Change in Flounder Regs

[muldoon]

Not the inlet itself but in that vicinity, yes.

[J.A. Veil]

John (or anyone),
Know where kayaks can be launched at Wacha? I prefer Chico, but Wacha might be worth a try soon.

Wachapreague is a small town. There are several launch ramps within a half mile stretch of water front. For a kayak, use the free ramp next to Capt. Zed's tackle shop.

Most flounder anglers head to the inlet (~5 miles away through twisting channels). The tidal currents here are pretty strong, so time your trips to take advantage of the current. A decade ago, I paddled my Ocean Kayak Drifter out the inlet. These days, I take my 16' center console to Wachapreague instead. You can also rent small skiffs from Capt. Zed's if you want to avoid the long paddle.

Here is a GPS screen shot from last July. A friend and I fished from my center console and made numerous drifts in the open area just inside the inlet. He has a very queasy stomach, so we did not go out through the inlet. We caught flounder, croaker, butterfly rays, weakfish, and other fish on those drifts.

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[tufnik]

Your screen shot helps, John. Thanks!

Five miles is a bit long, but doable. If we wanted to stay within 2-3 mile radius from the ramp, would the bites still be good? I'm thinking about the waterways, edges, channels, etc. well before the inlet.

[HokieDJ]

If they are there, shouldn't they be at CBBT also?

[tufnik]

If they are there, shouldn't they be at CBBT also?

I would think so. They could also be at Kipto, HRBT, Rudee, Cape Charles, etc.

[J.A. Veil]

Your screen shot helps, John. Thanks!

Five miles is a bit long, but doable. If we wanted to stay within 2-3 mile radius from the ramp, would the bites still be good? I'm thinking about the waterways, edges, channels, etc. well before the inlet.

I really don't know. Intuitively, the flounder or some other interesting species could be all along the sloughs that drain out of the marsh. But unless you know the local waters, you are fishing blind. Whenever I go to Wachapreauge (generally mid summer) I ask the guy in the tackle shop where to try for flounder. He generally gives us a Xeroxed map and points us to the inlet and in front of the Coast Guard station.

There is a shorter way to get from the town to the inlet, but it is often too shallow for powerboats -- you would not have a problem in a kayak. Just south of the town is a large open area that is very shallow. There is a narrow channel leading through that area that is much more direct to the inlet. Check it out on a chart before you go.