Chincoteague Bay Fishing Spot

• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/07/09 11:12 AM
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Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland beaches are blessed not only with the Atlantic Ocean, but also a variety of bays and rivers. In Lewes, the Delaware Bay is the center of much fishing, boating and watersports activities. The Rehoboth Bay does the same for the communities of Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, Delaware, Indian River Bay affords outstanding recreational opportunities for Bethany Beach, and Assawoman Bay serves boaters and other watersports enthusiasts in Fenwick Island, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland. Further south in Ocean City are the Sinepuxent Bay and Chincoteague Bay, while Ocean Pines residents enjoy the St. Martin's River and Isle of Wight Bay. Chincoteague Bay is a lagoon between Assateague Island and the mainlands of Worcester County, Maryland and northern Accomack County, Virginia. At its northern end, it becomes Sinepuxent Bay; its southern end drains into the Atlantic Ocean via Chincoteague Inlet. No major river flows into Chincoteague Bay--its largest tributaries are Newport Creek in Worcester County and Swans Gut Creek in Accomack County. Massive schools of Mackerel move up the coast the first half of April. When the mackerel move out, the first wave of Bluefish move within striking distance of the Delaware-Maryland coast. An outstanding fighter, the first groups of blues are somewhat lean, in the 6- to 10-pound range. May marks the beginning of shark season, first for Bluesharks in mid-May and then for Mako Shark in late May. Bluesharks, a cool water shark, head north by June. Serious sharkers do their fishing in June, when nearly every species commonly found here arrives. Avid sharkers will find Makos, Duskies, Hammerheads, Tigers, Blues, Sandbars and Sand Tigers. Yellowfin and Bluefin tuna move in by mid-June. Though not as large as tuna that arrive later in the year, they travel in very large schools this time of year. By the end of June, the first White Marlin is taken, signalling the start of the billfish season. Nearly every kind of fish is in local waters in July, including Marlin, Tuna, Dolphin and Wahoo. Marlin, Tuna and Dolphin may be found mostly around the canyon areas offshore while Shark fishermen will find their catches around the shoals and other habitats of bluefish. The fall runs of Seatrout and Croaker begin late in the month, Bluefish become larger, and wreck fishing for Seabass and Tautog heats up. Croaker and Trout are plentiful by the middle of the month. Fishing now generally depends on the weather and water temperatures. Bluefish are quite large and numerous and plenty of small sharks under 100 pounds can be caught this time of the year. Bluefish and Bottom Fish abound in October. Seatrout taken by bottom fishermen are very large and account for nonstop action. Maryland has long been called the "East Coast's Number One Family Resort" because it hosts numerous activities and events that appeal to every member of the family and because it offers accomodations to meet all tastes and budgets.

Chincoteague Bay is a lagoon between Assateague Island and the mainlands of Worcester County, Maryland and northern Accomack County, Virginia. At its northern end, it becomes Sinepuxent Bay; its southern end drains into the Atlantic Ocean via Chincoteague Inlet. No major river flows into Chincoteague Bay--its largest tributaries are Newport Creek in Worcester County and Swans Gut Creek in Accomack County.