Bottom Fishing – Croaker, Spot, Kingfish and More
Several species of bottom fish can be caught in the estuaries and bays and coastal waters near Chincoteague Island. These are small fish, but important catches for recreational anglers. Most are highly prized as table fare and are often cooked whole, except for the head. These include croakers, spot, kingfish, porgy and pigfish.
Atlantic Croaker are popular fish found along the Atlantic Coast. Croaker get their names because of the “croaking” noise they make when removed from the water. They are caught on a variety of baits and lures. Croaker can be caught in Chincoteague Channel, from piers and from the surf at Assateague Island.
Croaker baits include squid, cut fish, bloodworms and other cut baits. In addition to baits, croaker are caught on a variety of jigs and other saltwater lures. They are occasionally caught in shallow grass beds using fly fishing gear.
Spot are another bottom species that are commonly caught in the nearby bays, creeks and coastal areas. They can be identified by a pattern of silver stripes along their sides and a distinctive dark spot above the pectoral fin. These scrappy fish are abundant in mid-summer thru early fall.
The southern kingfish, or whiting, is another member of the croaker family. Kingfish have an elongated body and a characteristic single chin barbel. Coloration varies somewhat with habitat, but it is generally gray to brown above with silver undersides and 6-8 broad lateral bars.
Kingfish are an excellent food fish and are sought after by bottom fishermen and surf anglers. These fish are found on sandy bottoms, entering inshore areas in summer.
Porgy are another bottom dwelling species that is sometimes caught around Chincoteague. Adult scup feed in schools of similar-sized individuals around piers, rocks, offshore ledges, jetties, and mussel beds. They move inshore in summer but return to deeper waters offshore or migrate southward when temperatures cool. Large scup generally occur farther offshore than do smaller, younger ones.
Pigfish, colorful members of the grunt family are summer visitors to inshore bays and creeks. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body, with a series of attractive stripes on the sides and bands on the snout and head. They are easily caught around shell bottoms using small pieces of bait such as bloodworms, crab, squid or shrimp.