I have set up this site hoping it will be of some value to whomever likes to fish off of Virginia and Maryland's Eastern Shore. I grew up in a small town, Quinby Virginia, and my mom and dad still operate a small bait and tackle business there today. It also gives me an opportunity to be a bit creative with HTML

Some Helpful Hints:

For current Quinby and Wachapreague fishing information call POWELLS BAIT in Quinby at (757) 442-4447. Or email me at the email address below.

On this web site I have detailed a few techniques that have proven successful for me, along with a few pictures that shows I am not just blowing smoke. I enjoy fishing for a variety of saltwater species; flounder, red & black drum, rock, gray and speckled trout.

I would like to hear from anybody who has had success with other techniques, and if you send the details to me I will post them on this site.

Black Drum Fishing:

                

LEFT: This is a 42 pounder caught by my son Nathan off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge high span last Spring. Earlier that day I caught an 89 pounder. According to a Virginia Marine Fisheries Biologist I spoke with at Kiptapeak Va. last year, a mature Black Drum (over 45 lbs) averages a year of age per lb. That is incredible when you consider many of the fish harvested weigh in excess of 65lbs.  RIGHT: Mike is admiring his first Big Black Drum....Tina just wants to look good for the picture.

I have had success with black drum using a variety of techniques, virtually all of them while anchored. Sometimes the blacks, despite his size, bite so lightly you can't tell if it is a fish or a crab messing with your line. Other times they will give you a very hard tap and leave you with little doubt that it is a fish. The key to catching these guys is be patient and don't try to set the hook too early. I have had them play with my baits for several minutes before he actually picked it up and started to move off with it...when you feel them start to take it away THEN try to break the rod. These guys have very tough mouths. I have caught these fish in water as deep as 60 ft and as shallow as 4 ft. They will feed on a variety of baits, hard crab, soft crab, hard-shell clam and sea clam, to name a few.

ABOVE: Patti & Mike share the spotlight with this big Red Drum. Mike had to reel it in because Patti was on the cell phone when she hooked it. According to her the phone call was more important.....go figure...

Flounder Fishing:

When I was in high school I use to work as the mate on a charter boat in Quinby for Captain Archie Doughty. In those days if we didn't bring in 100 flounder a day with a party of six fishermen we considered ourselves as having an off day. Although Archie is retired he is still considered by many as being one of the most knowledgeable charter boat captains in the area. I often seek his advice before I head out.

In those days we would drift along the edge of the channels trying to catch the fish which lay waiting for the schools of minnows moving onto or off of the flats. This wasn't always easy because tide and wind direction sometimes made it almost impossible to work a decent drift.

Over the last few years, many flounder angles have started "slow trolling" in 2-3 ft. of water up on top of the flats with very good results. You need to keep your line 20-230 ft from the boat and use a least a 1.5-2ft leader with a live minnow for bait. This has not only proved effective, but has also opened up much more potential fishing area.

As always the clearer the water the better the results.

ROCK FISHING:

Herb caught and released this beauty on the Susquehanna Flats early this spring, she was 36" and the biggest of 4 they caught.