Ingram Bay, Marsh, and Great Wicomico mid day fishing

[rossmann10]

I fished the GW from the top to the mouth at mid day Wednesday. without one bite using fish bite blood worms. At around noon I went out of the river into Ingram bay shallow structure and caught small spot, one small Red Pup, and small Croakers. They were all small so I went to the marsh with no success. The water temp was 78F and the porpoise were all over Ingram bay chasing fish. Not a good day for me.
I put in Ingram bay marina on Thursday around 10 Am and went to the Marsh casting small lead head with rubber. Caught two stripper with one around 20". I saw several unknown fish chasing my lure without hook up. I went to the GW light after Marsh and fished around lots of surface bait balls and the small blues kept me busy for awhile. I drifted fish bite blood worms while I cast lures but that only produced a toad fish and a couple of small croakers. This was not a great day either but it was definitely better than Wednesday.
I know there are fish in the GW so I'm not sure why I can not get a bite there as I fished shallow and deep and oyster beds. I'm looking forward to going back next week and fishing the low light conditions.

[BayViews]

No need to feel discouraged. I also went out Thursday. While bottom fishing in the GW I caught no Croaker, no Drum, and just a few small Spot. I tried several locations casting for Specks without any luck. I then tried trolling around Ingram Bay and picked up several small Bluefish. I finally headed out into the Bay and caught some nice Spanish Mackerel while trolling the eastern side of shipping channel.

The larger Croaker may be leaving the area. The big Spot have not yet shown up. The Puppy Drum should still be around (and possibly growing to legal size) but I did not catch any. As the weather cools, you may be able to pick up more Rockfish. Fishing the Great Wicomico can be very frustrating at times (I know first hand).

Fishbites are one of my favorite bottom fishing baits. But they work the best in warm water. As the water continues to cool you may need to switch to worms or squid. Not sure your doing anything wrong. The GW can be a tricky place to fish.

[Remobeater]

Fishing the Great Wicomico can be very frustrating at times (I know first hand).

Fishbites are one of my favorite bottom fishing baits. But they work the best in warm water. As the water continues to cool you may need to switch to worms or squid. Not sure your doing anything wrong. The GW can be a tricky place to fish.

I agree, we have trouble with the GW. The most consistent fishing we've ever had there was #3-#2 spot by the rt 200 bridge early summer. We picked up like about 20 per person in an hour. It seems very scattered. A 20" striper isn't bad on light tackle though.

Where is this marsh? Is this the shallows on the southern side of the mouth? There are a bit of marsh/grass beds along a good portion of the wicomico.

Thanks for the update.

[rossmann10]

Thank you guys for the encouragement. I'm starting to wonder if I have not fished the GW with a good tide/current and that is what would produce some bites or maybe oxygen levels? I will bring squid for Wednesday and try again.
I should of clarified the Dameron Marsh and i fished it mostly south side of Ingram Bay.


Thanks again.

[Point Given]

Fished from shore on Cockrell's creek for15 minutes at dusk on Saturday and got 3 puppy drum, all throwbacks.

Also, another dead full sized red at the same spot as last weekend.
I wonder what's killing these reds?
Could they be some kind of by-catch from Omega?
They are not fileted or injured, just dead on the beach.

[Remobeater]

That is weird about the Red Drum.

I just got a report second hand, my Dentist apparently fished the bay side of the 200 bridge with gulps and caught a 22" speckled trout, blues, 18" cobia, a flounder, striper, puppy drum, and what seemed to be described as a needlefish or gar. I'm sure the higher salinities have brought the fish further downriver to feed. We definitely haven't done that well before, but we'll probably try some gulps in October my next trip.

[rossmann10]

I will try some squid later this week, and I can't go without Gulps after Remobeaters dentist report. I just need one nice fish from the GW to keep me a believer. I do know they are there and I just need to hit the tides and what ever else makes them bite at he right time.

That is two dead reds in a week or so. I hope it's not a trend.???

Thanks to all for reporting and hope to keep hearing the good news!

[Remobeater]

Yes, gulps are definitely good. Get some gulp alive swimming mullets or something. I hit the time right and caught 4 puppy drum off my dock about a month and a half ago. I think the biggest was 15". We're almost near the end of the river too. I am also looking forward to trying some LTJ with them in a couple weeks. Chartreuse Spro bucktails seem to look nice with them. Keep them in the bucket or swap them out every 5-10minutes. Most of the catches were the 1st or 2nd cast with a fresh gulp. Those things fight pretty hard too for their size.

Rays can be fun, we've caught one by the oyster bed once on squid. It actually broke our old spinning rod but I still got it to the boat to release.

[frogasm]

Your dentist most likely caught a houndfish.

[Remobeater]

Its possible. I actually almost landed a ~5' houndfish off a NC pier this summer.