October Fish in the Chesapeake Bay (Part 1)
The golden brown leaves and cool, peaceful evenings of October signify the arrival of fall to most people. The children are in school, the parents at work, and Halloween preparations are under way.
To outdoors-men, the October month means that shrimp and oyster season has officially started. Oyster rakes are prominent among hotspots which are bound to be full in a short amount of time. Shrimpers flock to the water, hoping to get a bucketful of shrimp
to cook with family and friends. However, one group of fisherman is dreading the end of October. To kayak fisherman, October means that this is the end of the redfish tailing season.
Due to the cooler waters, redfish migrate to warmer waters and will not be seen again till next spring. Redfish fishing will still be possible until about the 11th of October, with flood tides and warm sunshine to keep the fiddler crabs and other
summer species active, but fisherman will now put aside their kayaks and head out into the Chesapeake with larger boats.
The fall fishing season for the Chesapeake Bay runs until November, after which the water becomes too chilly for many species’ taste. There are over ten different species of fish to find this month in the Chesapeake.
The Striper, also known as the Striped Bass, is one of the most popular food fish of the Chesapeake Bay. Its white fluffy meat is easy to eat and delicious, if you like fish. Catching a Striper is a lot of fun if light bait is used, such as artificial bait
or trolling large lures.
Trolling is a technique in which there are multiple lines cast into the water, and drawing them through the water, such as from behind a boat, or slowly casting in the reel. Aside from trolling, simple bait-casting can be used to catch the Striper. The peak
time for catching large fish is in November to December, along the mouth of the bay, while smaller school size fish, ranging from five to 30 pounds, are found in late spring and early fall in the tidal waters of the bay. Larger fish have been caught that have
weighed in at over 60 pounds.
Croaker and Spot run hand in hand, or “fin in fin”. They appear in the Bay in late May and stay until the water cools, usually late October or early November. Spot usually reach lengths of about six to eight inches, weighing in at around one pound, while
a Croaker are usually a pound a piece, with super sized fish weighing over three pounds have been caught in the past. Both fish are great panfish and provide great fishing for kids and family.
These tiny little spirited fish usually put up a great fight, even though they end up being caught anyways. The best method for catching the Croaker and Spot are drift, anchored, and bottom fishing. Drift fishing is a method in which the boat drifts with
the tide, causing the bait to remain stationary within the water. Anchored fishing is keeping your boat anchored to one spot within the water, which causes the line to move with the tide.
These fish are typically found near the bottom of the Bay’s shallower parts, so bottom fishing is also a good technique in catching these sport fish. Bottom fishing refers simply to fishing near the bottom of the water. Both fish can easily be caught by
any amateur using bloodworms, squid strips, or cutbait.
Flounder, also known as Fluke to fisherman, are fierce fighters and can be identified immediately after taking the bait, as they put up a good fight for the fisherman. Weighing in at only one or two pounds, but can reach up to 15 pounds, Fluke are daytime
feeders and can be caught with squid or cutbait, although those looking to catching trophy fish over five or six pounds should try live bait, such as small Croaker or Spot. Flounder are common on most restaurant menus and can be caught by drifting or trolling.
The Chesapeake features many different species of aquatic life that can satisfy even the most enthusiastic of fisherman. Although catching these fish may seem simple, fishing requires practice, know-how, and, above all, lots of patience.
Tags: