Fishing Report
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays, VA
Summary: 4/16/26 - Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays: Surf anglers are reporting increasing numbers of black drum along the beaches of Assateague this week. Sand fleas and peeler crab have been the most popular baits. At the Ocean City Inlet and Route 50 Bridge area, anglers are catching tautog, flounder and striped bass. The tautog are being caught on sand fleas and pieces of crab, flounder on Gulp baits and squid strips. The striped bass are mostly a catch-and-release fishery, since most fail to measure more than 28 inches. Increasing numbers of flounder are being caught this week, the ebbing tide tends to produce the best results. The channels leading from the inlet are the most popular place to fish. Striped bass are producing a lot of fun catch and release fishing at the Route 90 and Verrazzano bridges. Casting soft plastic jigs and paddletails are the favored lures. Most fish being caught are too small to keep, but now and then one will fall into the 28- to 31-inch slot. Tautog are being found on the inshore and offshore wreck and reef sites. Catches have been good for anglers using pieces of crab for bait. Flounder can also be part of the catch for those who target them.