Josenhans Fly Fishing Blog

Mike Robertson's 29 inch striper on topwater

Tangier Sound shallow water rockfishing is heating up with catches of 50 fish or more casting poppers and shads around the marsh banks of the islands. Yesterday we had rock to 29 inches (big fish was on a Stillwater popper) while fishing the skinny water around Smith Island. The water down here is clean and clear, without that brown stain of the upper bay. No specks yet for me, but we should have some moving in very soon. Big red drum are still being caught by those fishing the late evening tides. Pictured below are Mike Robertson and Will Farneth with a sample of the days catch. Mike released his 29 inch fish even though we were in a legal trophy area.

Will Farneth with a nice shallow water rockfish