Largest & Hardest Fighting Stripers in Maryland - Now Available

I've been looking forward to this since last spring...a chance to land some large and hard fishing striped bass in Maryland Chesapeake Bay. It finally happened.......

Dave Heath contacted me on Monday asking me if I would like to join him light tackle fishing out of Buzz's Marina in Ridge, MD. We would meet at a Royal Farms Store (we use it as a Park & Ride) on Rt. 97 approximately 2 hours north of the ramp. Once we arrived I had an opportunity to meet and talk with the owner, Mike. I've heard he's a character and that he is. He will give you a up-to-date fishing report, help you launch your boat, and act as a doctor giving first aid to those when needed.

We headed out to the fishing grounds just off the shipping channel where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay.  We had 2 hook ups within 3 minutes after we stopped over a large school of healthy, fat, hard fighting, and drag pulling stripers.

What a Beautiful Sight

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Just look for some large birds, like gannets or sea gulls working the water, come in up current from them, and start a drift. It won't be long before your screen lights up and you have the opportunity of catching one or more of these stripers. Light tackle equipment with a large, heavy jigging spoon or a 7 inch soft plastic baits, rigged on a 1 or 1 1/2 ounce jighead, are very productive. Don't waste any time getting the lure to the bottom and start jigging it immediately. Watch the sonar screen if all the fish are on the bottom keep the lure close, or on the bottom. If they are suspended, start jigging the lure on the bottom and then jig it through all the water columns.

These Lures Work

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We landed fish from 23 inches to 32 inches with only one little 17 inch striper, which  I had the pleasure of catching. It was well worth the drive 'down south'. Thanks David for the memorable catching trip.

David with one of the Smaller Stripers

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These fish should stay around through December. If you do plan to go down, dress warm and be safe on the water. It is cold enough to give you hyperthermia if you fall in. If you've put your boat away, call a local guide to enjoy a day on the Chesapeake Bay.

On Monday, Jan 12, 2015 I will be speaking for the Pasadena Sportfishing Group. The meeting will be held at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Firehall, 161 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD. It starts at 7:30pm but come early and eat dinner.

Be safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.

Catching Nice Striped Bass 'on the fly'

Yesterday was cloudy and the seas were smooth. It was one of those day when you would enjoy fly fishing for striped bass. Mitch Neitzey and Ralph Mitchell planned to go out with me for weeks to do just that.

With the current moving slow from the Bridge north we headed south on the western shore looking for working birds. It took less than an hour to find them, but once we did catching was on until we ate lunch at 11:30am. Both Mitch and Ralph were using 9w, 4pc, 9 foot, flex tip fly rods with 350 grain sinking fly line. Half and half flies, 4 inches long were productive in blue and white along with chartreuse and olive. All of the stripers caught were between 19 and 23 inches, with the exception of one that was approximately 14 inches long.

Once the current slowed down we started fishing structures where only one striper was caught on topwater.

The forecast is calling for some strong winds this weekend. Check the surface wind forecast chart form time to time and lets hope it changes by tomorrow.

Topwater Action Available with Plenty Fish in the Chesapeake Bay

Sorry that I haven't had much time lately to write fishing reports. The reason being, because of the nice fish available in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, if I'm not guiding, I'm fishing. There has been plenty of topwater action at certain times, and there are some nice striped bass, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish available.

Plenty of Gamefish Available

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Topwater action has been great ,with stripers up to 25", and a few bluefish in the 19" range. The fish have been between the Bay Bridges and the southwest end of Poplar Island. I hope you can get out this weekend to catch a few.

Jim Maurer Landed this Nice Mack

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I will be at the BPS this Saturday, 09/27/14, from 9am until 3pm. Please click on the icon below for seminar titles and times. 

Catching Flounder on the Atlantic Ocean

My good friend and fishing buddy, Doug Schopman, invited me to his summer home just outside of Bethany Beach, DE, to fish the Indian River Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. I arrived on Wednesday at 3pm and by 4pm we were catching stripers and bluefish inside the Inlet. The blues ran from 3 to 6 pounds and put up an excellent fight on light spinning tackle. Both species were hitting 2 oz. metal jigging spoons, Bass Assassin 4” Curly Shad in Opening Night and ZMan 6” Sented Jerk ShadZ in pearl white.

The following day we went out on the Atlantic Ocean heading northeast toward Site 11. We were rigged for flounder with plenty of bullhead minnows and cut bluefish belly. If you need to know about bait, what type of species to fish for, where the bite is hot, etc. go to Hook’Em & Cook’Em in Bethany Beach, DE. The management and sales personnel are helpful, knowledgeable, and will head you in the right direction. We caught most of our fish at Site 10 a little closer to the Inlet.

I Caught the Largest Flounder

(Bethany Beach Bridge in Background)

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The Rig

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This past Monday I enjoyed doing a mixed guided trip. Live Lining with light tackle in the morning and fly or light tackle fishing after lunch or when all keepers are caught. Mitch and Terry caught stripers to 24” before lunch and 36 stripers ‘on the fly’ after lunch.

Fishing Tip: Don't put your boat in storage or your rods away after Labor Day. Normally the fishing gets better in the months of Sep, Oct, Nov, and Dec.

Using 2 Methods to Catch Stripers

Brian, Billy and I left Sandy Point State Park around 9:00am and headed south where some spot were being caught. We anchored ahead of a few headboats which were a giveaway that pan fish were around. Brian and Billy started catching some medium to large spot on light perch jerking rods almost immediately on bloodworms. They would do the catching while I was unhooking and putting the catch in the livewell.

We started running ledges until the sonar unit lit up before anchoring again. It was approximately 1 hour before the ebb current was to max out at 2:26pm at 0.70 kts.

Striped Bass Mixed Among Baitfish  

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Some hard fighting, fat, and healthy stripers were caught between 19" to 27". 

Brian Kroneberger Landed the Nice Striper

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Medium spinning rods were used with the spot, and medium heavy spinning rods were used when fishing lures.  The most productive lure was a 6" Bass Kandy Delight soft plastic bait in chartreuse glitter rigged on a 1 oz. jighead.

Fishing Tip:  To keep the bloodworm on your hook longer install a 1/4" piece of Fishbites after the worm.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July....

The Summer Pattern Has Finally Set In

There are now plenty of striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay that can be taken on a fly.  The summer pattern has set in and an occasional blitz is scene making it possible to catch a few on top.

There are also some large cow nose stingrays that can really give you a battle on a 9 weight.  You have to site fish them casting a 3” sinking clouser fly.  Make sure the fly is a few feet in front of the ray before you start striping.  Use sinking fly line for the best hook up ratio.

Fly Fishing on the Chesapeake Bay

With outstanding weather over the holiday, I had the pleasure of guiding John Pietropaoli and his friend, Mark Arden.  We started by visiting some of the local hot spots, but with slow current we moved to 'the ships' anchored in the middle of the Bay.

John was fly fishing and is an excellent caster.  He was the 1st client this year to catch a keeping size striper on the fly.  He was using a 9 weight Helos rod, Mirage reel spooled with 350 grain depth charge sinking line.  The striper took a 3" half and half.

John Holding a Nice Striper 

Monday I had the opportunity to watch a father, Jim Reading, and son, John, team up to fly fish at Poplar Island and on Eastern Bay.  They normally fly fish freshwater for trout, but you would never known that after watching John cast sinking fly line.  He had no problem rolling the fly over about 60 to 70 feet from the boat.  Achieving that distance is a real plus when fly fishing 'the salt'. It allows you to catch more fish for 2 reasons; the fly covers more water, and this keeps it in the strike zone longer.

John Caught His 1st Striper Ever on a Fly

Most Productive Technique:
Short Striping Sinking Line (with sinking line)-Cast the fly out and count it down to the desired depth.  If the line gets tight during the countdown, get additional line in the water.  To accomplish this, put the rod tip just above the water and figure 8 the tip putting more line in the water.  This allows the fly to sink where it hit the water.  Start stripping the line in 1-foot increments, swiftly, back toward the boat.

Most Productive Fly:

Tommy Mattie 3"/4" Half and Half

For those who were nice enough to book a live lining trip there are no spot available at this time. They normally show up after the 1st week of June.  I will contact you then.

Taking Your Best Buddy Fishing

Curt planned a fly-fish outing for his best fishing buddy, Bruce, who was also his father.  They have fly-fished many exotic locations throughout the years and wanted to add one more location, the Chesapeake Bay.  Their plan was to catch some hard fighting striped bass and other saltwater species.

The weather during both days was outstanding; not too hot or humid, with a slight breeze keeping the waves low on the water.  There hadn't been much topwater action in prior days, so a 9 weight fly rod, teamed with sinking fly line, and a 3" sinking clouser fly, were used and were very productive during the entire trip.

Nice striper caught by Curt on the 1st day

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A little variety

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It's always a pleasure to show my clients some of the Chesapeake Bay jewels.

Thomas Point Lighthouse

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Unfortunately I always have to call 'last cast'.  When I did Bruce made one of those casts all fly anglers like to make, right up to Sandy Point Lighthouse.  On the 1st strip it was fish on.  The outing finished with Bruce catching a nice 23" striper, tying up the score of 140 fish (70 each) for the 2 day outing.

Curt and Bruce - 'Best Fishing Buddies'

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Plenty of Stripers Now in the Mid-Bay

The weather has been stable enough to bring the striped bass into the Middle Chesapeake Bay, allowing me to do more guiding than fishing.  This June has kept me very busy since fishing has been very productive out of Sandy Point State Park.

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It's really been a pleasure watching my clients catch some quality stripers while fly or light tackle fishing.  It's still a little early to go out and count on seeing birds working the water.  Search on ledges located from Podickory Point south to Thomas Point when the current is moving the swiftest.

I hope your schedule will allow you to book a trip 'while the catching is hot'.

Susquehanna Flats Striped Bass Fishing Season Almost Here

Starting on March 1st until May the 3rd, each year the largest striped bass visit the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay just outside Havre de Grace, MD, in a stretch of water known as the Susquehanna Flats.  

This is an ideal location to fly or light tackle fish in waters as shallow as 1 foot.  Catching stripers on top water starts when the water temperature reaches 55 degrees, around the middle of April.  This is the time of year where you will have an opportunity to catch that once in a lifetime striped bass. 

If you are new to fishing the flats, make sure to run down the west side shipping channel, and once you go around the south side of R"2", it will be safe to cross over to the east side channel. 

If you're used to drifting over the flats (done best during a high tide), look for deep ditches that run parallel and in the same direction as the Susquehanna River.  Shad and herring move in these ditched during their spawning season and the striped bass use these ditches as ambush locations.  A very productive fly to use here is a large Half & Half with a red head, and a chartreuse and white body.  Fish it on sinking fly line witha 4' leader.  If you light tackle fishing, try a 6" Gulp Alive Swimming Mullett on a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce jighead. 

This is a catch and release fishery.

No Need to Get Cabin Fever.....

I'm very fortunate to live in the State of Maryland.   There are always fish to be caught.

Super Bowl Sunday – Caught Stripers & the Ravens Won – One to Remember

Doug Schopman and I decided to striper fish before Sundays Super Bowl. We loaded up and headed south out of Catonsville at 12:00pm. We were worried about ice on the water on the way to the ramp, but when we arrived the water was moving, with no ice in sight.

We located some fish in approximately 45 to 55 feet of water and started drifting over them while vertical jigging soft plastic baits, again and again, with no hits. The water was somewhat dingy so we decided to fish a 6” thick body, twister tail, in white, and to change the technique.

We were fishing ebb current with good moving water and more fish started showing up on the sonar unit. On the first drift with the larger bait on, I started moving the bait very slowly, with the rod tip moving horizontally instead of vertically. Fish on…and again…and again…until we left the water. In fact, we left active fish since we didn't want to miss the kick off. We headed home by 4:15pm. We fished for approximately 3 hours and landed 14 nice stripers, ranging from 18 to 26 inches. All the fish were fat and provided an excellent fight on light spinning tackle.

Most Productive Lure: Gulp, 6”, Fat Body, Twister Tail in White fished on a 1-ounce white and orange jighead.

Most Productive Technique: This technique is very productive during the colder months when the stripers don’t want to chase bait. Horizontal Jigging – Cast the lure out and make sure it’s on the bottom. Place the rod tip just above the water, and with a tight line, start moving the rod horizontally very slowly while keeping the lure on the bottom. There will be no problem for you to feel when the fish takes the bait.

Fishing Tip: Color does make a difference. Doug was fishing the same lure in chartreuse and I was out catching him on a 4 to 1 basis. Once he changed from chartreuse to white, we were busting them together.

Enjoying the Action on a Late January Day

We headed to the water around 12pm and fished with light spinning tackle until just before dark.  It was a sunny and warm January day so fishing for striped bass took precedence over my HD list.

The air temperature was in the 60's and the water temperature was around 38.6 degrees with no chop on the water.  There was plenty of bait around, and the stripers were caught in waters from 45' to 55'.

Bill and I had doubles on the first 3 drifts, and the catching was on.  All the fish we caught and released were fat and  healthy.  We took our time when bringing the fish up from deep water.  5" scented soft plastic baits rigged on 1 ounce jigheads were the most productive lures throughout the trip.  I fished a scented 8" plastic eel, for about an hour, without any luck.

I Know.......

Got One.....

When to Fish the Location.....

Nice Fish Bill....

Thanks Doug for joining us later and to Billy Mellendick for the enjoyable fishing trip.

Fishing Tip:  If the air temperature becomes warm during a colder month - and you go fishing - dress for the water temperature.  It was nice outside yesterday but much cooler when moving across the water that was 38 degrees.

Open Dates to Fly Fish or Light Tackle Fish the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT)

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I hope you have time in your schedule to fish the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in early December 2012.  The largest striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay are available during this time of year, giving you the opportunity to catch that 'once in a lifetime' striped bass on fly or light tackle equipment.



Everything is provided: fly and light tackle equipment, flies, lures, licenses, lunch, and casting lessons, if needed.  I will share with you the most productive techniques used to catch striped bass.

You and your guests will be aboard a catamaran, especially designed for fly and light tackle fishing.  It is 22' long by 8' 6" wide, and will provide you with a smooth, dry ride throughout your trip.

Dates Available - Dec 3rd through Dec 8th

Trip Rate - 1 to 3 Anglers / Full Day Trips Only $600.00 (Total Cost)

To Book a Trip - Call 443-690-3164

All arrangements/hotel reservations, will be taken care of by Capt. Tom Hughes.  Your room will be ready when you arrive at Sunset Beach Resort Hotel, in Cape Charles, VA.