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This week on the Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, host Luke Barton checks in with Capt. Kenny Mills of Sea Shift Sportfishing in Virginia Beach and Capt. Eric Meyers of Heads~N~Tails Charters. Capt. Kenny shares an offshore wreck-fishing success story with jumbo black sea bass and dives deep into sonar tips, fishing etiquette, and gear setup for bottom fishing. Capt. Eric shifts the focus inshore with strategies for targeting puppy drum, trout, and flounder as cooler fall tides push shrimp and bait into the rivers. Both captains offer practical advice that anglers can use right now to improve their time on the water.
Conditions Recap
Warm summer water continues to drive plenty of action across the bay. Offshore wrecks are loaded with black sea bass, while inshore anglers are seeing steady pushes of trout and puppy drum as flood tides and cooling temperatures reshape the bite. Shrimp are moving into the rivers, making them a key food source for redfish and flounder around mud bottoms, docks, oyster beds, and grass flats. Clearer water on big low tides is helping anglers sight fish, and overall fishing opportunities are strong in both the bay and its tributaries.
Offshore & Wreck Fishing Report with Capt. Kenny Mills
Capt. Kenny Mills of Sea Shift Sportfishing has been splitting time between cobia charters and productive wreck trips. Recently, his crew enjoyed a “one-stop drop” offshore, boating a full limit of 105 black sea bass in short order. The fish ranged from 2–4 pounds, with a strong class of larger fish over four pounds.
Kenny emphasized etiquette when multiple boats converge on productive wrecks. His approach: be friendly, communicate, and share the action when space allows. “A good mood on the water goes a long way toward keeping your charter happy,” he explained.
On the technical side, Capt. Kenny offered detailed sonar tips for locating productive hangs. Turning up gain to detect subtle bottom lumps, watching for “fuzz” above structure, and learning to differentiate between bait, fish, and hard bottom are critical skills. He compared sonar use to golf—small tweaks in equipment setup can create big improvements…