Wachapreague Flounder Report 18 April

 An early season tip was all it took to plan a last-minute trip to the barrier islands of Virginia's Eastern Shore.  Son Joe, a.k.a "Salt Life", and his longtime friend Giovanni Gargano asked me to spread a little Mikey D Fishing magic on their flounder outing and meet them at high tide at the Wachapreague public boat ramp.  Joe had good success days earlier landing a few keeper sized flatties in excess of 17" and our hope was to exceed the previous trip's tally.  

Wachapreague is a fisherman's mecca.  Situated halfway between the Virginia line and Cape Charles, Wachapreague offers decent lodging, a waterfront restaurant, and plenty of good fishing water.  Barrier islands, hammocks, and sandbars provide great habitat for multiple species including flounder, red drum, sea trout, and even late season tarpon.  

Joe guided his well-appointed G3 to a gut about a mile or so from the ramp.  On his previous trip, Salt Life landed his first flounder on the initial drift.  Though winds were light, and the outgoing tide was flowing, we weren't as lucky.  After about 30 minutes, Joe hooked into an undersized but promising 14.5" flounder.   We were using bucktails tipped with a variety of gulp baits.

Despite the encouraging start and outside of a small skate, nothing else came over the gunwale.  I had other obligations, so my trip ended with the falling tide.  Joe and G headed out again, but the incoming tide didn't change their fortunes.  Sometimes however, the real reward is time on the water, a few tugs of the line, and for us, a little extra local knowledge extracted.  We had a few boats with us initially, but they soon departed for other waters.  Joe and G later learned that others had limited out by seeking what they called "clean water".  Having spent more hours than I can count on the mid Chesapeake, the water under our keel looked clean to me, but there is a different level of clarity that works best for a predator with both eyes on one side of its body.  Next time, turbidity will be a primary factor in selecting where to wet lines when Mikey D Fishing searches for flounder.

Until then...Tight Lines!

MDF