On a mild, early fall morning, you’re standing on the casting deck, fan casting for the first bite. Your guide is atop the poling platform calling out casting directions as he spots a school of speckled trout. This is a common scene on backwaters of the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. However, today, you are fishing the coastal backwaters of Maryland. Here, speckled trout and redfish are abundant, but not highly sought. Add in the state’s beloved striped bass, and you have a perfect trifecta for coastal backwater fishing.
In Ocean City, Maryland, Capt. Mark Sampson, owner of Fish Finder Adventures is a well-known authority on shark fishing off the mid-Atlantic coast. Each winter, he trades his big boat for a flats skiff and guides the backwaters of Florida’s Sugarloaf Key. Back home, he adapted the flats style of fishing to the bays and marshes of Maryland. Sampson developed a niche all his own on the backwaters around Ocean City.
Maryland Hot Spots for Shallow-Water Fishing
Assawoman, Sinepuxent and Newport Bays are skinny water playgrounds. Given the shallow nature of specks and redfish, Capt. Sampson rarely has another boat in sight. Access to areas for stripers is often limited to high water, even in a shallow-draft flats skiff. Sand bars protect these hot spots on low tide.
The trio of species lives in the marshes throughout the year. As the offshore season slows leading into fall, Sampson embraces the opportunity to focus inshore. He looks forward to the gradual change in the late summer air and spending his days in these secluded waters.
Stripers, specks and reds thrive on an abundance of baitfish. Throughout the year, bull minnows are abundant. Later in the season, menhaden, and finger mullet arrive in the marshes.
Read the Tides for Redfish and Trout
Tide stages determine Sampson’s game plan for speckled trout. The marshes of Newport Bay offer deep water where fish retreat on a falling tide. The backwaters of all three bays are options on a flooding tide. High water draws bait and prey to the points and undercut banks. Wind speed and direction may force him to choose a particular bay over the others for boat comfort and control.
Redfish are found in more defined locations than trout. Sampson keys on pockets and coves where a marsh bank transitions into sand. If the pocket has submerged vegetation, it’s a redfish haunt with high potential. These areas are where he finds tailing redfish most often. Even on days when reds aren’t showing themselves, he will target these areas even if he can’t sight fish them.
Best Lures for Maryland Inshore Fishing
Lure selection for trout and redfish is simple. Paddle-tail swimbaits in 3 ½ to 4 ½-inches are king; ¼-ounce heads are all that are needed. Capt. Sampson leans on classic color patterns. Chartreuse, electric chicken, and hues with gold or silver flash serve him well. Sinking MirrOlures also come into play. When straight cast-and-retrieve presentations are ignored, Sampson jigs his swimbait. Soft plastic shrimp imitations are another good option for jigging.
With a strong bite on paddle tails for trout, Sampson will often hand an angler a topwater popper. The angler may find it odd to cast away from the action, but Sampson is prospecting. He is probing for other schools of fish. A blow up on the popper clues him in to other fish to target when action on the current school wanes.
Sight Fishing Maryland Striped Bass
The shallows of the coastal bays offer the rare opportunity to sight fish for stripers. Sampson poles the waters along the banks of Sinepuxent Bay’s easternmost islands. He’ll venture far back into the creeks and coves via slightly deeper natural channels. He’s looking for schools of stripers and single fish, calling out casting directions to the anglers on the bow.
Schooled stripers are more aggressive and will respond to swimbaits and topwater plugs. Singular stripers are less hostile. They are looking for lures presented as an easy feeding opportunity. A soft jerkbait rigged weightless on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Wide-Gap Worm Hook is the best choice when they ignore speedy paddle tails and surface commotion.
Match the Hatch for Shallow Stripers
Sampson closely matches the size of his lures to the prevalent bait source. Even keeper, slot-limit 28- to 31-inch stripers will eat a 3 ½ or 4-inch paddle tail. When upsizing to a 5-inch or larger paddle tail, a weighted swing hook rig such as Z-Man Texas Eye jig is best. Capt. Sampson uses a variety of surface lures. Chief among them are old school Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs. He opts for flashy colors and natural patterns, some of which are custom painted to match the bait.
Maryland’s coastal backwaters are an untapped fishery. Captain Mark Sampson’s flats fishing approach is a unique approach for shallow water specks, red, and stripers.
