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Your Guide to Fall Fishing on Virginia's Eastern Shore

Posted by Sarah Barban on Sep 10, 2019 4:51:10 PM

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a 70-mile peninsula that divides the Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, so no matter where you turn there's lots of water and plenty of great fishing. 

Fall is an especially good time for fishing on Virginia's Eastern Shore! The temperatures are warm without being sweltering, and there are lots of fish to target. 

Sunset Beach Hotel is in a prime location for fishing in both the Chesapeake Bay and inshore or offshore ocean waters. There's plenty of onsite boat parking and ramps with access to the bay and the ocean are just minutes away. 

Here's a preview of what you can hope to catch when you book a fall fishing getaway at Sunset Beach Hotel. 

Inshore

  • Flounder - In the fall you'll want to turn to the Chesapeake Bay for flounder fishing. Hook them around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and in the lower portion of the bay. 
  • Red Drum - In autumn, fish for reds around the concrete ships off Kiptopeke, cabbage patch and at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. 
  • Black Sea Bass - Your best bet is to fish for these guys in ocean waters, especially over wrecks and reefs. It's not unheard of to catch them in the lower Chesapeake Bay though. 
  • Gray Trout - Also known as weakfish, gray trout peak around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in May, June and October. They're also plentiful in ocean waters during the fall. 
  • Speckled Trout- If you're chasing speckled trout in the fall stick to the creeks on the bayside. 
  • Striped Bass- The best time to reel in a whopper of a striper is in November and December. You'll find this catch in seaside inshore waters and throughout the Chesapeake Bay. Some of the largest fish are hooked off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. 
  • Tautog- One of the peak times for this fish is from October to December. You can find them over wrecks and reefs in ocean waters, in the lower Chesapeake Bay and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. 

Croaker, kingfish, sheepshead, spadefish and spot also run off Virginia's Eastern Shore in the fall, just in smaller numbers. 

Offshore

The hottest offshore fish during fall on Virginia's Eastern Shore are bluefish, king mackerel, wahoo and yellowfin tuna. 

You can also target amberjack, blue marlin, bluefin tuna, mahi, Spanish mackerel and white marlin. 

You May Also Like: 

Your Guide to Summer Fishing on Virginia's Eastern Shore

Plan a Fall Getaway to Cape Charles

Your Guide to Spring Fishing on Virginia's Eastern Shore

Topics: Cape Charles, Fishing, Outdoors, Fall