Local fishing is making a turnaround! The small Bluefish that came into the Bay in early June are now big boys running three to five pounds. They fill a cooler fast and make for great fishing excitement.
The Stripers have found the waters to be cooling off finally and they love breaking on the surface now. Stripers are feeding along with the Bluefish on Bay Anchovies that are schooled up in the Chesapeake. Under the breaking fish trout can be found. The trout are not that big and a Bluefish will get the hook first if he can. You can troll small spoons through the breaking schools or try casting plugs which work just under the surface. I like staying over the fish and jigging metal jigs for them, orange and yellow seems to work best in 1.5 oz. size. They hit it on the drop back, so be ready to set the hook.
Do try to be a good angler and approach the fish when breaking slowly and from the side so they will stay up longer. Driving up fast and loud only drives them down so no one gets a shot at them. Earlier this week, I had Dennis out for his birthday and we found a mixed school Stripers and Bluefish breaking at Cedar Point. We cast to them until our arms hurt and we jigged on them from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. before we quit and were three and one half miles down the shoreline. Just by being slow and quiet, moving alongside the school as they feed with the tide. What a birthday trip that was!
The fish can be found north of the Gas Dock in deep water, near Cedar Point, Across at Buoy 74 and down to Buoy 72A. Those fishing near the Target Ship are also seeing catches of Spanish Mackerel and a few big Red Drum while trolling with spoons. The Drum will give you a real run for the money. So keep the drags light for the first hit as they will break off if too tight. You can always tighten down after you slow down. There will be no mistake as to what you got once it starts the run. Remember the limit size as most all are over the keeper size, but what fun they are. Give it a try or call me to see what a day on the Bay can be like aboard the Reel Relief light tackle sight fishing for them. Call Capt. Sonney at (443) 532-0836 to setup your day on the Bay.
