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Blog posts : "fishing_reports"

Looking For Large Stripers Head South

On Sunday, 11/29/20, I met Doug Schopman at his 215 Kencraft CC boat, powered by a 250hp Yamaha. This is an excellent boat to fish the Chesapeake Bay in. We were searching for larger stripers than the ones we'd been catching in the Upper Bay, so we headed south to the Middle Bay. We both understand to maximize your time on the water, you should know the current speeds at the locations you plan to fish prior to selecting the time to leave the dock.

We ran south on the 30 foot line and then crossed the Bay looking for blitzing birds, but no birds were sighted.  Our next move was into a couple of tributaries were gulls were flying high or sitting on the water. We only saw one fish caught and after a few more drifts we headed back to the western shore. The water temperature was 47 degrees.

There was a strong flood current causing the boat to drift over 1.5 kts.  We started catching some nice striped bass to 30", on light tackle with lures, until just before dark. Thanks Doug for taking me fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.

Majority of Stripers Were Caught on the Bottom
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Tom Hughes Catch the Big One This Trip
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Most Productive Lure: ZMan, Scented Jerk ShadZ, 7", Pearl fished on a Coach Jigheads, 1oz. in Pink & White
 
Most Productive Technique: Horizontal Jigging: The lure will be jigged while moving horizontally on the bottom and back toward the boat. Cast the lure upcurrent and count it down to the desired bottom (on average lures sink 1 foot per second). With the rod tip pointing directly at the lure (0 degrees), parallel, and just above the water, start moving the rod tip, horizontally from 0 degrees to a distance of 90 degrees while jigging the lure. Take all the slack out of the line when moving the rod tip back inline with the lure. Repeat this again and again until the lure is back at the boat.

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They're Still Around

On 11/25/20 David Heath and I were planning to catch some nice stripers on light tackle. We met at Pasadena and boarded David’s Cape Horn, 25’, CC, with twin 150 Yamaha motors. We cruised out of Rock Creek to the Fort McHenry Channel. Birds were everywhere over bait and after 45 minutes we agreed on crossing the Bay heading southeast.

15 knots plus south winds were blowing up the Chesapeake Bay against the ebb current which made the seas rough. I was sitting on the starboard side at the CC watching the sprays clear aft of the boat. The ride was dry as we pulled up to the only structure we fished this trip. 

A flock of birds were working the shallows so we moved in, but no stripers were there, only baitfish. We kept a good eye on the fishfinder as we drifted toward the deep. Some birds were working over the deep water and that is where we found some nice stripers up to 25 1/2”. 

David Caught the 1st Striper of the Day

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They Were Tough to Catch This Trip

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Most Stripers Were in 35 to 40 Foot of Water

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Most Productive Lures:
ZMan, DieZel 4" MinnowZ in Smoky Shad rigged on 3/4 oz. Coach Jigheads Chart. & White

Most Productive Technique:
Note: When safe, turn your boat broadside to the current and turn off the motor during the drift.
Cast the lure up current and let it hit the bottom. Jig the lure just off the bottom and back by moving the rod tip from 9:00 to 9:30 o'clock. It was a tough bite today.

Thank you for following me this year and I hope to post more fishing reports and guide in 2021.

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Feb 14, 2020 - Nice Fat Hard Stripers Caught & Released on Light Tackle

I hope everyone is ready for the boat shows and flea markets occuring this time of year. New regulations to help protect the striped bass fishery will start in spring 2020.

I had a great day of catching with Billy Mellendick. We started fishing just before the ebb current which max at a swift moving 1.03mph. It was tough, but we did catch some stripers that pulled hard, put up an excellent fight, and were fat. They were all caught on light tackle, then released.
 
The 1st Double of the Day


MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE: Z-Man plastic rigged on a 1/2 & 3/4 ounce BKD jigheads. The stripers were tight to the bottom and were a challenge to catch.Thanks Billy for the fun trip.

We Needed the Fishfinder to Locate the Fish


The Pasadena Sportfishing Group will be having their 28th annual flea market this weekend.

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