Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report 08/29/2010

Summertime fishing on the Chesapeake Bay is full tilt in the Mid-Bay area with many fish concentrated around the Poplar Island Area.  Loads of schoolie Stripers, Bluefish and good-sized Spanish Mackerel have been breaking the surface in the mornings and evenings chasing Peanut Bunker and Bay Anchovies.  They’ve been as far north as Love Point and south to Chesapeake Beach.

Folks are targeting fish throughout the Mid Bay via Trolling techniques, Casting, Jigging and Live Lining.
 
 The guys trolling are using metal spoons, surgical hoses, and small bucktails.  Drone spoons ranging from size 3 to size 0, and varying color and flash patterns; pulled behind Inline 01' Salty planers are producing good numbers of Legal rockfish as well as decent catches of Spanish Mackerel.  Finding the schools is the name of the game.  To target the larger fish in the area, heavy weighted Surgical Hoses in 12" and 16" are the ticket.
 
Casting and jigging this time of year is fun and not very difficult.  This is a great time to get the family out chasing and catching breaking fish.  As we mentioned above, fish are mainly schooling up in early morning and late evening down in the Poplar Island area.  With Rockfish, Blues and Spanish all chomping at the surface, metal casting jigs and topwater plugs are solid choices.  Spoons such as Specialized baits Lil' Bunker and a Smack It Jr. Plug are some durable and effective lure choices.
 
Live Liners have been doing well – we’ve got plenty smaller spot in the Bay right now for bait.  Live Lining has been effective at the Bay Bridge Pilings, around the 86 and 84 buoys and even further south at the gas Docks.
 
Bottom fishing has also been producing tight lines - there are many perch and spot to be caught all over and the Croaker are slowly making their move out of the Bay.  Now is the time to catch a few of the larger migrating Hardheads.
 
Tight Lines and Rough Thumbs,
 -D
Shore Tackle and Custom Rods