Sea Hawk Sports Center

09/08/2026

I hope you all had a great Labor Day! We know Rob did with an awesome personal best! He caught this 10.5 lb stud in the Pocomoke Sound! Great job!!

09/05/2026

Peelers are here !!!!

09/04/2026

The long hot humid days of summer are being replaced ( gradually) with earlier sunsets which offer beautiful sights and a bit more hospitable temperatures . The sounds of mosquitoes buzzing and frogs chirping slowly fade as our attention is drawn toward geese honking and my favorite, drum drumming. It’s a great time to get outside on our Eastern Shore.

You might say the Chesapeake is enjoying the same old song and dance. The good news is, there’s a big drum keeping the tempo! The southern bay has produced some world class bull red fishing in and around the sloughs and shoals off the Nassawadox creek area. There have also been spot-tail sightings on the reefs from Occohannock down to the cell. Along with the multitude of reds, there have been sharks, blues , cobia, and even another tussle with a tarpon on Capt B W James’ boat. Most of these bellowing bulls have been enticed with cut spot or hardhead on a fishfinder rig in 20-30 foot depths. It’s best to have a running tide, however, the golden hour just before and after sunset seems to set the stage for for a battle of bronze!

Further north the Maryland rock season reopened on the first. The rock have been found in their summer haunts in the mouths of rivers and up feeder creeks. Topwater baits have brought striped quarry to the surface with violent explosions. In these same creeks, black perch have bent rods for anglers who have offered top and bottom rigs with small hooks and pieces of bloodworm or peeler. Further into the sound hardheads , kingfish, and spot have been located on the hard bottom oyster rocks of the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds.

The Flounder bite ( keeper sized) on seaside has mainly been contained to the nearshore structure in the Atlantic. The inshore fish have been plentiful but undersized. White, chartreuse and pink teasers tipped with gulp and silversides or big bullminnows have been the recipe for a flounder dinner.

In deeper depths, the Atlantic has allowed for some pretty good mahi fishing around anything that might be floating on the surface. Most fish are smaller, but plenty big enough to dirty up a frying pan. Tasty tiles have also helped make dinner time a little more filling. A few whites have offered a show of aerial acrobatics but otherwise the pelagic scene has been lacking. Hopefully, with the change of seasons, we will “fall” into a good wahoo and tuna bite!

Tonight I was lucky enough to take a young man and his father drumming. We were blessed enough to witness both son and father cranking their first bull red. The young man was a grad student at the University of Maryland studying marine science. He has a love for studying what we take for granted daily. So make sure you take time to enjoy the Eastern Shore . After all, we don’t know how lucky we are to live in this wonderful place we call home!

08/27/2026

As the summer is vanishing quicker than the sunset on a clear day, our fishing opportunities are changing. The good news is, is that with change comes opportunity. So get out there and take advantage of every late summer shot you get to enjoy our awesome Eastern Shore!

The Chesapeake marches on to a the beat of many drum. The southern and central bay have experienced great activity as spawning reds eagerly take cut and live baits fished on fishfinders rigged with 8/0 circle hooks. Most fish have been found in and around the sloughs and shoals adjacent to the shore from Pungoteague Creek south towards the Cell reef sight. Cut spot, hardhead, and kingfish have not only coerced reds into eating but some late season Cobia have also come to play. The reefs and oyster rocks from the Tangier Sound south are still producing a few sheepshead and black drum. Most of these fish have been lured into the net with a nice chunk of crab on a sweeper style jig. For those of us who can’t sit still, a fair amount of Spanish have taken up residence on the edges of the main bay channel west of Smith Island. Number 1 planers with trailing Clarkspoons and a hot grill are the main requirements to sink your teeth into these toothy trophies!

The seaside has settled down a little bit this week as inshore keeper founder continue to be elusive. However , there have been plenty of hardheads and undersized flounder to keep things interesting. The surf has had some nice spot, kingfish and hardheads for anglers to drag through the wash. Small float rigs tipped with bloodworm or fishbites have helped bring the tasty panfish from the suds to the skillet.

Further off the coast the near shore reefs are still producing some triggers and flounder. Twitching pink, white , and chartreuse 2 to 4 ounce jigs with large curltail gulps have been the most favorable flounder tactic. Unfortunately the keeper to throw back ratio has gotten less encouraging, but still definitely worth a trip east!

Out in a bit deeper depths , mahi have offered some paleigic play around the floating flotsam and commercial fishing floats from just inshore of the 20 fathom line to the canyon. Fish have been bailed with an assortment of baits including squid and cut fish. My favorite way to bend a rod with arial acrobats is to cast small weighed spoons or x- raps. It’s like casting for souped up speckled trout so hold on tight!

It’s pretty cool to spend the afternoon anchored up on my favorite shell pile, listening to the soothing hum of the current moving past the anchor line. All the while, hoping that the disappearing bronze fireball on the horizon transforms into a bullish bronze firework in my line. As the golden hour rewards us with a truly awesome Eastern Shore experience, it’s clear to see how lucky we are to live in this wonderful place that we call home!

08/21/2026

The August sun is red and hot but the August fishing can be even hotter with a beautiful shade of bronze. Eastern Shore late summer fishing has made strives to breech the banks of stalled summer doldrums, and a tail dance across the surface to summer satisfaction. All it takes is a pot of water, a pinch of salt, and the ability to stir up a little of whats needed to cook up an Eastern Shore summertime solution to the hot humid hindrances that we have faced lately.

The Atlantic has offered an action from the shoals just off the coast of the barrier islands to the steep drop offs of the Atlantic abyss.

The nearshore reefs and wrecks continue to provide pretty consistent flounder activity. Most fish have fallen victim to 2 to 3 ounce jigs tipped with 5-6 inch gulp curltail in the colors of white, pink(shine) , and various chartreuses including firetiger. Twitching baits on top of, and beside structures have enticed filet laden flounder to the front of the family dinner table.

The waters just a bit offshore have offered flotsam findings as anglers focus on fun highflying mahi. The beautifully colored delicious fish has been bailed with an array of heavy casting jigs like the Crippled L and also the X-Rap 10 and 12’ slash baits. Once an aggressive shoal has been spotted, an offering of squid , or cut fish will keep lines tight and coolers full.

Further offshore into the deeper shades of azul , mahi have once again saved the day. The only difference between the inshore structures and the offshore depths is, filets of flounder on the sea floor are replaced by delicious tiles to supplement deep seafood dinner dishes.

The Chesapeake has also seen a reprieve from the stagnant summertime. Spanish Mac’s have been spotted in the middle bay from the waters adjacent of Northern Neck Reef north to the Mariner off Smith Island. Trolling clarkspoons behind #1 planers have presented these toothy spotted trophies to the dinner table. While you troll near bait balls for some spicy Spanish sport, be ready for a shot at a big blue, or better yet a bully red that needs to be put in his place. Speaking of Reds , the summer spawn has started and the southern Chesapeake has supplied spot-tails that will stretch your line to the max. The sloughs and shoals off Pungoteague creek down towards Hungers creek have provided the arena for grueling bronze battles and sunsets that more beautiful than those of in the Keys. A chunk of cut spot or hardhead on a fishfinder rig, fished in 20-30 foot depths during a running tide will set the stage for trophy sized spot-tails. While you are readying yourself for a “Red” hot afternoon of fishing be ready for the incidental Cobia. This can make a southern bay sunset trip even more spectacular!

This past week I was reminded once again how lucky we are. I had the opportunity to take Mr Beau and his son Doug for a birthday trip. Our target was red drum, which eluded us , instead we were offered a gift of Doug’s first Cobia and the experience of a lifetime. By chance we were blessed with screaming drags and extreme aerial antics of a 69” tarpon. We were not only blessed with the opportunity to witness this highflying silver king, but were able to boat , remove the hook and watch as his majesty returned to the depths. Even when the unexpected happens, we are beyond blessed to live in this wonderful place that we call home!

08/18/2026

Good morning from Sea Hawk Sportsfishing! It was a heck of a tackle busting, high flying, tarpon testing, kind of evening! You never know what you might hook into, in this wonderful place that we call home!!!

08/16/2026

The heat and humidity are back with a vengeance as anglers hope the fishing heats up like the weather. With temperatures soaring in the heat of late summer, the only relief is the cool salty spray that soothes the must egregious ailments associated with doldrums

The seaside has supplied most of this weeks pullage. While the offshore action has cooled down a bit, the near shore bite has continued to keep lines tight. The nearshore wrecks and reefs just off the coast of the Va barrier islands are keeping us in keeper flounder. Diftting teaser rigs baited with long strip baits like squid and cut fish has proven to be successful for many. While others have taken to vertical jigging 2 to 4 ounce jigs tipped with 5 and 6 inch gulp curltails. I always like to put a teaser above the jig for added attraction ….I need all the help I can get ! While you are searching these shallower structures, keep an eye out for cobia, triggers, spades, Spanish macs, and even mahi. If you have some mackerel catching clarkspoons, a live eel or two for the man in the brown suit , and some small hooks baited with squid or clams, you’ll definitely be able to pull the trigger on an oceanic ensemble that will make your mouth water!

Further east the fleet is in search of million dollar marlins. However, we have been blessed with dancing dolphin fish and tasty tiles. The weather has kept a lot of the small boats moored to the dock, but between the gusts of wind we’ve had some pretty decent mahi on the troll and tiles pulled from the deep to be relocated to the head of the dinner table as the guest of honor!

The beach has brought us some particularly good panfish opportunities. Small floating bottom rigs tipped with bloodworm , fishbite bloodworm , shrimp, or cut mullet have led to fins flopping on the sand. Spot, hardhead and kingfish, have been the targeted species as anglers fish sometimes just beyond the break for some beach bound bounty.

The Chesapeake has improved a little this week. Anglers fished crab baits around the pilings of the CBBT for drum and sheepshead. Further north in the Tangier sound, oyster rocks relinquished small to medium sized blacks that are perfect for the table. In the lower back Spanish and blues have been trolled up using planers followed by 0 and 00 clarkspoons. While trolling there has been a few encounters with big bull reds. That would be a welcome surprise to anyone that was expecting a meager mackerel. In the next week don’t forget the spawning run of reds will commence, and the lower back will provide the best time to pursue big bulls. Patience, a chunk of spot, and a fishfinder rig is all that is needed to tag a spot-tail trophy!

The weather might be hot and the wind may not cooperate like you would like. However if you look hard enough there is always a leeward bank and a sun sinking behind the horizon to cool off the day. So take advantage of those fleeting moments and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!

08/07/2026

Another week of unsettled weather is here to choke off our salty Eastern Shore experiences. However, the small windows of calm provide periods of prosperous pullage from massive paleigics to pansized perch. So it doesn’t matter if you yearn for bills from the deep blue or reds from the rocks of Chesapeake oysters, there are great opportunities to opt for on our beautiful ESVA!

Mahi stole the show this past week as anglers took advantage of the few and fleeting weather windows to head east into the deep blue of the Atlantic. Fish were not only in the canyons but also encountered on bits of floating flotsam like pot bouys and anything else that will cast a shadow for these beautiful bluewater predators to hide in. Most fish have been bailed with baits like squid, chunks of fish, and even silversides. It’s also a blast to throw a topwater bait in hopes of a predatory explosion that is only outshone by a display of arial acrobatics that will give you a run for your money on light tackle. Speaking of aerial antics, just in time for the WMO a few marlin have shown up in the canyons of the ESVA. Also in the deep depths of the canyon drop offs, tile fish have helped hungry anglers fill their freezer with flavorful fillets.

Closer to shore, flounder fishing continues to flourish around the nearshore reefs and wrecks. Long strips of squid, cut bait, and even big minnows and silversides have enticed keeper flaty’s into the frying pan. Twitching big gulps on 2-4 ounce jigs has also kept anglers busy. Top colors have included white, pink, chartreuse, and orange. On some of the same structures, triggers have been successfully targeted with small hooks baited with shrimp, clam and even small pieces of gulp. Cobia have also been seen around these nearshore areas, however most have had a case of lockjaw. Hopefully they will find their appetite and come to play as the summer rolls on. Til then some Spanish mackerel have offered some spicy sport as anglers troll clarkspoons around the Chincoteague inlet.

On bayside (Chesapeake) the bite has consisted of hardheads , drum , cobia, blues, and perch. The lower bay has produced cobia and red action around the CBBT. Meanwhile the central bay has offered decent hardhead and perch action in the mouths of the rivers feeding the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Blues and sheepshead have secured positions around the many structures and reefs of the Chesapeake.

The other day I had one of those days, infected by the negative attributes and feelings of life. Work, life, and self expectations cast a shadow on a beautiful life that requires no complaint. I had a chance to slip away and run up the creek to dilute my stresses with a little brackish water. Within a handful of casts, I found myself submerged in a black perch pursuit that washed away worries and woes. I thought to myself as the sun subsided into the sound how lucky we are to live in this wonderful place that we call home!

08/07/2026