It's a Fishing Day

Species

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus · family Sciaenidae

Popularly called "speckled trout" or "specks." Summer-fall target in the lower Bay grass beds and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Topwater walkers at dawn and soft plastics on jigheads are standard.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
60–85°F (ideal 72°F)
Tide
incoming
Moon
either
Depth
3–15 ft
Active months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Best spotted seatrout conditions today

  1. Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access Accomack, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  2. Kiptopeke State Park Northampton, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  3. Cape Charles Town Pier Northampton, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  4. Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA · harvest closed
    84/100
  5. Solomon's Island Fishing Pier Calvert, MD
    68/100
  6. Point Lookout State Park St. Mary's, MD
    68/100
  7. Flag Ponds Nature Park Calvert, MD
    68/100
  8. Assateague Island — MD Surf Worcester, MD
    43/100
  9. Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty Worcester, MD
    43/100
  10. Cape Henlopen State Park Sussex, DE
    43/100
  11. Indian River Inlet Sussex, DE
    43/100
  12. Lewes Canal Sussex, DE
    43/100
  13. Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing Sussex, DE
    43/100
  14. Delaware Seashore State Park Sussex, DE
    43/100
  15. Slaughter Beach Sussex, DE
    43/100
  16. Sandy Point State Park Anne Arundel, MD
    27/100
  17. Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier Queen Anne's, MD
    27/100
  18. Romancoke Pier Queen Anne's, MD
    27/100
  19. Matapeake Pier Queen Anne's, MD
    27/100
  20. Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier Calvert, MD
    27/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (tidal)

tidal bay

Min size
14"
Creel
4

Chesapeake Bay: 14-inch minimum, 4 per day. Thermal-stress winter die-offs can trigger emergency closures; check MDDNR before mid-winter trips.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
14"
Creel
4

Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 14-inch minimum, 4 per day.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

tidal delaware

Min size
12"
Creel
0

Delaware Bay and tidal tributaries: 12-inch minimum, no daily creel limit. Noticeably looser than MD (14-inch, 4/day). Thermal die-offs and ASMFC addenda can change the regulation — re-verify annually.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
12"
Creel
0

Delaware Atlantic coast and Inland Bays: 12-inch minimum, no daily creel limit.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (tidal — VMRC)

tidal bay

Min size
14"
Creel
5

Virginia tidal waters: 14-inch minimum, 5 per day, with no more than 1 fish over 24 inches. CLOSED April 1–June 30, 2026 for the spawning run (new VMRC regulation effective March 31, 2026 — 4VAC20-280). Differs significantly from MD (no seasonal closure, 4/day, no "big fish" limit) and DE (12-inch min, no creel). Re-verify before April trips — the spring closure was added in response to stock concerns.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

atlantic

Min size
14"
Creel
5

Virginia Atlantic coast: 14-inch minimum, 5 per day, no more than 1 fish over 24 inches. CLOSED April 1–June 30, 2026 (same spring closure as tidal Bay). 4VAC20-280.

Source · verified 2026-04-22