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Archive for the ‘Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports’ Category
Friday, June 4th, 2010
LOCATION: CHESAPEAKE BAY
SPECIES: COW NOSED RAY, RAJA BONASUS
FISHING LOCATIONS: Found in water less than 20 feet deep and frequently in the shallowest of water, this fish is easy to sight fish for. Back bays and less desirable waters are perfect habitat for this species. High temperatures seem to make them happy and they feed and breed all over the Chesapeake.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Oysters, clams, mussels and small bait fish.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working best although all white is a good choice as well. Some reaction to other popular colors as well such as white on chartreuse. Never use poppers or other top water offerings for this species.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: No special tackle required, 9 weight rod with large arbor reels are fine, but use care when fighting and landing because these fish can break rods easily.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Almost any line will do provided the fly can get down to the level the Cow Nosed Ray can see and be able to eat.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Get into an area that the Rays are plentiful and not all spawning (easily detected by the numbers of pairs of Rays swimming one over the other). Feeding occurs all hours of the day but can be especially good in the hours when the light is low. Rays don’t fear boats and will move around and under your boat even in the shallowest of water. Good quality imitations of bait fish like a half and half will work but don’t expect every time you get the fly in the face of one these fish it will eat. Casting beyond and bringing the fly out from under the fish is best and not too fast. Rays will expend just so much energy to chase a fly. When fishing with someone it is helpful if they are using a pole to aid in positioning the boat to maximize your casting. Once the Rays eat the fly, let the line nearly clear the deck before you set the hook in order to prevent tangles from getting caught in the guides. Once the hook is set with a firm strip strike the Ray will leave your immediate area surprising quickly. Expect lots of turns and if in the area of structure, like stumps or rocks try to control how far the Ray gets into them. Typical runs will get into your backing and once you gain it back will do it over and over. This is a great fighter on a fly rod. Once exhausted carefully remove the hook with a long handled hook removal tool. The Ray will still put up a fight but can be released safely with careful handling. NOTE: the Ray has a barb located at the base of tail near the body that can inflict terrible pain on you if you get too close, and don’t bring him on board your boat, its way too dangerous.
COMMENTS: Cow Nosed Rays are growing in numbers and can be found all over the Chesapeake as well as other areas of the mid Atlantic. They are not prized as edible and do not look good mounted over your mantle but can provide the most big fish excitement during the summer doldrums that you can imagine.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, Light tackle and fly fishing on the Chesapeake
Posted in Big Game, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Exotic Species, Maryland Fishing Reports, Spring Fishing, Summer Fishing, Technical, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Trying to salvage this winter fishing is looking like an impossible task. Cold water temperatures have kept me at home much of this winter, at least since the end of December. Ice has been a problem, both at the ramps I use, in the water and if the deck of the boat gets wet, on the boat. I hope this is the last report that I send out with no actual fishing.
Meanwhile, I have been working on tackle, the boat and plans for an expanded fishery in the Barrier Islands along the coastal waters of VA. Despite striking out on several Tarpon trips this past summer the clients saw many Tarpon in the water. Hooking up was the problem. We also saw a good number of sharks in the same, shallow waters. They were either Blacktip or Spinner Sharks and were average size of about 5 feet. Either species would be a good fight on a fly rod, identification will only come with a hookup since the two sharks are similar in coloration and shape. If they are spinners expect to see a lot of jumping and acrobatics. I plan to use chum to attract the sharks to the boat and then we can them throw flys that should get there attention. Tarpon respond to chum as well as many other species so it’s a win, win. Preparing for the trips I have set up several shark rigs both on fly and spinning with extra strong abrasion resistant leader, and wire bite tippet. Fly rods will be the award winning HELIOS 12 wt coupled with the new MIRAGE reel. A stronger, lighter outfit just isn’t available.
In addition my preparations for spring include replacing all my fly reels with the MIRAGE reels from ORVIS. These new reels are lighter and have a drag that is superior in every way to most other reels and this reel is light weight. What a combo for the HELIOS rods!
Posted in Big Game, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Exotic Species, Summer Fishing, Technical, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Weather has kept me home with clients wisely waiting for better days. Fishing reports by those that did get out indicate it is off track with few or no fish being caught.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Upper Bay 37.8, Lower 41.9, Ocean 39.9 
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker and something of much smaller size that isn’t yet identified.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I use short (7 1/2 foot) tapered leaders in 16 to 20 pound strength. For spinning I use straight non tapered sections of fluorocarbon leader material in 25 to 30 pound test.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 foot 9 weight Tip Flex Rod, paired with a light weight large arbor reel.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: This time of year I prefer full sinking lines. I like the deeper profile “belly” that forms with these lines. Whether I use full sink or a sinking head, use fastest sink rate line in either. Get it down!!
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: I have selected shorter, six foot to seven foot, medium fast action rods with 2500 F1 series Shimano Stradic reel. Jigging works well with at least 3 to 4 ounces and a stinger behind. Lures like Bass Assassins on ¾ oz heads are working well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Find fish with your sonar and work the pod. Expect several fish per area and usually move to new area in a few minutes as the pod breaks up.
COMMENTS: Although the larger fish aren’t common there seems to be plentiful supply of 22 to 26 inch fish. The jumbos may not show back up until bait in this area renews.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: I recommend “wait and see” for another week. Last year the entire month of January and February were productive. WATER TEMPERATURES ARE ONLY 1 DEGREE DIFFERENT THAN A YEAR AGO. THIS IS NOT THE END, JUST A PHASE.
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing | Comments Off
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
LOCATION : Mouth of the Bay, CBBT, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: January 18, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Fish are “stacked up” in the pilings. When located the schools look good with one exception, little amount of bait is showing. This results in fish not on the feed and slow fishing is the result. Few fish are being caught on artificial even when in these schools.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Upper Bay 34.9, Lower 39.9, Ocean 48.6
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I use short (7 1/2 foot) tapered leaders in 16 to 20 pound strength. For spinning I use straight non tapered sections of fluorocarbon leader material in 25 to 30 pound test.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 foot 9 weight Tip Flex Rod, paired with a light weight large arbor reel.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: This time of year I prefer full sinking lines. I like the deeper profile “belly” that forms with these lines. Whether I use full sink or a sinking head, use fastest sink rate line in either. Get it down!!
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: I have selected shorter, six foot to seven foot, medium fast action rods with 2500 F1 series Shimano Stradic reel. Jigging works well with at least 3 to 4 ounces and a stinger behind. Lures like Bass Assassins on ¾ oz heads are working well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Find fish with your sonar and work the pod. Expect several fish per area and usually move to new area in a few minutes as the pod breaks up.
COMMENTS: Although the larger fish aren’t common there seems to be plentiful supply of 22 to 26 inch fish. The jumbos may not show back up until bait in this area renews.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Finally the freezing conditions have give way to a normal temperature in the 40’s during the day. Only occasional rain is forecast for this coming week, so get out and give it a try.
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing | Comments Off
Thursday, January 14th, 2010
LOCATION: Lower Bay, Virginia, CBBT (Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: January 3, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: Cold! Air temperature is cooler. Trips are still getting out, but comfort and safety require we watch wind chill and start time temperatures closely. Good news, the colder water has driven the last of the bait down the bay and the striped bass here at the CBBT are feeding constantly.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 36.3, Lower Bay (CBBT) 42.8, Ocean 41
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large 4 inch or longer, Clouser deep minnow or half and half’s in Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 16 to 20 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Currently the best bite is between the 2nd and 3rd islands. Working the area between the pilings whenever the fish show on the sonar and sink the fly to the deepest it will go in the strong current. A fast strip back will work but often a slow jigging retrieve is better. That keeps the fly in the zone longer and seems to get better attention from the fish. When the current is slack, using a large bunker pattern is highly effective.
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing | Comments Off
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
LOCATION: Lower Bay, CBBT (Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: December 8, 2009
FISHING CONDITIONS: I am now fishing at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). The fishing there has been improving and the schools of migrating striped bass that are feeding on flys are getting more consistently around 7 to 12 pounds. Occasional 20 plus pound fish are also being caught on fly. Larger fish are falling for live baits and as the temperatures fall they too will also start to eat flys. Deep sinking lines are the best and nearly the only way to catch these fish.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 50 Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 57 Degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker 
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 16 to 20 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate.
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: Six foot, medium, fast action rod with reels loaded with braided line in 20 or 30 pound test. 3 to 4 foot Leader in matching test fluorocarbon.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Deep water technique is a must, with full sinking lines and half and half’s. On occasion you might also use a large bunker pattern effectively, but this is mostly when the fish are working closer to the surface.
COMMENTS: Lower bay fishing at the CBBT is the best bet for those of us that use fly and light tackle. The conditions are there with loads of structure, warmer waters, strong current and best of all bait that is found in large quantity make this the fishery for the winter.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Temperatures are falling, which will move more of the big fish to the CBBT from the mid bay. It only gets better from here.
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Fall Fishing | Comments Off
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
LOCATION: Mid Bay and CBBT (Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: December 2, 2009
FISHING CONDITIONS: Fall weather patterns are still the issue when selecting the days to go out. Wind, rain and cold have been a constant reminder that Mother Nature isn’t always so pleasant. However, the fish are doing exactly what they should be doing. In the mid-bay they move to deeper, more temperate water, where bait is plentiful. There are still many large fish in the mid-bay but they are scattered. Obviously, they are not an easy target for fly and light tackle. When located, most of the easily targetable fish can be found along the channel edges. Many days on the water net nothing. The lower bay is different. At the CBBT the fish are in better numbers, in shallower waters in general. They are schooled up on bait. Once fish are located, anglers catch them non-stop for hours. Only occasional fish are caught on top water but it does occur.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 50 Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 57 Degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s
RECOMMENDED LEADER: Use short (7 1/2 foot) tapered leaders in 16 to 20 pound strength. For spinning I use straight non tapered sections of fluorocarbon leader material in 25 to 30 pound test. I use 9 to 12 foot tapered leaders for smaller flys fished in shallow water.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: I typically provide the basic outfit of a 9 foot 9 weight Tip Flex Rod, paired with a light weight large arbor reel.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: I use two types when fly fishing on the Bay. Either full sink line in the fastest sink rate or full floating line.
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: I prefer short, six foot to seven foot, medium, fast action rods with 2500 series Shimano Stradic F1 reel. This will be spooled with braided line of either 14 lb test for lighter lure applications or 25 to 30 pound test for heavier. Jigging would work well as would many common lures at least 3 to 4 inches.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Deep water technique on the mid-bay is a must, with full sinking lines and half and half’s. On occasion you might also use a large bunker pattern effectively, but this is mostly when the fish are working closer to the surface. At the CBBT deep water technique isn’t near the issue. Count down to get into the mid-water column and retrieve fast!
COMMENTS: Lower bay fishing at the CBBT is the best bet for those of us that use fly and light tackle. The conditions there with loads of structure, warmer waters, strong current and best of all bait that is found in large quantity make this the fishery for the winter.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Temperatures are falling, which will move more of the big fish to the CBBT from the mid bay. It only gets better from here.
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Fall Fishing, Maryland Fishing Reports, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing | Comments Off
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
LOCATION: Virginia’s Eastern Shore Barrier Islands
SPECIES: Tarpon
UPDATE: Sited 12 Tarpon by 12 noon
FISHING CONDITIONS: Flat calm
WATER TEMPERATURE: Low to mid 80’s
TIDES: Early, incoming. Full flood around 9 am
MOST COMMON BAIT: Crabs
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
Bunny Fly: Merkin crab style head with a bunny strip tail.
White over white half and half
RECOMMENDED LEADER: most commonly I use short (6 foot), straight sections of fluorocarbon leader material for fly or spinning. For this trip I selected straight (non-tapered) 50 pound test.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: For Tarpon, 12 weight rods with Vortex Reels, lots of backing.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: I used two types for this trip. I use shooting head fly line with interchangeable heads. One rod was set with full float head. Another rod was set with sinking head line for serious deep dredging.
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: the most common I use is a short, six foot, medium fast action rod with a Van Staal reel. This is spooled with lots of braid in 50 pound test and a 50 pound test fluorocarbon leader.
BEST TECHNIQUES: This is sight fishing for Tarpon. Cruised in areas of known sightings and looked for any signs from bubbles, Tarpon rolling or a big “vee” on the water. Spend only a brief (15 minutes) time in one area before moving around to another area. This Barrier Island area is huge and finding a few “happy, feeding” Tarpon is an effort.
COMMENTS: This trip was different for me. I was in a client’s boat which was set up for shallow water fishing. Thank you S.P. for the use of your Maritime Skiff. We were able to fish in shallow water and pole when stealth when necessary. We had our first tarpon experience within a few minutes of starting by nearly running over 4 tarpon in 3 to 4 feet of water. This set the tone for the day at high levels. We spotted and cast at over 10 more tarpon, but admittedly this first early morning shot was the closest we ever were to the fish. Lot’s of blind casting here for a possible hook-up. 
My personal experience with this fishery is that if a person is willing to put in the time and can cast pretty well they can catch a tarpon here. It doesn’t have the clear waters of some of the spots in Florida but for a fishery that Virginia residents can drive to for a few days of fishing this place is assume. Imagine being one of only a few people in Virginia to catch a tarpon in VA waters!
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Our second day was pretty poor with winds that stirred up the surface to a light chop. Not unusual for this area and not impossible to see Tarpon in, but clearly a lot more challenging. Full moon was a help with the tides but would like to see it higher, which would have occurred if the winds had been from the south. I hope to fish here in about two weeks with the new moon, it should be better in many ways by then.
Posted in Big Game, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Exotic Species, Summer Fishing, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Friday, June 26th, 2009
LOCATION: Virginia Barrier Islands
SPECIES: Tarpon
FISHING CONDITIONS: Winds from the North changing to the West. Water clarity, murky, less than 12 inch visibility
WATER TEMPERATURE: 70’s
MOST COMMON BAIT: Grass shrimp, small bait fish, not identified but probably bay anchovies.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
RECOMMENDED LEADER:
- 6′ 16LB OR LARGER FOR POPPERS AND SINKING LINES.
- 9′ 16 LB OR LARGER FOR STREAMERS ON FLOATING LINES OR IF EARLY MORNING AND FISH ARE IN SKINNY WATER.
BEST ROD OUTFIT: ALWAYS NINE FOOT NINE WEIGHT WITH LARGE ARBOR REEL. THIS IS UNDERSIZED FOR LARGE TARPON BUT YOUNG TARPON IT WILL WORK WITH CAREFUL USE.
BEST TECHNIQUES: STEALTHY APPROACH AND EARLY.
COMMENTS: I was using a Kayak for this outing and was pleasently surprised when at the mouth of a tributary to first see bait fleeing into the air, followed by a sizeable wake from a large fish and after trying several casts from the Kayak having a 20 to 30 pound Tarpon leap into the air. I presume I surprised it and he was making my day before leaving the scene for parts unknown.
7 DAY OUTLOOK: with tides in the new moon, high flood stage the outlook for fishing was good. Covering water by kayak is time consuming but could have been very rewarding. My estimates of tarpon population is that it is not yet time to expect a lot of sightings. Maybe in July…
Posted in Big Game, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Exotic Species, Summer Fishing, Virginia Fishing Reports | Comments Off
Sunday, December 21st, 2008
LOCATION: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT)
SPECIES: Striped Bass
UPDATE: December 21, 2008
FISHING CONDITIONS: What a treat, a mild December day, fat schoolie Striped Bass on a half and half fly and the fun keeps coming! It’s always a little better at the CBBT and the client went home to a snow storm.
WATER TEMPERATURE: surface 42 degrees, deeper water was warmer.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker both small and large
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
- Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white
- Large bunker patterns and half and half’s
RECOMMENDED LEADER: most commonly I use short (7 1/2 foot) tapered leaders in 16 to 20 pound strength. For spinning I use straight non tapered sections of fluorocarbon leader material in 25 to 30 pound test. I use 9 to 12 foot tapered leaders for smaller flys fished in shallow water.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: with the exception of when I am targeting big game species I always provide the same basic outfit. 9 foot 9 weight Tip Flex Rod, paired with a light weight large arbor reel.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: I use two types when fly fishing on the Bay and coastal waters. I use multi-tip fly line with interchangeable tips in floating, intermediate, slow sink and fast sink. These allow quick change opportunity and coupled with the 15 foot length allows even the fast sinking tip to be “picked up” off the water easily. The most common fly line I use is the full, fast sink line in 9 wt line size to allow me to fish the entire water column even in the deepest of areas.
SPINNING REEL OUTFIT: I have selected short, six foot to seven foot, medium fast action rod with 2500 F1 series Shimano Stradic reel. This will be spooled with braided line of either 14 lb test for lighter lure applications or 25 to 30 pound test for heavier. Jigging would work well as would many common lures at least 3 to 4 inches.
BEST TECHNIQUES: With the fish feeding all over the water column the best was still the full sinking line. Cast, let it sink and start a quick retrieve and you were going to have a fish on.
COMMENTS: This anler is from Pennsylvania and fishes fresh water all the time. This was his first Striped Bass on a fly ever and he was hooked!
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Every day has been good, incoming or outgoing tides, early or late. Tight lines!
Posted in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) Fishing Reports, Virginia Fishing Reports, Winter Fishing | Comments Off
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