Chesapeake Bay Fishing

There are so many really wonderful things we can say about Chesapeake Bay fishing that one page can hardly do the Bay justice. From northern Maryland in the Baltimore Washington region all the way south to Virginia Beach the Chesapeake Bay is just teeming with marine life and natural resources that attract anglers and visitors from all around the globe.

The Chesapeake Bay is the outdoor sportsmans play ground of the Mid-Atlantic coast. Local sportsmen and women too enjoy everything from pleasure boating to crabbing to sportfishing. The Maryland Chesapeake Bay is famously known for it's striper fishing, or rockfishing as most Chesapeake Bay charter boat Captains call it.

Chesapeake Bay striper fishing is currently propably the most popular and plentiful recreational fishery. The seasons are limited to certain months of the year but when the striper season opens, usually in April, you will find that striper fishing or talk of striper fishing in the Chesapeake Bay is what has most anglers attention.

Chesapeake Bay striper fishing didn't always get this much attention. Twenty or so years ago the Chesapeake Bay rockfish were nearly gone, almost non existent. The heavy recreational and commercial fishing in the 1970's pushed the striper population to the brink and they became the talk of what used to be. But through government fisheries and other conservation entities the striper were re-introduced into the Chesapeake Bay. Most of these striper of the late 1980's were bred on fish farms and which point they were put into the Bay. Heavy restrictions were placed of striper fishing in the Chesapeake Bay so the fish could easily grow and flourish.

The Chesapeake Bay striper program was a great success and led to what is now the best striper fishing on the entire East Coast. There is even what is called a trophy season which allows anglers to keep very large rockfish, which can run over 40 pounds or more.

Chesapeake Bay Bottom Fishing

As great as Chesapeake Bay striper fishing is there are other species in the Bay to fish for. Chesapeake Bay bottom fishing for croaker, spot, trout, flounder, and a long list of other species can be taken on a variety of different baits. When Chesapeake Bay charter boats go bottom fishing they usually just drift with the tide or wind while the anglers bottom rigs simply drag the bottom. Anglers will use bloodworms, squid, or cut bait on their hooks which will catch croaker, spot, or flounder. The bag limits and seasonal restrictions that are placed on striper fishing doesn't even apply to most bottom fish. So an angler can go croaker or spot fishing and catch a large mess of fish for the dinner table.

Chesapeake Bay believe it or not is known for other things too besides just the great fishing. For the non-fisherman the Bay is probably best known for it's blue crabs. People around country that visit seafood restuarants are very familar with steamed crabs or better yet those tasty Maryland crabcakes being on the menu. People have been known to travel from other states to visit a Maryland seafood restuarant near the Bay just to eat a fresh crabcake. That is how tasty they are.

We didn't forget about the many miles of beaches around the Chesapeake Bay that play host to local and visiting beach goers and sun bathers. Jet skis, speed boating, sailing, surf fishing, and enough activities to keep even the most outgoing and active family vacationers busy for an entire trip. In fact with all the water and beach activities plus the night life around many regions of the Chesapeake Bay you will have to make a second trip to the Bay area to experience just a small portion of all the available Chesapeake Bay tourist activities. But if you come to go fishing then a fishing trip on one of the local Chesapeake Bay charter boats will provide you with memories to tell all your buddies back home. Catch a trophy rockfish and we promise you will like it so much you will come back the following year to do it again.