On The Fly Saltwater
April 2024
As with most areas, casting flies in saltwater is surging in popularity along the South Atlantic Coast from Maryland to Florida. With a shoreline that long running north to south, the variety of fish to target is large. But, from those choices five species stand out as the ones that gain most of the notice. That’s because these gamesters are common in their areas and readily will hit a fly.
STRIPED BASS
Striped bass, or stripers, are a favorite target of fly casters in the brine on the northern fringes of the southern coast. The area around Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina is famed for producing these fish. Farther south they also turn up in brackish waters at the mouths of rivers as far south as the St. Johns in Florida. Forty-plus-pound stripers are caught off beaches in North Carolina, while the fish in the deltas of the Savannah and St. Johns rivers are more likely to top out at 10 to 12 pounds.
BLUEFISH
This is another species that is most popular on the northern fringe of our coverage. Particularly in the fall, large schools of fish push along the shore making life miserable for baitfish. Blues weighing in the double-digit range are possible there. The fish, however, are found even as far south as Florida. That far down the coast a fish of 4 or 5 pounds is considered a big one.
REDFISH
Overall, the redfish is probably the most popular target of long rodders along this coast. The fish grow big, are strong fighters, readily take flies and often are in shallow water where they can be sight-cast. That’s a prescription for a perfect prey for fly casting. Though giant “bull” reds (that are actually females) show up off the beaches and inlets all along the coast, most of the action is for their smaller inshore progeny. Still these inshore reds often measure 30-plus-inches and reach double-digit weights.
SPOTTED SEATROUT
These “speckled trout,” as they are often called, have for years been the most popular saltwater fish to catch throughout their range on the southern coast. However, when it comes to targeting them with the fly rod, their popularity lags a bit. Though they readily take flies, their fight does not compare with reds, nor do they regular reach large size. On the other hand, few fly casters turn down the opportunity to catch some when these fish show up – and they have saved many otherwise unproductive trips for other species.
Though not a species regularly associated with fly fishing, flounder have much in common with the seatrout. Though rarely targeted, they are usually welcomed when hooked. These fish often attack a variety of streamer pattern or spoon flies and then use the leverage of their flat bodies to put up a bottom-hugging battle that is out of proportion to their size. Another reason for their favorability when hooked is they are prolific and one of the tastiest fish along the coast. They often end up going home to dinner with anglers.
