If ever a place was made for fishing it is Tilghman Island, MD. Located in Talbot County, a short drive from Easton on Route 33, you will know you are there when you can’t go any farther. Tilghman Island is surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay to the west, Harris Creek to the east, and Knapp’s Narrows to the north. Black Walnut Point is at the south end of the island. As it is in most of the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, striped bass or rockfish are the most popular target.
The action begins with the trophy season in April and keeps going all summer and fall with trolling and live bait fishing. My last trip there was during the summer when Harrison’s Chesapeake House invited me and a few other writers to enjoy the benefit of their Buddy Plan. Named after the late Buddy Harrison, who was an icon on the Bay, this package includes dinner, a nights lodging, breakfast, a fishing trip, and a box lunch. If your idea of a good meal is one of those places that put a little bit of something you don’t recognize on a big plate and drizzle what they call sauce over the whole thing, Harrison’s is not the place for you. Here everything is down home, and there is plenty of it.
On this trip it was our good luck to be live lining spot for rockfish. Captain Bud Harrison had us on his spot and anchored up in short order. It didn’t take long for the rockfish to start coming over the rail and into the fish box. After a quick two-fish per person limit, we moved behind Popular Island and began restocking the live well with spot we caught on bloodworms. With that mission accomplished, it was back to the dock with a quick stop at the cleaning station in Knapp’s Narrows.
By the time we unloaded the boat back at Harrison’s, the fish were cleaned, and we picked them up on our way off the island. It was still before noon, and I ate my box lunch on the way home. Those who would like to trailer their own boat will find a good launch ramp at Dogwood Harbor Marina. It is located at 21450 Dogwood Harbor Road, Tilghman Island, MD, 21671. You will need a Talbot County permit to use this ramp. These are available at Fairbanks Tackle located just over the Knapp’s Narrows Bridge.
Kayak fishing is becoming very popular, and the sheltered waters of Harris Creek are perfect for this activity. There are access points at Back Creek Park, The Rocks at Black Walnut Point, the public pier at Fairbank’s and the Kayak Pier Dock at Bar Neck. I strongly suggest buying a chart for this area because while the channel is well marked, any variation from there will take you over some shoal water. Even kayaks could run aground on low water. I have had good luck fishing for blues and rock near Sharps Island Flats Light.
For the rockfish we chunked the area from an anchored boat and dropped live spot to the bottom. No need to use live spot for the bluefish. Just let a chunk of bunker drift behind the boat, and a blue will quickly find it. The mouth of the Choptank River has some deeper holes where blues and rock will stage. The same chunking techniques will work here as well. I have had lots of fun playing catch and release with both species after putting a limit in the boat. For the rock a soft plastic shad will draw strikes, while the blues will be happy to destroy the soft plastic; a better choice is a metal jig or spoon. T
he Knapp’s Narrow Inn and the Black Walnut Point Inn also offer lodging choices. I have no personal choice since all my visits have been to Harrison’s. The same is true of restaurants. I have only eaten at Harrison’s, but Mike and Eric’s Bay Hundred can’t be bad if a guy named Eric is one of the owners. Two if by Sea is open during the summer months. I promise you a good time on Tilghman Island whether you choose the all-encompassing service at Harrison’s or try one of the other lodging and eating locations. Take your boat or kayak, and I feel pretty sure you will catch some fish.
by Eric Burnley