Tons of fishing reports this week from all over the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake. Reports from different tributaries around the Maryland bay region suggested a large amount of spawning activity took place. Once these striped bass “do their thing” in the tributaries, it generally means the stripers are hungry and heavily feed as they make their exit out of Chesapeake. This most likely is what we can account for the hot bite that has been happening up and down the bay.  We received our first reports from some light tackle jiggers who found good concentrations of stripers below the Choptank River. Trolling anglers have been having their best luck with fish hitting in the upper part of the water column and fishing in less then 40ft of water.  (in the pictures Paul S and his friend George took their daughters fishing. They fished out of Breezy Point and managed to catch some nice fish and as importantly had a great day on the Chesapeake with their daughters. Click on the image for a larger version. Check their full report.)

Weekend/Upcoming Fishing Events
The MSSA Spring Fishing Tournament is in full swing this weekend with over 600 boats entered. Also this weekend is the Rod and Reel Fishing Tournament.

Maryland Fishing Reports

Upper Chesapeake Bay Region (Susquehanna River/Flats to Bay Bridge Waters)
The Susquehanna Flats season is winding down ending on Sunday May 3, 2008. There were many reports that the stripers were spawning south of the flats area in the main part of the bay in shallower water on the western shore and the eastern shore in the Elk River all the way down in and around the Sassafras River. Usually this is good news in that after the fish spawn the males will return to the flats to feed for a day or two to fuel up before heading back to the ocean. The females on the other hand will also head to the flats to feed, but generally only stick around for one or two tides and then head back out to sea. This pattern has not played out as much as anglers have hoped with some slower then expected catches. There have been moments of excitement with anglers catching a good pod of fish they have been able to catch with plastics, swimming plug, flies and in some cases top water lures.  Remember, fishing on the Susquehanna Flats ends on Sunday when it is no longer legal to target striped bass.

There are reports that the hickory shad are in and around Deer Creek and up ni the Susquehanna River. I had lunch with a friend yesterday who has been going up to Deer Creek on a regular basis and he said the shad have really been thick, so thick that he said it was hard not to snag them. Small flies in chartreuse, rootbeer and off white have been the trick.

Striped bass fishing just above the Bay Bridge has been steady. Most anglers are fishing the Continue Reading »

Lateral Line Ambassador Cory Routh has been working hard over the last year to produce his first book titled “Kayak Fishing” that will be released in August.

Readers will get a quick, clear understanding of the essential information needed to get started in the growing sport of kayak fishing. Cory Routh covers everything needed to know for safe, fun and successful kayak fishing, including:

• Choosing the right kayak for fishing
• Selecting PFDs and paddles
• Kayak safety and self-rescues
• Basic and advanced kayak rigging
• Transporting your kayak
• Choosing the right fishing gear
• Stealth and presentation
• Fighting and landing fish
• Freshwater fishing
• Saltwater fishing
• Fly-fishing techniques
• Kayak fishing instructors and guide listing

PODCAST
Listen to a Podcast with Cory from the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival where I talk to him about his new book, his guide service and kayak fishing in and around his home waters of Virginia Beach.

 

 Kayak Fishing by Cory Routh [8:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We were fishing on Marine Venture’s Makara with Dr. Don Hammond in search of a bull dolphin to put a satellite tag on. We had decided to leave Chub and try Highborne Cay since we could not find that many dolphin, or ones big enough for the satellite tag. We spent two days looking in Highborne and found nothing. Then the weather changed and called for wind, so we decided to head back to Chub and try our luck there for the last few days of the trip. On the way back we started talking about how fishermen have long proclaimed that fish shrink when they are kept to eat and sit in the cooler until they get back to the dock. Tournament anglers have long debated the topic. Dr. Don had actaully studied it and was beginning to tell us. However, Capt. Steve yelled down and said to put our lines in as we were just entering the south side of the pocket. So Capt. John McMurray, Dr Don and I started to get the lines ready in the cockpit. No sooner had I put a line out did I hook up and then land my first blue marlin. It was estimatedby Capt. Steve at 125 pounds. Not a bad catch for 30lb line and gear. We landed it, shot some pics and let her loose. We started talking again, but we were again interupted by another blue marlin, this time Dr. Don hooked and landed it. It was also the first one he ever landed. He always in the past had given them to another angler once he had hooked them up. We landed his blue in short order, shot some pics and that was it. Finally, we got back to talking about if fish shrink when put on ice, I decided to break out the digital voice recorder and do a podcast. So here it is, do fish shrink on ice? You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out

 

 Do Fish shrink on ice?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I talk with Captain Adam from Canyon Runner Charter Services at their offshore seminar in Annapolis Maryland. Adam fills us in on where the Canyon Runner fishes and their seasons. You want to listen to his interview, these guys have made more trips to the canyons off the east coast then most anyone I know

 

 Interview with Adam from Canyon Runner Charter Service - Fishing Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I was lucky enough to catch up with world renowned stand up bluewater fisherman and CEO/Founder of Braid Products, Dennis Braid, at the Canyon Runner Seminar Series. Dennis tells us how he got started out of his shop making hot rod cars and has gone on to became one of the best known stand-up fishermen in the world. Dennis also shares with us some of his newest products.

 

 Dennis Braid from Briad Products Fishing PodCast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I was on the Marine Ventures Foundation research Sportfisher, the Makara, on a mission to tag dolphin for the Dolphin Tagging Research Project that Marine Ventures Foundation and the Lateral Line Foundation are helping to support. We were at Highborne Cay, Bahamas chasing dolphin where Don joined us for a few days of tagging, filming and teaching us about Dolphin Fish. I was able to catch up with Don between all the action for a few minutes. Listen in to learn how Don started the program and how you can join and get involved in tagging Dolphin to help us learn more about these amazing fish.

 

 Don Hammond of the Dolphin Tagging Research Project: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I talk with Capt. Walleye Pete Dahlberg about the four seasons of fishing that he does through out the bay.Capt Pete specializes in light tackle and fly fishing on Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna Flats down to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to provide great fishing adventures year round.

 

 Capt. Walleye Pete Dahlberg of Four Seasons Guide Service: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I talk with Martin Gary from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources about the fishing contest in Maryland where anglers could win $1 million if they capture the right tagged fish. We also talk about the Striped Bass angler catch survey that will help Maryland manage the Striped Bass seasons.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Website can be found here .

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download