Where can you fish in the Chesapeake Bay?

Asked by: Adam Marcelin

You can visit the waters of Chesapeake Bay to enjoy your fishing activities. The middle and lower bay are the best places to catch the Spanish mackerel in Chesapeake Bay. You can also find them along Virginia’s Western shore. Spanish mackerel will make your day and fishing adventure a memorable one.

Where is the best fishing in the Chesapeake Bay?

You can visit the waters of Chesapeake Bay to enjoy your fishing activities. The middle and lower bay are the best places to catch the Spanish mackerel in Chesapeake Bay. You can also find them along Virginia’s Western shore. Spanish mackerel will make your day and fishing adventure a memorable one.

Can you fish at Chesapeake Beach?

Chesapeake Beach has been one of the premier fishing destinations along the Western Shore for a long time. I first went there in the 1970s when big bluefish were the big draw and rockfish were in the beginning of their decline. Today the rockfish are back, and the blues, while smaller, are still available.

What kind of fish is in the Chesapeake Bay?

Sport Fish



Members of the drum and croaker family are among the most common saltwater fish of the Chesapeake Bay. This group of fish includes red drum, black drum, croaker, spot, kingfish, gray sea trout, and speckled trout. Other familiar species include summer flounder, bluefish, cobia, and Spanish mackerel.

What fish are in season in Virginia Chesapeake Bay?

Chesapeake Bay Seasons, Sizes & Limits

Can you eat fish from the Chesapeake Bay?

Nearly half of all gamefish in freshwater lakes, streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed may be unsafe to eat because of high levels of mercury, a new study suggests.

Is there sharks in the Chesapeake Bay?

The most common shark found in the Chesapeake is the sandbar shark. The sandbar shark can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts all the way to southern Brazil, and is a seasonal visitor to the Chesapeake Bay in the summer and fall.

What fish are biting in Chesapeake Bay?

Cobia, Red Drum, Spanish Mackerel and Bottom Fishing.



Our primary targets are Cobia, Red Drum, Spanish Mackerel, and an assortment of bottom fish. This is by far some of the best fishing of the year as we chase the Cobia and Red Drum that average between 30 and 60lbs.

What is the biggest fish in the Chesapeake Bay?

Sturgeons

Sturgeons are the largest fish native to the Chesapeake Bay.

What time is the best time to catch fish?

Generally speaking, the best time of day to catch fish is in the reduced daylight hours from dawn until 2 hours after sunrise and from 2 hours before sunset until dusk. During these windows, light is reduced, prey becomes more active, and water temperatures cool allowing fish to more freely hunt for food.

What’s the best bait to use in the Chesapeake Bay?

Talk to anyone fishing on a pier and they’ll tell you that the go-to baits for fishing in the Chesapeake are earthworms/nightcrawlers, blood worms, and grass shrimp. Every fish in the area will gladly chomp down on these little morsels. You can dig up earthworms in your backyard, or get them at a bait shop.

Can you fish from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?

Now let’s break that concept down a bit: not only does fishing at the bridge change through time, it changes through tidal cycles. Fish the bridge long enough, and you’ll experience days when the best bite is on the eastern side during one tide, but on the western side during the other.

Can you fish from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel?

For anglers, that means a bevy of fish species can be caught here, including cobia, redfish, flounder, striped bass, sheepshead and everything in between. Fish attracted to the bridge and tunnel structures can be caught year-round, but the summer months are when the action comes alive.

Where can I fish in Sandy Point?

Sandy Point State Park



There are several rock jetties in the park and a fishing/ crabbing pier located next to the boat launch ramps. The park allows night fishing; however, only people who are actively fishing, including children, can be in the park after the park closes.

Is the Chesapeake Bay bridge open for fishing?

In late 2017, the Sea Gull Fishing Pier closed to the public for the construction of a new parallel tunnel at the Thimble Shoal Channel. The initial plans called for the pier re-open to the public in 2022. Delays in the project cause the re-opening to be pushed back to 2024.

Where can I find sheepshead in Chesapeake Bay?

Starting in mid June through late October, Sheepshead can be found on most structures in the Chesapeake Bay. The CBBT bridge structures along with the rock islands tend to hold the biggest convicts. One of the advantages of fishing in a kayak is that we can rub right up against the pilings.

When can you catch sheepshead in Chesapeake Bay?

Sheepshead Migration



They start coming into the Chesapeake Bay around the same time between April and May. Every year, with the initial black drum catches, a few monster sheep are reported as being caught.

How do you fish for sheepshead?

You guys are looking to use your high-low rig to get on some Sheepshead. Definitely want to think about throwing on some sand please.

What water temperature do sheepshead like?

They prefer water temperature at 60 F or above. Sheepshead have specially designed long, flat teeth for the crushing of mollusk and crustacean shells so they are able to consume the soft animal inside.

Are saltwater sheepshead good to eat?

The short answer is that the sheepshead taste is actually sweet and delicious with a slight shellfish flavor. The varied diet for this fish makes it not just delicious but also very nutritious. The somewhat flaky and tender flesh is often considered to have a flavor that faintly resembles shellfish when cooked.

Will sheepshead eat squid?

Sheepshead eat mollusks and crustaceans. That’s why anglers who pursue other inshore game fish using fish baits seldom hook sheepshead. An angler fishing with shrimp or squid for other fish species may get a sheepshead strike.