• Chesapeake Bay Fishing Heating Up as Temperatures Drop

  • Nov 24 2024
  • Length: 3 mins
  • Podcast

Chesapeake Bay Fishing Heating Up as Temperatures Drop

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  • Summary

  • As of November 24, 2024, the Chesapeake Bay around the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas is seeing some promising fishing conditions despite the chilly weather.

    ### Weather and Tidal Conditions
    The weather has been cooler with temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s, and there have been occasional cold fronts that have helped drop the water temperatures, now in the low 50s. This drop in water temperature has started to get the fish into their typical fall feeding pattern. Tides are moderate, with high tide expected around 10 AM and low tide around 4 PM.

    ### Sunrise and Sunset
    Sunrise is at 6:54 AM, and sunset is at 4:43 PM, providing a decent window for both morning and afternoon fishing trips.

    ### Fish Activity
    Striped bass (rockfish) activity has been picking up, especially with the recent cold fronts. In the Middle Bay, trollers are doing well along the edges of the shipping channel and around the Bay Bridge, where the structure offers good spots for jigging[2].

    In the Lower Bay, particularly in the Potomac River, trollers are scoring on stripers using single lures, tandems, and small umbrella rigs. Light tackle anglers are also finding success with soft plastics and metal jigs, especially on ledges with abundant bait[1].

    ### Types and Amounts of Fish
    Reports indicate that striped bass are the main catch, with fish ranging from 20 to 30 inches. There have been some larger fish caught, up to 31 inches in some areas. Blue catfish are also active in the deeper holes and sharper ledges of the tidal rivers, with cut alewife, American eel, and gizzard shad being popular baits[1].

    ### Best Lures and Bait
    For striped bass, using small umbrella rigs, tandems, and bucktails dressed with shad is effective. Soft plastics and metal jigs are also working well, especially when jigged in the eddies around bridge pilings and rockpiles. For blue catfish, cut alewife and gizzard shad are top choices[1][2].

    ### Hot Spots
    - **Bay Bridge**: The edges of the shipping channel and the rockpiles under the bridge are great spots for jigging and trolling for striped bass.
    - **Potomac River**: The ledges of oyster bars and channel edges from Colonial Beach down to Piney Point are producing good results for trollers.
    - **Mouth of the Chester and Patapsco Rivers**: These areas have been good for finding schooled-up fish chasing big schools of bait, making them ideal for using larger presentations like 5-inch paddle tails and 8-inch straight tails[4].

    Overall, the cooler weather and dropping water temperatures are setting up for a good late fall fishing season in the Chesapeake Bay. Be prepared to move around to find the bait and the fish, and don't hesitate to use a variety of lures and baits to maximize your catch.
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