I’m planning a tip to Chesapeake Bay Bridge this March and would like to request information on targeting stripers? Any information would be appreciated.Thanks
Are you gonna be running out of Rudy Inlet or Lynnhaven? And are you gonna charter or bring your own boat? Check out the reports on http://vbsf.net/ Always had good fishing along any of the 1500 odd bridge pilings. Daytime fish the shadow lines and night time its wide open. If your fishing/trolling away from the bridge, look for the birds. I troll mann stretches on 50lb braid. If you use mono they will not get down far enough. Eels are also a good thought if they are in stock. There are 2 decent live bait places right on the Lynnhaven. If they are in stock, they will go fast. We have jigged with Hogy eels with good success. Bucktails or Hopkins jigged also work. Most our big fish have come at night, on eels along the first/second island in 50 ft water and trolling the channels. Hope this helps.
Mike Crouch
Sea Tow Charleston
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Sea School Charleston
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Mike,
Thanks for the info and the link. I’m really looking forward to the trip. Fishing with eels will be a new experience. I’ll be fishing out of my own boat and I’ll post some pics when I return.
17 MAVERICK HPX-V
One trick to fishing with eels! Put them on ice. It slows them down enough to deal with them. Once they hit the water, they warm back up real quick. Also take and use a wreck anchor if you fish the rocks on the bridge. A fluke anchor will hang up fast.
Update: Day one of trip (Chesapeake Beach, MD). Got an early start at day break. Saw a few birds but didn’t see any fish breaking. Picked up a 14 in striper around 930 and missed two. First attempt at trolling with LBH spoons and a planner.
Has anyone ever tried trolling LBH spoons for spanish?
17 MAVERICK HPX-V
if you want to troll,
I suggest 6" storm swim baits tandem rigged to a three way swivel behind a 8-20oz in line trolling weight, Bucktail jigs rigged with 6" shad or grubtail bodies rigged the same, or surgical hoses rigged to a planer.
all of these are fished at 2.5-3 Knots - I suggest 5-7 feet of #40 mono or flouro leader.
casting /jigging - search for bait on the surface and use whatever you prefer - match the hatch.
cut bait - menhaden chum, clams on 2/0 circle hooks drifted through the slick.
live bait - drop tandem rigs with bloodworm or shrimp, catch and liveline small spot (3-6")
I was a mate on several well known and highly regarded charter boats in the upper/mid bay for several years, i have caught thousands of these fish using all of thee methods.
good luck out there!
I grew up fishing the Chesapeake. You will want to troll Thomas Point to Love Point. Live eels work great. So great that they were illegal at one point. The fishing has been very strong ever since the deacade long moritorium in the bay. Bucktails have always been popular too. BTW, there is no such thing as stripers in Maryland. They call them Rockfish and 40 inch or bigger aren’t uncommon. If you’re not going to troll you can use cutbait. Every tackle and bait shop will have what you need. You will also catch some big blues. It’s worth keeping one or two and smoking them. They’re oily but can be quite tasty if properly smoked. Good luck with the rest of the trip.
If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.