The sea run rockfish started early last week. The fish are being caught in the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay with big fish coming from all areas. The ship’s channel is chock full of big rockfish chasing schools of bait.
Trollers are using tandem bucktails and parachutes, daisy chains, and umbrella rigs of white, yellow, and green hues.
The fish are not biting everyday, all day, but are selective on when they want to feed. Some mornings have been great with trollers getting six or eight fish in the boat before they get a full spread of lines out. Other days have been good, but a lot of trolling time is required.
Shore fishing has still produced big rockfish by lure casters in the mouth of the Patuxent River. We had one in that was 41 inches that was caught off the rocks at Fishing Point on a very light spinning rig. The big fish required 45 minutes before he was secured on the sand by Ken Normand.
The fishing will get better each day. The big Gannets (sea birds) that accompany the rockfish run are numerous. When you see them diving for bait, the rockfish are directly under them.
