Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

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Spin, Cast & Bait

Toms Cove (Assateague) Fishing Guide

Virginia

The cove and surf at the south end of Assateague Island near Chincoteague, open to fishing in marked areas, with red drum, flounder, stripers, and bluefish.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Toms Cove (Assateague) for striped bass, redfish, flounder and bluefish. In October, striped bass, redfish, flounder and bluefish are in season, and Clouser Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver and EP Baitfish are a good place to start. There are 10 shops within 45 miles; the closest is Captain Steve's Bait and Tackle in Chincoteague, about 4 mi away. Ocean City Inlet is about 34 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Striped Bass
Redfish
Flounder
Bluefish
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What You'll Catch

Toms Cove (Assateague) Species

Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Bluefish

Bluefish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: May to Oct

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

14 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Fly

  • Lefty's Deceiver #3/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Bluefish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Bluefish, Redfish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Redfish, Striped Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder, Striped Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Bluefish

    Shop This Lure

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Bluefish, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Striped Bass

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate or sinking line, 20 lb leader. Clousers and Deceivers.

Spin / Cast 7 to 8 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 30 lb braid with a 20 to 30 lb leader.

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Bluefish

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate line, wire or 40 lb bite tippet.

Spin / Cast 7 to 9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 20 lb braid with a wire leader.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Toms Cove (Assateague)

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

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Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

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Topwater

Heddon Zara Spook

The walk-the-dog topwater that works in fresh and salt.

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Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Toms Cove (Assateague)

Farther Out

Within 45 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Toms Cove (Assateague)

Farther Out

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland · About 34 mi

Ocean City Inlet

The inlet at Ocean City, where anglers work the jetty rocks for sheepshead and stripers, flounder hold in the channels, and mackerel and albies run close to shore.

Sheepshead · Flounder · Striped Bass

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland · About 53 mi

Point Lookout

The tip of Maryland where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake, with a long state park pier and a lower Bay mix of stripers, red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish.

Striped Bass · Redfish · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Delaware · About 53 mi

Indian River Inlet

A busy inlet with jetty fishing for stripers, flounder, and blues.

Striped Bass · Flounder · Bluefish

Saltwater & Coast · Virginia · About 75 mi

Virginia Beach

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and nearby inlets with stripers, flounder, and sheepshead.

Striped Bass · Flounder · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland · About 75 mi

Chesapeake Bay

Striped bass from the bridges to the flats, plus speckled trout and red drum to the south.

Striped Bass · Red Drum · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · New Jersey · About 78 mi

Cape May

The southern tip of New Jersey with rips, jetties, and back bays for stripers and fluke.

Striped Bass · Flounder · Bluefish