Late spring and early summer are ideal times to get in on some great surf-fishing action for big red drum, black drum, striped bass and bluefish that roam these secluded shorelines. At one time they hosted hunting and fishing lodges that catered to the leisure elite. Some of these isolated barrier islands, such as Cobb and Hog, have had a long history of sportfishing that spans well over 100 years. Though it may be an inconvenience to boat over to them, it is worth it, since these islands offer unsurpassed surf-fishing experiences. Those islands, accessible only by boat, are open to recreational fishing, but do not allow pets or overnight fishing. There are 17 islands south of Assateague that are managed by the Nature Conservancy and the state of Virginia. Though Assateague is easy to get to, it is by no means the only island that holds fish. This can save a lot of effort blind casting in otherwise non-productive stretches of beach. Very low tides will allow you to locate the outer bars, sloughs, and cuts in the bar. The best time to "read" a beach is at extreme low tide. This is where bait will tumble in and out of the wash and where predator fish wait in ambush. The most productive area to fish on a beach is along a deep dropoff, just off the shoreline, preferably facing a cut in the outer sandbar. Beach characteristics change seasonally, sometimes even weekly, depending on storms, wind and tides. For most anglers though, the general parking areas offer more than enough room to fish the beach and you don't have to shell out any extra money to fish them.Īssateague and the other Eastern Shore islands have all the classic characteristics of any barrier beach island, with dropoffs, sloughs and sandbars. There are about six miles of over-sand area on the Virginia side, but keep in mind that there are closures for bird-nesting that kick in by mid- May, so the over-sand fishing access area then shrinks to less than a mile until September 1st. Rangers don't want to be in the towing business, so you'll need to get yourself out should you get stuck. Besides the over-sand permit, you'll also need to have in your vehicle a jack, tow rope and shovel to dig yourself out if you get stuck. You can pick these up at the National Park Service visitor center located near the beach. To get to drive on the beach, you'll need an over-sand vehicle permit, currently costing $70 dollars per year. Assateague also has a four-wheel drive access area.
15 foot outbank fishing surff pole free#
Overnight fishing is permitted, but you'll need to get a free overnight fishing permit from a local park ranger first. Surf-fishing is allowed on the island from 5 a.m.
Parking lots 1 and 4 are popular with many anglers, though all have seen their fair share of caught fish. The Virginia portion offers beautiful beaches complete with public parking areas that allow anglers to choose from several different locations from which to surf-fish. So for sheer convenience Assateague Island is not only easy to reach by vehicle, but offers great surf-fishing action as well.Īssateague, managed by the National Park Service, is an island 37 miles long that traverses both Maryland and Virginia. In fact, to reach any of Virginia's barrier islands, with the exception of Assateague, you'll have to have a boat. I say intrepid, because not all the islands are easily accessible. With island names such as Hog, Cobb, Parramore, Cedar and Metompkin, among others, they offer the intrepid angler great surf-fishing action during the balmy days of summer. Along this coastal corridor, migrating fish move along the beach feeding on an assortment of baitfish, crabs and shellfish. Between these islands are twisting inlets that feed into back bays and endless marshes. This isolated region of Virginia is blessed with a long string of barrier beach islands, stretching almost 70 miles from the Maryland state line south to Fisherman's Island, located at the gateway to the Chesapeake Bay. Some of the finest surf-fishing on the mid-Atlantic coast can be found along the Eastern Shore. And for many local surf-fishermen, the beginning of summer means beach-fishing action that will only get better as the days get longer.
For sportfishermen though, summer usually begins with reports of anglers catching those first red drum, as they continue to migrate north up the coast. Usually the first signs of summer on the Eastern Shore of Virginia are warm sunny days, steady southwest breezes and the guttural calls of laughing gulls.
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