Summertime Fishing Transition: Bowfishing

This summer, the Blue Crabs have been not only scarce. They are terribly expensive as well. It would upset my stomach to pay sixty dollars a dozen to eat crabs. Who would pay five bucks for a crab?

Usually, while fishing baited bottom rigs, we pick up about a half dozen crabs that fall off at the surface. This summer, the crab net is positioned close by in the boat to dip those big Jimmies. Would you let a five dollar bill float away?

Also, the most successful summertime anglers are actually archers who are putting hundreds of pounds of fish flesh into their coolers while most of us are sleeping. The sport of bowfishing is quickly growing in Southern Maryland. During the day, Cow-nosed Rays are usually targeted. At night, the more delectable invasive snakehead fish and Blue Catfish are more easily seen in the floodlights.

Cap’n Larry Jarboe: Croakers by the Pound

Croaker fishing from a pier is quite productive. But, you can increase your odds by taking a boat to the edge of a channel and fishing along that edge. Also, oyster beds are particularly good feeding grounds for croakers to dine upon. Drift fishing will help you cover a lot of bottom till you find a good area to anchor.

The croaker limit of 25 per angler is quite generous. Make sure you keep those noisy fish chilled or iced down well. No sense spoiling that delectable salt water taste that croakers are known for. Fresh fried croaker is fine eating. Freezing the fillets diminishes the flavor greatly.

All around the Chesapeake – Croakers Busting Loose!

Concentrations of sea grass can be a place where croakers stay and feed. For the most part, they move and feed as a school, but some of the larger croakers may be found in more concentrated groups.

The Wicomico River near Quade’s Store in St. Mary’s County continues to be croaker central for much of the season, but so do other locations such as waters near the Ragged Point Bar on the Virginia side of the Potomac, Cornfield Harbor just inside Point Lookout and the Patuxent River near Benedict and Sandgates.