I am booking anglers to fish for False Albacore at Harker’s Island, NC this October and expect the action to be nothing short of spetacular! Watch the video that is attached and enjoy the action, but be careful, I can’t slow my heart rate down for five minutes after I watch it.
I have dates available that include October 24, 25, 26, aand 27. I have a house already booked and the closest airport is in New Bern, just about 45 minutes drive. This is a world class fishery and nothing has gained popularity like the false albacore fishing at Harker’s. Give it a try!
LOCATION: Virginia Lower Bay and Maryland Middle Bay
SPECIES: VA, Tarpon and Cobia MD, Spanish Macs, Blues and Striped Bass.
UPDATE: September 7, 2010
FISHING CONDITIONS: the first week of September has brought in hurricanes, cooler days, lots of bait, and active fishing patterns. Fish size range from the small to large, with the biggest fish caught near dark and over 30 inches long. bass this week over 30 inches. Many more blue fish and Spanish Macs are around during the day and as usual, the latest trips in the day are frequently rewarded with the best Striped Bass of the day.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 85 Degrees, Lower Bay 78 Degrees, Near Coastal 78.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Silver sides, Bunker, Crabs, and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Mid bay Striped Bass and blues and Spanish Macs are eating small Clousers with flash easily. These imitate silver-sides.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: I am using standard 7 ½ foot or 9 foot tapered or non-tapered 20 to 30 for the Striped Bass and Blues. Add a little wire for the blues and Spanish or expect to lose flies. For Cobia use straight 80.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: Blues, Spanish and Striped Bass I’m using 9wt with large arbor reels. When prospecting for Cobia and Tarpon, 12 weight rods are the primary and the 10 weight the secondary. Always use large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were full sink. Floating lines for the breaking fish work great as well.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Mid bay is still a moveable feast. Working birds is the best and only game in town for the blue fish. Be ready to cast the moment you are on them because the blues will scatter at speed you can scarcely believe once the bait breaks up. Unlike the striped bass, there are no straggler fish under the area that just moments before held hundreds of feeding blue fish.
COMMENTS: Strong winds are an element that we have to endure and need to work with. Pulling out of the worse areas and moving to calmer waters was working yesterday with lots of fish along this edge. The bait is pushed into shallower water and the predators follow right into the shallowest. This is great fun with a fly rod.
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.
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.
FISHING CONDITIONS: The fish have separated into distinct schools by size and moved into areas specific to their size and preferred bait.Large fish have moved to the Western shore side of the bay into deep, strong current areas, with large bunker for bait.Smaller fish are in the tributaries feeding on smaller baits.Feeding takes place at different times so moving from area to area I have been able to stay on fish with a variety of sizes.
WATER TEMPERATURE: 58 Degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT:Bunker and small silversides/bay anchovies.
“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.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.For most of the day, the fly was the best choice, spinning was out-fished dramatically.
COMMENTS:Although the larger fish we were catching last week seem to have become scarcer, the schoolies are plentiful.The jumbos will be reappearing and the fishing will continue in this area easily until the end of November.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Fall fishing is in full swing with good, consistent days of catching fat, healthy fish.The weather forecast is for milder days than we have had and I expect the bigger fish to be back in closer waters.If not we can easily cross the bay for some heavy weight action.
FISHING CONDITIONS: After four days of strong winds, this afternoon finally calmed down enough to allow me to get back on the water.I had canceled today’s booking because of the forecast but at noon I slipped the boat into the water on the Choptank River side of the Peninsula I call home.I searched the tributary first and wasn’t too surprised to discover no real action.It was an incoming tide so that doesn’t produce in this area.I barely reached the mouth of the tributary when I was greeted by birds crashing on the bait.I kept watching the sonar for fish marks and soon found some at a drop off along the entrance to the tributary in 22 feet of water.The first Striped Bass measured a sweet 18 inches.The second was a rewarding 22 inches.The third was over 26 and the fourth went a handsome 30 inches.Throughout the afternoon I continued to catch nice fish and one behemoth broke the leader (it undoubtedly had a nick in the leader).I would swear this fish was at least 36 inches and perhaps larger.Another nice thing today was how fat and healthy these fish were.The smallest fish was able to put a significant bend in the rod.
WATER TEMPERATURE: 58 Degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT:Bunker and silversides.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
Large, heavy Clouser deep minnow pattern, Chartreuse and white worked today
Large bunker patterns and half and half’s will also attract the bigger fish.Use these when current and wind are not driving the boat too fast.
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 which is holding up well with the blue fish.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.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 near the bottom today, I was using a full sinking line.I cast the heavy fly as far as I could and let it sink, feeding additional line into the water until I had 80 feet of line in the water.This was cast at an angle to the boats drift angle to allow it to sink with no pressure on the line.As the fly line comes to right angles to the boat’s drift, start a rapid retrieve not letting the fly hesitate.
COMMENTS:Today, with no clients on board, I landed over 35 fish.The smallest was over 18 inches.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Weather is looking good, warm, nice days with southerly breezes. Fishing prospects continue to improve every day.Tight lines!
FISHING CONDITIONS: Fall has arrived!At least the sought after fishing conditions have.The Bunker is all schooled up and clearly leaving, with silver sides and bay anchovies not far behind.Huge dense schools of bait are being intercepted by schools of Striped Bass and Blue Fish up in the tributaries and inside smaller bays.Today’s charter, with three people fishing with fly, we landed over 300 fish.Most were smaller, 14 to 18 inch but the occasional fish came in over 18.The one in the picture went 22 inches…Bigger fish will be moving down from the upper bay in the upcoming days and joining into the moveable feast that fall is triggering.
WATER TEMPERATURE: 64 degrees
MOST COMMON BAIT:Bunker, bay anchovies, and silversides.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
Smaller Clouser style minnow patterns, Chartreuse and white, white over white, green and chartreuse.
Bay Anchovy pattern, which you might also fish under a lure as a dropper behind the half and half or behind a spinning lure.
Large bunker patterns and half and half’s will attract the bigger fish when they are around.
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 which is holding up well with the blue fish.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.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.
BEST TECHNIQUES: With the large schools of mixed blues and striped bass fast strips when you have them on top and slower strips when they are not visible.The larger fish seem to be on the edges of the schools, especially in the back of the apparent school and down deeper looking for the easily eaten wounded baits.
COMMENTS:8 out of 10 trips we are still bringing over 100 fish to the boat.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Every day has been good, incoming or outgoing tides, early or late.Tight lines!
This picture is taken looking forward through the canvas. It tells the story of the day, while taking the picture of Jim’s 22 inch fish, Wally is hooked up on another one on the bow and Sandi is behind me patiently waiting for me to take her fish off the line.
What can you expect in Fall?Aside from the obvious, shorter days, changing weather patterns with lots of highs and lows, rain, and the beautiful colors and migrations that you witness, you also have fishing changes that are some of the best.
Cooler water temperatures and shorter days impact the fishing dramatically.Our summer patterns of schooled fish in the open waters of the Bay changes and suddenly they are all about feeding in the tributaries.Bait begins to leave the shallowest water en-masse to escape possible freezing or dramatic temperature drops that would kill them and this exodus is a well known feeding opportunity for the striped bass and blue fish that are fattening up for winter. This trend is sometimes subtle and overlooked until the two collide in bait busting frenzies in some new area that was only rarely alive in summer.Over the years the only consistent part of Fall fishing is the surprise of where next.It is hard to keep up with the movements but they are well worth it when you find large numbers of all sizes of blues and striped bass feeding in a narrow river mouth.Some of the best days I have ever had fishing have been in Fall. Poppers are the normal lure of choice and most often a floating line is the only one you use, regardless of what fly you may put on.Who would want to catch a fish any other way?
FISHING CONDITIONS: There are still great numbers of nice Striped Bass, mixed with blues and Spanish Mac’s, even occasional larger fish up to 28 inches.Good feeding on silversides and bunker.
WATER TEMPERATURE: with this new cooler weather, low to mid 80’s
MOST COMMON BAIT:Bunker, silver sides, and spot.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
Poppers, poppers, poppers.
Crease flys
Larger deceiver patterns that have look and size of 3 to 4 inch bunker
Bay Anchovy pattern, which you might also fish under a lure as a dropper behind the half and half or behind a spinning lure.
Blue and White, half and half
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.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.I use multi-tip fly line with interchangeable tips in floating, intermediate, slow sink and fast sink.These allow quick change opportunity coupled with the 15 foot length which even when used with the fast sink tip can be “picked up” off the water easily.The most common 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.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Most trips are stating off on a shallow area near a popular island.It seems that most of the fish in the area are there and nowhere else.At any given time there may be 4 or 5 large schools of fish breaking the surface and this is only what you can see.Under the water the schools of fish are even larger and cover large amounts of this flat.Smaller lures and flys meant to imitate Silversides are working when thrown directly into the thickest of the breaking fish.All sizes of fish are coming out of the frenzy.We have landed some of the largest blue fish of the season this past week.I am still moving to areas that are in stronger current like drop offs and edges near channels.This is the time of less and more.With less boat traffic, less angler pressure, less daylight there is more time catching fish each trip.
COMMENTS:8 out of 10 trips we are still bringing over 100 fish to the boat.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Every day has been good, incoming or outgoing tides, early or late.Tight lines!
Outfit used: 7 or 8 weight fly rod Fly Line selection: always have both floating and fast sink line, (not tip) Fly selection: Large Clouser bend back fly and Clouser floating minnow. Water temperature: Varied, low to mid 60’s Quantity of fish caught: average over 25 per outing (all released unharmed) definitely moving tide, favoring outgoing.Most trips right now are similar. Fish familiar structure with sinking line and bend back fly in 6 to 12 feet of water and catch a few singles up to and surpassing 18″ stripers. Or you can look for birds working hard and go with a top water line and floating minnow for the fish size de jour. Most fish are the same in the schools under the birds. One day they are all dinks (under 18″) and the next they can be from 18 to 23″. Just depends on your luck! I’ve been fishing mostly Eastern Bay area, from Kent Narrows to Bloody Point, mouth of the Wye and Tilghman point. Keep your eyes moving and look for signs of fish. These blitzes aren’t real long in one area and you have to be observant to get on them. Once you find them its very rewarding for a fly fisherman.
tributaries.
definitely moving tide, favoring outgoing.Most trips right now are similar. Fish familiar structure with sinking line and bend back fly in 6 to 12 feet of water and catch a few singles up to and surpassing 18″ stripers. Or you can look for birds working hard and go with a top water line and floating minnow for the fish size de jour. Most fish are the same in the schools under the birds. One day they are all dinks (under 18″) and the next they can be from 18 to 23″. Just depends on your luck! I’ve been fishing mostly Eastern Bay area, from Kent Narrows to Bloody Point, mouth of the Wye and Tilghman point. Keep your eyes moving and look for signs of fish. These blitzes aren’t real long in one area and you have to be observant to get on them. Once you find them its very rewarding for a fly fisherman.
