Sea Hawk Sports Center

06/19/2026

Summer is upon us and the heat has arrived like a bunch of tourists in line for Island Creamery ice cream on Chincoteague Island . Time and tide has moved us toward summertime strategies for finding fish in hot weather haunts. So grab some ice cold beverages and sunscreen and see what this hot weather has cooked up for us!

The biggest story has been the awesome Atlantic. From bluefin to flounder, these salty waters have offered a bountiful bag limit of fantastic fillets and succulent steaks. The bluefin bite has wondered west as anglers engage in rod bending battles from the Washington to the inshore lumps near the twenty fathom line. Trolling skirted ballyhoo rigs and sidewinder bars trolled around the many bait pods of the coast of the ESVA have provided anglers with big game encounters that we’ve not seen for a while!

Closer to shore the flounder bite has fulfilled the summertime forecast of fat fillets that are in need of a frying pan and a little breading. Flounder have taken up residence around the many inshore wrecks and reefs east of the barrier islands. Jigs tipped with gulp have lured lunkers into the landing net. White, chartreuse, pink shine, and orange have been productive colors when tipped with strip baits, silversides, or big bull minnows. While you are relaxing around the reef keep a lookout for trigger and cobia opportunities, as they have been spotted around some of these same areas. A battle with some of these bad boys can certainly put an exclamation point on an already great day!

The flounder action in the seaside bays has slowed a bit ( mainly in thanks to the increased size regulations) , but still worth trying. The time surrounding high water has been the most productive with clearer water available during the last of the flood and first of the ebb. Teaser rigs sporting pink, chartreuse, and pearl mylar skirts tipped with gulp, silversides, and big minnows have helped supplement a tasty seaside supper.

The surf is also shifting gears from some pretty superb spot-tail fishing to more modest panfish pullage. Small top and bottom rigs with floats tipped with bloodworm have kept the beach bang’n. While the number of trophy reds have diminished, its still a blast to pick a fight with a scrappy panfish!

The Chesapeake has warmed to the point that we all are thinking about upcoming summer doldrums. The excitement has been centered around the cobia bite. Fresh bunker chunks ( though hard to procure) presented on a 8/0 circle hook and fishfinder rigs have enticed most of these trophies into the net. However, sight casting with brightly colored jigs or live eels is an extremely exciting way to hunt the “ man in the brown suit “. The CBBT to the mouth of the Pocomoke sound has offered viable habitat for these sought after trophies in 15-30’ foot depths around shoals and edges.

There are still some opportunities for shallow water rock and reds . However, as the water warms these chances become fleeting. The evening cool down helps expedite action with chunks of crab standing as the calling card for bent rods and screaming drags. Chesapeake structure has also supported a fair bluefish and sheepshead bite. We just hope these opportunities will increase like the summertime temperatures!

This week I had the opportunity to take a friend that doesn’t usually fish out to try to catch some flounder off Chincoteague. We saw beautiful water, dolphins, and most importantly flounder. I witnessed a fine young man figure out the secrets to success that millions of folks will never have the chance to know. The Eastern Shore is truly a blessing. So don’t take this blessing for granted and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!

06/18/2026

Good night form Sea Hawk Sportsfishing

06/12/2026

The neat thing about being connected to the water, is that all things change in a somewhat systematic cycle. The tide will always flood and ebb , the current will always run, and the fish will always feed. It’s just our challenge to figure out the the little queues that God gives to enjoy the thing that we love most!

The Atlantic has gifted us a few calm days which have allowed anglers to push the eastern frontier that has held us captive by wind and waves. Wrecks in 100’ plus water depths have produced terrific sea bass activity on seabound structure. Top and bottom rigs with squid have been the go to, however, metal jigs have tempted big knot heads into the net. While you are around the salty structure try jigging a bucktail tipped with gulp for a bonus flounder finale!

Farther offshore into the deep blue, the tuna bite has been pretty blue(fin) and intense. Trolled ballyhoo have set the stage for vigorous battles that yield a dinner that is more mouth watering than a prime angus steak!

The seaside waters in and around the inlets, have consisted of some floundering action as well as some surfing in the suds. The flounder have still been persistently pursuing double teaser rigs comprised of gulp and tipped with silversides or big bull minnows. The water has been a little turbid so bright colors have been a shining beacon for these flavorful fillet bearing flatfish. The beach has continued to offer ridiculous red drum fishing, even as the day’s lengthen into summer. Chunks of crab on modified fishfinder rigs have been the precursor to bent rods and big sandy smiles.

The central Chesapeake has been luke warm as anglers stalk the shallows for rock and reds with crab baits. Casting surface plugs like Heddons Chug’n spook have also provided plenty of drag screaming sport around the many creek mouths of the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. There have been a fair amount of slot fish to fill our 1 per person bag limit, however the fun of the fight makes up for the lack of fillets in the frying pan. Along with the drum and rock, some nice blues and a few sheepshead have taken up residence in and around the man made structures and reefs In the area.

The southern Chesapeake has provided preseason Cobia action along with a terrific drum bite at the CBBT. The Cobia have been lured into play with a mixture of sight casting as well as bottom fishing techniques. The drum have taken cut fish and crab baits, unless you are lucky enough to stumble on to one of the many schools that are patrolling the pilings. In this case one should deploy a large soft plastic jig on a 1-2 ounce heavy duty head and hold on!

This week I was lucky enough to have my oldest son, Ethan who is in home on leave from the USCG. Of course we had to take the opportunity to get out on the water. E , myself and crazy Larry had a unbelievable day on the bay. We had a couple of reds, a couple of big sheeps, a few blacks, and a bunch of tog. As the sun was starting to set, my thoughts were being plagued by a long ride home and an early morning which seemed to be as inevitable as the change of tide. I looked at the time and suggested 5 more minutes and then we would head to the barn. Within the next 90 seconds a reel started to scream. I looked at E and said that this one has his name plastered all over it! Unfortunately, it was on a light weight casting rod that we had been using to catch the soft biting tog and sheepshead. Long story short -a grueling 30 minute battle of a lifetime yielded E a big’ol citation 48” bull. To think that I almost denied him of this awesome experience because I was taking what we were given for granted. So don’t go in early, or cut time short, just get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!

06/11/2026

We’ve got your COBIA CANDY!!!!!

06/04/2026

Good Morning from Sea Hawk Sportsfishing

06/03/2026

As the story goes we’ve seen how the tide flows but mainly how the wind blows …don’t cha know. But, even with atmospheric deterrents, there are still plenty of reasons to splash the boat or wade in the wash to cast a line while doing what we all love to do the most!

The Atlantic has produced some fleeting but successful opportunities. Seabassing has been pretty good on structure in depths of 100’ or more . Typical top and bottom rigs with squid strips and metal jigs have coerced these tasty treats into the cooler. Farther offshore there has been some paleigic pullage in the Norfolk. Hopefully, the fish will find themselves a little closer to the coast as the summer starts.

Inshore on the seaside, red drum have been the subject in the surf. Anglers have had some pretty good bull red action on the barrier islands. Peeler and sook crab have promoted bent rods when fished on a modified fishfinder rig. There has also been blues, kingfish, spot, hardheads, and even a few black drum that are gracing us with their presence much later than expected.

The flounder fishing has continued to be fairly good. With the size limit changing to 17.5” the number of keepers coming home to dinner has been greatly reduced. However, there are still plenty of doormats to fill the frying pan. The last of the flood and first of the ebb have set the scene with the cleanest water. Drifting big silversides and minnows on Sea Hawk Flounder rigs tipped with gulp swimming mullets are your ace in the hole. Most fish have held up on the flats in depths of less than 10’. The southern barrier islands have been a little more productive than Chincoteague, but that can all change in a tide. In the next week or two we will start to look for big flounder around the inshore reefs such as the Blackfish Banks site where we will jig rigs like Captain Bruce’s Bad Winds bucktails to fill the ice box. It’s definitely heating up on the ESVA!

The Chesapeake has been steady, with red and black drum action being the main stay. Peeler or sook crabs have accounted for the most successful encounters. Rock are still prevalent with folks cranking in striped quarry while soaking crab in the grassy shallows. Along with the offerings of bait, my trips this week did boat some nice fish casting with everything from top water spooks to the new “Crush City Mayor” paddletails . While we were searching the shoreline and structures for stripes we were happy to hook up on some nice highflying blues that livened up the day. Lastly, the hardhead bite has been pretty good on the edges of the sounds. Most fish are small but there have been a few nice keepers mixed in. Something we’ve not seen in a good while!

The CBBT has had a “FIN”nominal drum bite around the pilings with a few sheepshead mixed in. The fish have been taking crab baits on bottom sweeper jigs and the reds have also reacted to large soft plastics on jigheads. Cobia have shown up as eager anglers try some preseason practice perusing the “ Man in the Brown Suit”. Just don’t bring him home to dinner till the middle of the month!

Today a very special friend told me of some bad news that his wife had received from the doctor. My friend is a much better Christian than I could ever hope to be and we never understand Gods plan. Please pray for their family as they go through this difficult time. This is just another reminder of how we should never take our opportunities for granted, and how we should treasure every moment as we enjoy this wonderful place that we call home.

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

Some say, if you ask than you will receive. With a drought in full swing, we all certainly asked for hydration for our famished neck of land…. But we didn’t necessarily want it on Memorial Day weekend. Just goes to show you that we are fickle and wants change with the tide. Even still, there are many trophies to tangle with, lunkers to land , and fillets to hit the fryer on a leeward shore, in an awesome place!

The central Chesapeake has kept rods bowed up with some fairly good drum action for both red and black varieties. Reds are targeted around the vast grass flats from Bloodsworth down to Tangier Island. Chunks of crab fished on the bottom are responsible for drag screaming runs from these bronze battlers along with some rock, a few specs, and plenty of patience trying bullfish. The black drum have been held up on the oyster rocks that boarder the Pocomoke and Tangier sounds. A 8/0 circle hook and a fishfinder tipped with a half of a peeler is all that is required for some black drum pullage! Be on the lookout for blues and sheepshead that’ll soon be gracing us with their presence known.

The southern Chesapeake has yielded black and red drum around the CBBT. Most fish have been bought to the gunwale with chunks of crab and/or clam fished close to structure on tog/ sweeper jigs. There have been a few sheepshead mixed in to the take, but the coming weeks should expose these striped toothy trophies for us all to enjoy!

The Atlantic has been angry this week with winds blowing out of the north east and seas keeping a majority of boats moored. The surf has still produced beach bound bounties of blues , rock , black and red drum. Crab has been the most alluring bait when presented on a modified fishfinder or hi- lo rig. Along with the rock stars of the beach some kingfish and hardheads have volunteered for some salty, sandy , sport. A small kingfish rig tipped with bloodworm or crab will provide with some sudsy sport that will bring a smile to anyone’s face!

The seaside flounder has shown endurance and resilience as anglers drift the barrier islands channels. Fish have moved up on the flats and held in depths of 10 feet or less. Drifting Sea Hawk Flounder rigs loaded with gulp and tipped with silversides on the top jig and a big bullheads on the bottom to follow, have filled frying pans with flounder fillets. Just remember that the summer flounder size limit changes on 6/1 to a 17.5 inch minimum.

Sometimes the rain comes at inopportune times and things just don’t go the way you wanted. Just remember we live in a place where a perfect sunrise is guaranteed every day, it’s just sometimes you can’t see it for the clouds. Just don’t forget it’s real and get out there and enjoy this wonderful place that we call home!

05/21/2026

Let’s have a safe, fun and fish filled, Memorial Day!