The Chesapeake Bay, off the coast of Virginia and Maryland, is a 200-mile-long waterway fed by more than 100 rivers. The bay is a fisherman's paradise with several varieties, including the largemouth bass. The bass is a wily hider and fighter when hooked, adding strategy and challenge to an otherwise beautiful afternoon on a blue expanse of bay.
Types
Fishermen fish from the smaller bays on the serrated southern edge of the Chesapeake Bay, and foray out into open waters by boat. Striped bass fishing is prime along the bay and tidal river shorelines. Striped bass also congregate near the Bay Bridge piers and rock piles, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Bass more than 30 inches were caught during the cool October waters in 2010. Fishermen also ride out into the open waters of the middle bay in search of striped bass and bluefish. Longtime favorite fishing spots include Stone Rock, Sharps Island, False Channel and Poplar Island.
In the upper regions of the Bay, striped bass thrive in the mouth of the Susquhanna River. Bluefish swarm the western side of the bay in the warm summer months, trailing off into Fall. Fishermen in the lower regions of the bay catch striped bass and bluefish.
Considerations
The bay is lined with public parks for shoreline fishing, and innumerable marinas to moor a boat, or to hire a charter. State and national parks with shoreline access include Elk Neck State Park, Gunpowder Falls State Park, Dundee Natural Environment Area, Miami Beach Park and Rocky Point Park.
Seasons
Throughout Chesapeake Bay fishing spots, trophy striper season runs from the third Saturday in April to May 15. Summer striper season follows from May 15 to December. One trophy striper, at 28 inches or larger, is allowed for each person, according to Maryland law. Two summer stripers greater than 18 inches are permitted per person as of October 2010.
Spring trophy rockfish are ripe for trolling from mid-April to mid-May. Fishermen troll or chum for striped bass, bluefish and rockfish, from mid-May through the early summer. They live-line, bottom-fish or chum croaker, white perch, striped bass, and spot from June to August.
Climate
The climate will affect your fishing experience, and potential success, in Chesapeake fishing spots. Dress accordingly. The bay is hot and humid in the summer, and mild winters, according to ThinkQuest. The Atlantic shore averages 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) in July. The averages for winter are 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) in January. Water temperatures dip into the lower 60s in October, making conditions perfect for catching freshwater trout and bass.
Regulations
There are regulations to legally fish Chesapeake Bay fishing spots. Everyone 16 and older must be licensed to fish in Maryland's public waters. A yearlong license for nontidal, freshwater fishing is $20 for residents, and $30.50 for nonresidents, as of October 2010. The licenses are good from January 1 to December 31 of the year purchased.
There are also three- and five-day tourist licenses for nontidal, freshwater fishing. For those 16 and older, a stamp to catch trout is $5.
Licenses for tidal bay sport fishing is $15 for both residents and nonresidents. There are also three- and five-day tidal sport licenses. Residents 65 and older can fish with a $5 Resident Senior Consolidated License in the freshwater of the state, the Chesapeake and its tributaries, and for trout.
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