Fishing Ingram Bay from Kayak - Questions

[wayners]

Hi All,
Ill be fishing around Ingram Bay specifically Reedville from my kayak over memorial day weekend. Any tips on where to go and what to use? I see a lot of croaker reports and it looks like blood worms are pretty hot. Is the water warm enough for fish bites or should I go real? Anything else I should try?

A couple of other baits i'd like to try but have no experience with is 1) peeler crabs and 2) clams. Can someone recommend what types of rigs i should try for each?

Thanks in advance!
W

[wayners]

By the way, croaker would be near the bottom of my list. Ideally i'd like to catch, in this order, some flounder, stripers, red drum, blues, croaker. Taug would be on the list somewhere above croaker too. Sorry for the newbie questions!

[Remobeater]

I've heard flounder will go after squid and minnow combo drifted on the bottom, the others will probably be hitting bloodworms right now. Fishbites Bloodworms seem to work great last weekend. We caught tons of spot and a striper on fishbites. I think a pretty go to rig for bottom fishing is the top and bottom rig, it keeps the bait just barely floating above the bottom in the strike zone. Put on 1/2 oz to 2oz depending on current/wind/tackle and just tap off bottom every 15-20 seconds to adjust for depth changes then just try to hold it steady, that's how I do it anyway. Haven't heard of any red drum, but we've caught some small stripers deep in the wicomico and I've got some bluefish bites on soft plastics around ingram bay.

I know there is pretty consistent fishing in the oyster beds on the other shoreline, its a little far for a kayak though. We catch a lot of croaker and spot there plus we hooked up a big cownose ray last year that would give you a nice ride on a kayak. Haven't heard of any togs being caught in the wicomico either, I think they like deep bridges and structure.

[marstang50va]

Hi All,
Ill be fishing around Ingram Bay specifically Reedville from my kayak over memorial day weekend. Any tips on where to go and what to use? I see a lot of croaker reports and it looks like blood worms are pretty hot. Is the water warm enough for fish bites or should I go real? Anything else I should try?

A couple of other baits i'd like to try but have no experience with is 1) peeler crabs and 2) clams. Can someone recommend what types of rigs i should try for each?

Thanks in advance!
W

Focus on structure, points, and drop-offs. Try jigging a gulp swimming mullet on a 3/8 jig head.
The water is warm enough for fishbites. Peelers work great but get expensive if your buying them. Use a carolina rig or a simple double drop bottom rig. Forget the clams.

[frogasm]

just be careful, it gets full of holiday boaters. If you're in a yak you might want to work your way down the shoreline to Dameron Marsh. Its a long paddle but could be worth the trouble.

[Bob G]

May want to consider putting in at the DCR Dameron Marsh kayak put in to avoid the boat traffic. Also easy paddle to grass as move out into the bay from the launch. Here's rough directions to the launch below. Would consider using Gulp Alive 3" shrimp on 3/8 jig head. Have got croaker, trout, rock and flounder on that. In the grass the Gulp 5" bass assassin type baits rigged weedless work good, esp. for trout and rock.

From Kilmarnock, go north on VA 200 towards Burgess. Turn right onto VA 606. Turn left at the Shiloh schoolhouse onto VA 605. Turn right onto VA 606, and then left onto VA 693. Follow VA 693 into the preserve.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_.../dameron.shtml

[grover123]

Marstang and Bob gave great advice on lures. The one thing I might add is also bring along a 4 inch shad (I use Storms) type bait because you can cover lots of water with it and rockfish and specks will readily take one. If your heading to Dameron Marsh be sure to be prepared for the bugs. Biting May Flies, skeeters, and a bunch of ticks will be waiting for you as soon as you get out of the truck. Just bring some spray and wear the right clothing and you'll be fine (I bring a skeeter head net along for the bad days though, they cost a dollar something at walmart). Once you're out on the water you're fine. They have a great put in there so you don't have to spend too much time in the Marsh/Swamp.

[marstang50va]

I might just visit that gator hole this weekend myself!

[wayners]

That's great advice! Thanks everyone. Fishing report to come , hopefully!

[BLUEYZWAITN]

DAMERON MARSH there wont be 3 trillion boaters in there because its so shallow. You can launch at Ingram bay marinia for a small fee.. Billy Pipkin who owns and operates can give you some pointers.. Just tell him Jay sent you...

Noty sure if any trout are up that far but Ive caught flounder and trout in 2-5 feet of water.. Also there is a creek just south of the Ingram bay enterance.. There are some nice fish in there as well.. Keep a swivel head this weekend and good luck

Jay