Drum on the shoals

[surf rat]

I'm doing my first Drum charter on the shoals Saturday. Anyone heard anything? I should have checked it out yesterday but we are having too much fun catching big stripers in the river. They are all catch and release but some big Trout are mixed in. Casting plugs on light tackle. I know of some 30 lb plus fish caught in the last week. I had one almost 30 lb crush a plug yesterday before I could even engabe my reel after the cast. It was in about 2 ft of water. This fish came out of the water when it hit my lure. It was without a dought one of the most awesome strikes I have ever seen.

[xpuha]

I fished Sunday morning till 2:30 pm over at fishermans island and had 1 run but it didn't come tight. No teeth marks on the crab so pretty sure it was a drum. no critters. My son fished from 3:30 till around 8:30 pm with no drum runs

[gettinbent]

What River where you catching the striper in.

[surf rat]

The Elizabeth. Big topwater plugs will kill them right now. They crush them sometimes right at the boat.

[fishhardliveeasy]

what part of the elizabeth are you in in 2ft of water i think that would be fun

[surf rat]

The stripers are all over the place in there. All you have to do is look for them blowing up on bait.

[Salmo trutta]

Who does drum charters? I'm not talking about the 9' shoal but up in the hardcore shoals of the barrier islands?

[Rob Holtz]

I think your about a week or two too early to be taking a charter out for a bite that hasn't even started yet. If you do happen to luck into one this weekend it's going to come from the very shallow water way up inside the breakers at Fishermans island.

[surf rat]

I agree but they want to go. I told them I think it is a little early. I told them we would catch some togs then give the drum a try. But then again I'm not one to follow the others around. I like to do my own thing. Some Drum will be caught on those shoals any day.

[Hokie High]

There have been some small blacks caught in the surf all down the shore in the last 2 days. Blacks should blow up in the lower inlets..willis wharf, quinby this weekend..flood tide. Too bad I got to work... this weekday rain killed my fishing hopes. good luck on those early reds down there.