Striped Bass Now Holding at the CBBT & the Atlantic Ocean

Fishing the Chesapeake Bay in December and January, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean, is an exciting way to spend a day, fly or light tackle fishing for striped bass.  The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) crosses here and connects Cape Charles, VA, on the eastern shore to Norfolk, VA on the western shore.  There are 4 islands, 2 underwater tubes, rock piles, shoals, and over 1,800 pilings, which have the makeup to hold some large striped bass. 

This is one of only a few locations where you have the opportunity to catch that once in a lifetime striped bass. 

In early December, stripers were caught ‘on the fly’ around the 2^nd island.  Sinking clousers in blue and white, 3” long, and fished on fast sinking line, was the ticket to catching stripers to 28 inches.

The majority of stripers were holding tight to the pilings and were caught on soft plastic lures rigged on 1-ounce jigheads. The most productive colors were Shad Assassin and Chartreuse Glitter.  A nice puppy drum was picked up on a 2-1/4 ounce silver Hopkins Shorty spoon.

This fishery will stay open for catch & release in this section of the Chesapeake Bay.  Look for some large stripers to show up around the islands and rock piles in early January.  They will be ready to take a 5” Half & Half in chartreuse and white body, or blue and white body, using sinking fly line.

Note:  The Atlantic Ocean, just 8 miles from the CBBT, will be holding some nice striped bass until the water reaches 42 degree.