Middle Bay - The Stripers Have Shown Up

We wanted to fish the outgoing tide when the current was moving the swiftest south of the Bay Bridge on the western shore in the Middle Chesapeake Bay.  We did, and it paid off big time.

Menhaden Caught on a Jigging Spoon

Doug Schopman and I launched at Sandy Point State Park this weekend and started searching  structures for active stripers.  We moved down the western shore and located plenty of baitfish on the 30 to 35 foot line.  Nothing was under or around the bait, so we headed for the southeast.

When we arrived we couldn’t locate any baitfish on the inside so we move out to R “84”. There were 3 boats chumming just outside this buoy, and there was baitfish around everywhere.  No stripers were showing up on the sonar, so we did 1 drift.  We ended up hooking a few 9” menhaden, and that’s a good thing.

We decided it was time to cross back over the Bay and fish the western shore.  The screen lit up on the 30-foot line, first with a lot of baitfish, and then with some stripers.

A Great Sight To See

We both were using light spinning equipment.  Catching went on for about 2 hours.  The fish were healthy and fat, with the majority being in the 24” range.  Doug landed the largest striper, which was 28”.  It was caught on a 6” Bass Kandy Delight, colored with Spike-It Dip-N-Glo Lure Dye, Garlic Sent, Chartreuse.

Doug Schopman with a Nice Striped Bass

Fishing Tip:  Where tributaries enter the Chesapeake Bay are excellent locations to look for active stripers (rockfish) and other saltwater species when the current is moving the swiftest at that location.

Seminars:
06/13/12-NEW:  ‘Understanding Productive Locations to Catch Striped Bass in the Middle Chesapeake Bay’-CCA NOVA- Grace Presbyterian Church, 2381 Cedar Lane, Vienna, VA from 7:00 to 9:00.  No charge - Open to the Public.

06/19/12-NEW: ‘Catching Rockfish Without Birds’-MSSA-Essex/Middle River Chapter-Commodore Hall, 1909 Old Eastern Ave. in Essex, MD. The meeting will start at 7:30 PM. No charge-Open to the Public.