"What's all this talk about Norfolk spot?"

Norfolk spot are probably the most under-fished species of fish in our bay.
Sure, lots of anglers target them for bait. They catch the spot, keep them
alive in an aerator, and then use them to catch trout and stripers. I'm
talking about catching spot to eat!

The last few years we have had some very nice-sized spot in our bay. Some
of these spot are measuring 10 to 12 inches, a very nice size for a spot.
Pound for pound these fish are the hardest fighting fish you can find,
making them great sport for the kids and adults alike.

"I go flounder fishing all the time and I haven't caught any spot!"

That's because spot have tiny mouths and like worms. If you are a flounder
fisherman, you have been using #1/0 hooks with minnows and squid on your
rigs. For Norfolk spot, you need to drop down to a size #6 or #8 hook and
use night crawlers or bloodworms for bait.

"Won't they bite anything else? I don't like worms!"

They will also take little pieces of shrimp, peeler crab, and if they are
running really good they will eat little pieces of squid. They also have no
problem eating little strips of fresh spot and they absolutely love tuna, if
you have any fresh tuna scraps from offshore fishing.

When I fish for eating sized spot I like to make up a simple top and bottom
rig with two #6 or #8 leadered spinner hooks attached. I like the Bear Paw
brand or Sea Striker long shanked hooks. I cut up the worm into small
pieces, about 1/8 to ¼ inch pieces and thread the worm onto the hook. Then
I add a very tiny strip of squid, or fresh cut spot to the hook. This extra
cut bait gives the worm a slightly larger appearance that will attract
bigger spot. It will also help keep the worm from falling off the hook.
Sometimes, if you are quick with setting the hook, you can catch six or
seven spot on the same piece of bloodworm when you use a tiny piece of cut
bait along with your piece of worm.

"My bloodworms are left from yesterday and are dead."

As long as the worms are cool and red, it doesn't matter. Just cut them in
pieces and they will work just fine. If they got too warm however, and
turned brown and slimy, well, it's time to get some more. Keep your
bloodworms in a container in a cooler, but do not let any fresh water get on
those bloodworms or they will die. Bloodworms are expensive these days, so
you need to take care of them when you go fishing. You can get a lot of
mileage out of a pack of bloodworms if you transfer them into a tuber ware
container with a lid and keep them separated from the rest of the bait, ice,
water, and other fish.

"I have a boat. Where's the best place to go?"

Fishing around the Rt. 90 Bridge is always an excellent area to catch
Norfolk spot. Anchor close to the channel and cast out towards the bridge
pilings. Drift in the area first if you like, casting here and there until
you start hitting the fish. Then you can anchor. You'll know when you find
spot because they hit like a small freight train! Give the kids some ultra
light fishing tackle and they will have a ball! In this area you can also
catch croaker, trout, and blowfish, which are all good eating fish.

Fishing North of the Thorofare area a few yards away from the green marshes
you will find you some spot and also some croaker. We always look for rough
or grassy bottom in about 6 to 8 foot of water. There are also quite a few
spot around Drum Point and also in the waters just offshore of Hooper's in
that little west channel that parallels the main channel. (This area is not
marked so if you were unfamiliar with it, I would stick to the Rt. 90 area.)

There are also spot just inshore of 33rd Street, in the bay behind
Assateague around buoys #8 and #10. Anchor near the big sandbar just west
of the 9th Street Pier in about 8 or 9 foot of water. Spot run in schools,
so if you find one you will certainly find more.

(Many people are worried that during our 2001 two-week summer flounder
closer that there will be no fish to catch. Well this is the time to find
out about all the other fish that are fun to catch in the bay like spot,
croaker, trout, stripers, and blowfish. If you catch a small flounder while
fishing, simply release it and enjoy yourself! Go crabbing or clamming. Try
something new!)

"Where can I catch spot without a boat?"

The Northside Park at 125th Street is a great place to take the kids spot
fishing at high tide. The pier behind Convention Hall at 41st Street is
good. The 9th Street Pier is also excellent. Shantytown Pier generally
sees their share of spot as well as the Ocean Pier. The Rt. 50 Bridge and
2nd thru 4th Streets see some spot but the little sea bass there are so
thick that it's hard to wade thru them. Of course, if you are just
entertaining the kids and just want to catch anything, these areas will also
be fine.

All the piers at Assateague Island in the State and Federal Parks on the
bayside have spot. The surf also has spot.

If you are spot fishing in the surf with bloodworm or night crawler with a
little piece of cut bait, use rigs with floats on them as well. You will
also be set up to catch kingfish, croaker, and trout.

"How do you fix spot after you catch them?"

You can scale and "head and tail" your spot. Then you can bread and
deep-fry them. They are delicious this way. If you have room in your deep
fryer, you can leave the tails on. When you go to seaside diners in the
Carolinas fresh fried spot is always on the menus. It is very good and worth
trying at least once.


If you like your spot filleted, they are actually much less bony than a
croaker and you can get decent fillets. I was surprised when I filleted and
skinned a dozen last week and had over a pound of good fresh fillets that
were great fried or broiled!

"What kind of breading do you use?"

Any kind of breading you buy at the store is great. I make my own out of a
combination of Ritz crackers, onion and garlic croutons, and a sprinkle of
McCormick "Caribbean Jerk Seasoning." Available at Super Fresh. I throw it
all in the food processor and make my own crumbs out of this. I then dip my
fish in an egg wash, roll the fish in the crumbs, let them get room
temperature, and throw them in the deep fryer. (I use a Fry Daddy's).

If you like your fish fillets broiled, simply throw on a little butter,
lemon, Old Bay, chop up a little fresh tomato and onion and broil until just
done. If you like a little flare, try dribbling a little Braswell's Creamy
Vidalia Onion and Peppercorn Dressing or the Vidalia Onion and Summer Tomato
Dressing on your fish before broiling. (Super Fresh again.)

Spot fishing. Fun and good to eat too!