FISHING REPORT: September 3, 2026
Weather/Water Conditions
The heat is making another push this week, with highs in the 90s and lows in the high 70s to low 80s.
- Fishing should be good throughout the day, but the best bite windows will be around first light and right after sunset when temperatures cool down.
- Rain is in the forecast for this weekend, although that could change. The added cloud cover and rain could help break up some of the midday heat and make conditions more comfortable for anglers.
If you're heading out during the heat of the day, stay hydrated and take plenty of water with you.
What's Biting Inshore
The big story inshore right now is the striped bass bite. We've seen a noticeable influx of stripers, and this is a great time to target them.
- Striped Bass: Glide baits and live eels around structure have been producing. The 3 Deep Custom glides, Yo-Zuri glides, and live eels have been some of our best options recently. Work them around docks, structure, and areas where bait is holding and it shouldn't take long to find a hookup.
- Red Drum: We're seeing some over-slot drum showing up, with more fish moving through the area. The bull reds should only become more active as we move farther into September.
- Flounder: Small flounder are still around inshore, although we haven't seen many keeper-size fish just yet.
- Bluefish: There are plenty of bait pockets around, especially with the mullet run happening. Find those pockets and work an artificial through them for blues.
- Mullet: Plenty of mullet are running through the inlet right now, with the biggest concentrations generally showing up in the morning and evening. This is a great time to get out early and find the bait before the day heats up.
Most consistent setup we've seen: For striped bass, throw a glide bait or live eel around structure. For blues, find the mullet and bait pockets and work a paddle tail or other artificial through them.
What's Biting In The Bay/Ocean/Offshore
Oceanfront & Sandbridge:
The surf bite is still hot, with plenty of bait holding along the beach.
We're seeing large menhaden bait balls off the shoreline with Spanish mackerel actively feeding around them, along with big bluefish and a few cobia mixed in.
The drum bite hasn't been as consistent, but there have been some solid whiting and pompano caught from the surf. Sand fleas and shrimp have been producing for those fish.
Keep an eye out for birds working over bait. When you see bait getting pushed around and birds diving, there's a good chance predators aren't far behind.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel:
The Bridge-Tunnel has been producing some stellar flounder fishing, along with cobia.
We've had plenty of big cobia brought through the shop recently, as well as some impressive flounder.
There have also been reports of big bluefish and good-size Spanish mackerel around the Bridge-Tunnel. Again, look for the birds and bait. if the bait is getting blown up, there's a good chance something is feeding underneath it.
Hot Tip: Keep your eyes on the bait. Whether you're fishing the surf, Bridge-Tunnel, or inlet, finding the bait is one of the easiest ways to find the predators right now.
Offshore:
The offshore bite has been excellent and is only getting better.
- Mahi-Mahi: The mahi bite has really fired up, with lots of mahi being caught offshore and some good-sized fish mixed in.
- Black Sea Bass: Sea bass are still biting well and continue to provide plenty of action offshore.
- Flounder: The flounder bite remains on fire, with plenty of fish being caught.
With conditions staying favorable and multiple species cooperating, offshore anglers have plenty of options right now.
Best Bite Window
Even though the fishing has been good throughout the day, the heat will make the early morning and evening the most comfortable and productive times to be on the water.
Best times:
- First light through the early morning
- Right around sunset
Tide influence:
Focus on moving water around structure and areas where bait is concentrated. When bait is actively moving, predators are usually close behind.
Fishing Tips
Some of our best recent producers include:
- 3 Deep Custom glide baits — especially for striped bass and larger predators
- Yo-Zuri glide baits — another great option around structure
- Z-Man Mulletron — great for imitating the mullet that are everywhere right now
- 5" NLBN paddle tails — excellent all-around option for blues, stripers, flounder, and other inshore predators
- Live spot, croaker, mullet, and eels — still some of the best choices when you're looking for bigger fish
- Squid — a great choice for flounder and sea bass
- Sand fleas and shrimp — producing whiting and pompano from the surf
Looking ahead
September is here, and the fishing is only getting better. We've already had an incredible August, but there's still plenty of summer fishing left to take advantage of.
This is one of your final chances to get on the cobia bite, while flounder and sea bass continue to produce offshore and around the Bridge-Tunnel. The striped bass bite is also becoming one of the biggest stories as more fish move into the area.
We're also getting closer to the time of year when bull reds should start cruising through in bigger numbers, so keep an eye out for them as we move through September.
Keep those catches rolling! We love seeing the pictures coming into the shop and watching anglers hit the scales with the fish that got their lines tight.
The fall transition is right around the corner, and there are still plenty of fish to chase before it gets here.