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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Red Drum in Virginia Coast & Eastern Shore may fishing.

Sciaenops ocellatusSeasonal MovementPeak

Spawn underway; bull reds in inlets.

Year-round calendar

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Tap a cell for the month-specific note and water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering schools in deep marsh holes and channels. Typical water temp: 42–50°FFairFeb — Fair Same — pre-spawn fish staging. Typical water temp: 44–52°FFairMar — Good Spring movement back to flats — pre-spawn schools. Typical water temp: 50–58°FGoodApr — Good Big drum on the flats; spawning aggregations forming. Typical water temp: 58–64°FGoodMay — Peak Spawn underway; bull reds in inlets. Typical water temp: 64–70°FPeakJun — Good Resident fish on flats; spawn winding down. Typical water temp: 70–76°FGoodJul — Good Tailing fish on summer flats. Typical water temp: 76–82°FGoodAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–84°FGoodSep — Peak Fall bull red schools forming on beaches and inlets. Typical water temp: 72–78°FPeakOct — Peak Peak fall drum season — Outer Banks bull red blitz. Typical water temp: 64–72°FPeakNov — Good Bull schools dispersing as water cools. Typical water temp: 56–64°FGoodDec — Fair Fish moving to wintering holes. Typical water temp: 48–56°FFair

Migration pattern

Resident year-round in the Lower Chesapeake and VA Eastern Shore; major spawning aggregations form in inlets in spring and fall bull red schools push to the beach September–November.

Best locations

  • Hog Island flats
  • Wreck Island bar
  • Oyster inlet
  • Little Wachapreague

Top lures

  • Live mullet under popping cork
  • Cut mullet on bottom
  • Gold spoons
  • Soft plastic shrimp
  • Topwater plugs (skinny water)
Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year to year. Cross-reference NOAA marine forecasts and a local source the week of your trip.

Red Drum in other regions

Get a notification when red drum show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in Virginia Coast & Eastern Shore.

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