs based on his crew. Experienced anglers may use 3–4 hooks per drop, but beginners or younger anglers are often better served fishing two hooks to avoid tangles and lost fish. When targeting larger sea bass specifically, slow-pitch jigs or oversized natural baits like mackerel or cobia belly can be especially effective.
Inshore Fishing Report with Capt. Eric Meyers
Capt. Eric Meyers of Heads~N~Tails Charters reports that flood tides, cooler temperatures, and an influx of shrimp have fired up inshore fishing in the rivers and creeks.
Puppy Drum: Redfish are stacking up in 8–10 feet of muddy-bottom water around docks, oyster beds, and grass points where shrimp are abundant. Eric stresses the importance of heavy leader—40–60 lb mono or fluoro—to prevent break-offs when fish wrap around structure. He relies heavily on popping cork rigs with strong leaders above and below the float, casting artificial baits like super flukes or paddle tails. On cloudy days, topwater action can last all day.
Trout: Speckled trout have been showing up two weeks earlier than usual, with fish in the 16–20 inch class being caught steadily. Popping corks and soft plastics are effective, but anglers should be ready for bycatch of quality trout even when targeting redfish.
Flounder: Surprisingly big flounder, up to 6–7 pounds, are being caught in shallow flats. Eric recommends drifting live baits or artificials under popping corks, with leader lengths set slightly longer than water depth so baits stay tight to the bottom. Curly tails and Gulp-style lures work well, even when small baitfish and puffers nip at them.
Capt. Eric reminded anglers to plan their trips carefully—have multiple wrecks or inshore spots in mind, start with the furthest option, and work back in throughout the day. His fleet ranges from large offshore contenders to skinny-water skiffs, giving clients opportunities to target everything from swordfish to single-person fly trips in the shallows.
