The only vehicle you need to catch fish is your own two feet. Seriously. No boat, no problem. Any body of water in the State of Maryland with public access points can be fished from shore. I have been a land-based angler my entire life, and I have fallen in love with chasing fish from shore. With the largest percentage of anglers fishing from solid ground, it seems only fitting to share some secrets of shore fishing success with you all.

 

It’s a regular occurrence for me to wake up at the crack of dawn, wipe the fog out of my eyes, and tie on a lure. As land-based anglers, we are part of a very large community, which can result in large crowds at public fishing locations and subsequently more fishing pressure. To combat this, prioritize early morning outings. Plus, during these hot summer months, many fish feed more heavily during the cooler morning hours of the day.

 

So, while everyone else is still asleep on a Saturday morning, a savvy shoreline angler is already on the water.

 

My locale of choice today is the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. I slip on my boots, and my left sock soaks like a sponge. Wet feet are no fun, but I’m left with little choice but to bite the bullet. Fishing from shore often requires navigating some difficult terrain to get to prime locations. This morning, I’ll be walking along a bulkhead lined with slippery rocks. My boots have Vibram soles, which have extremely good grip and traction. In my mind, it’s better to have wet feet than a broken ankle.

 

I start heading over to my spot– a couple hundred yard walk to a juicy bit of structure. See, there’s a rock bar that is submerged beneath the water, and it leads right into a grass bed. When the tide is right, the fish stack up here and feed hard. Locating structure is key when identifying prime places to cast from the shoreline. This can include hard structures like rocks, trees, or even man-made features like docks. Soft structure such as grass, weeds, lily pads, or any other vegetation is another indicator that fish may be around. Finally, any irregular land formation like a point, cove, or island can be a good place to cast your line. Unlike boaters who use sonars and various other electronics, the only tool we land-based anglers have for finding fish is our eyes. So use them, and use them well.

 

Once I reach my spot, I wind up my 7’6” medium power rod and make a long cast. Fishing from shore, I rarely use a rod shorter than seven feet. Longer rods allow for farther casts, and as land-based anglers, we don’t have the luxury of motoring or paddling within a shorter casting range of our target. Remember, also, to throw your lure parallel to the bank as well. If the structure you are targeting is along the shoreline, bombing a cast along rocks or grass allows you to fish your target without moving too close and spooking the fish with your shadow or footsteps. The farther away from the target structure you can be while still casting as close as possible, the better.

 

After twenty or so minutes of casting without a bite, I decide to make a move. I can’t keep coming up empty, just holding onto the hope that maybe a fish will swim by and take interest in my lure. About a quarter-mile upriver, I spy my next spot. It’s a point at the mouth of a cove, with a rock bar leading straight across to an island. When a combination of different structures presents itself, we’re in business. Just as boat fishermen run around to different spots to locate fish, we as shoreline anglers must use our feet and do the same. If twenty minutes doesn’t produce a fish in a given spot, find another.

 

After scrambling like a billy goat over the rocky bulkhead, I finally made it to the point. Three boats are just outside the mouth of the cove, with lines in the water. I smile. The tide is incoming, and I know that if fish are here, they will be positioned inside of the cove, beyond the reach of the boat fishermen who would run aground if they tried to cross the rock bar at the mouth.

 

I launch a cast, start cranking, and wham. My lure gets hit, and I land a nice rockfish. Quick photo, release, another cast. Thump, bit again, and I get my hands on another one. Cast after cast, I pull in fish after fish. All the while, not one boat around me has pulled anything in. I can see them inching closer, trying to get within casting range of where the rockfish are feeding, but their boats simply can’t go shallower.

 

Such is the magic of shoreline fishing, my friends. Anyone can do it and be successful, with the proper gear and knowledge. Better yet, you’ll sometimes out-fish the boats you used to find yourself wishing you owned. And that’s a really cool feeling.

 

Get Ready For Your Next Fishing Outing

Looking for more information, inspiration, or a sneak peek into what Maryland has to offer? Explore Fish & Hunt Maryland’s latest articles written by fellow sportsmen and women and local partners, alongside our extensive library of videos available. 

 

Be sure to acquire your license from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources if you plan on heading out on your own (charter passengers are covered by the captain’s license).  

 

Visit our Planning Resources page for information on fishing charters and guides, lodging options, marinas, retailers and more. And if you’re up for a quick getaway, be sure to check out Visit Maryland for places to stay, dining, and things to do while you’re here.