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Challenging Chesapeake Bay Fishing: Braving the Cold for Stripers and Perch
If you're planning to hit the Chesapeake Bay today, January 24, 2025, here's what you need to know:
First off, the weather is cold, with temperatures staying below freezing, which has kept many anglers off the water. However, for those brave enough to venture out, here are the details.
### Tidal Report
For the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area, today's tide times are as follows: High tide at 3:53 AM and 4:03 PM, with low tides at 10:15 AM and 9:57 PM. Sunrise is at 7:12 AM, and sunset is at 5:21 PM[2].
### Fish Activity
The cold weather has made fishing a grind, especially in the Middle Bay. Striped bass, or rockfish, are mostly lethargic and hanging close to the bottom, scattered along ledges. Bouncing jigs with soft plastics while drifting in marked areas has been the most effective method. There have been reports of trophy-sized fish near the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP), though these bites are few and far between[1].
### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw some reports of striped bass in the 40-inch range, though the action was slow. Anglers in the Middle Bay caught a few big fish, with some misses, using BKDs and Bust 'Ems on G-Eye heads. The upper Bay, particularly around the Susquehanna River, is locked up with ice, making it difficult for boat access. However, yellow perch and blue catfish can still be targeted in the deeper waters of the tidal rivers[1][3].
### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads and jigs with BKDs or Bust 'Ems are recommended. In the upper Bay, live minnows, small metal jigs, and soft plastics are effective for yellow perch. For blue catfish, various cut baits work well[1][3].
### Hot Spots
- **Middle Bay**: Areas around the CCNPP warm water discharge and deeper ledges along the shipping channel are good spots to search for striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Beach**: This has been a hot zone with some short-lived bird action and reports of fish over 40 inches.
- **Eastern Bay**: Pods of fish can be located on sonar suspending in 40 to 60 feet of water[1].
Remember, the cold weather and icy conditions make fishing challenging, so be prepared and stay safe.
First off, the weather is cold, with temperatures staying below freezing, which has kept many anglers off the water. However, for those brave enough to venture out, here are the details.
### Tidal Report
For the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area, today's tide times are as follows: High tide at 3:53 AM and 4:03 PM, with low tides at 10:15 AM and 9:57 PM. Sunrise is at 7:12 AM, and sunset is at 5:21 PM[2].
### Fish Activity
The cold weather has made fishing a grind, especially in the Middle Bay. Striped bass, or rockfish, are mostly lethargic and hanging close to the bottom, scattered along ledges. Bouncing jigs with soft plastics while drifting in marked areas has been the most effective method. There have been reports of trophy-sized fish near the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP), though these bites are few and far between[1].
### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw some reports of striped bass in the 40-inch range, though the action was slow. Anglers in the Middle Bay caught a few big fish, with some misses, using BKDs and Bust 'Ems on G-Eye heads. The upper Bay, particularly around the Susquehanna River, is locked up with ice, making it difficult for boat access. However, yellow perch and blue catfish can still be targeted in the deeper waters of the tidal rivers[1][3].
### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads and jigs with BKDs or Bust 'Ems are recommended. In the upper Bay, live minnows, small metal jigs, and soft plastics are effective for yellow perch. For blue catfish, various cut baits work well[1][3].
### Hot Spots
- **Middle Bay**: Areas around the CCNPP warm water discharge and deeper ledges along the shipping channel are good spots to search for striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Beach**: This has been a hot zone with some short-lived bird action and reports of fish over 40 inches.
- **Eastern Bay**: Pods of fish can be located on sonar suspending in 40 to 60 feet of water[1].
Remember, the cold weather and icy conditions make fishing challenging, so be prepared and stay safe.
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By Quiet. PleaseIf you're planning to hit the Chesapeake Bay today, January 24, 2025, here's what you need to know:
First off, the weather is cold, with temperatures staying below freezing, which has kept many anglers off the water. However, for those brave enough to venture out, here are the details.
### Tidal Report
For the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area, today's tide times are as follows: High tide at 3:53 AM and 4:03 PM, with low tides at 10:15 AM and 9:57 PM. Sunrise is at 7:12 AM, and sunset is at 5:21 PM[2].
### Fish Activity
The cold weather has made fishing a grind, especially in the Middle Bay. Striped bass, or rockfish, are mostly lethargic and hanging close to the bottom, scattered along ledges. Bouncing jigs with soft plastics while drifting in marked areas has been the most effective method. There have been reports of trophy-sized fish near the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP), though these bites are few and far between[1].
### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw some reports of striped bass in the 40-inch range, though the action was slow. Anglers in the Middle Bay caught a few big fish, with some misses, using BKDs and Bust 'Ems on G-Eye heads. The upper Bay, particularly around the Susquehanna River, is locked up with ice, making it difficult for boat access. However, yellow perch and blue catfish can still be targeted in the deeper waters of the tidal rivers[1][3].
### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads and jigs with BKDs or Bust 'Ems are recommended. In the upper Bay, live minnows, small metal jigs, and soft plastics are effective for yellow perch. For blue catfish, various cut baits work well[1][3].
### Hot Spots
- **Middle Bay**: Areas around the CCNPP warm water discharge and deeper ledges along the shipping channel are good spots to search for striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Beach**: This has been a hot zone with some short-lived bird action and reports of fish over 40 inches.
- **Eastern Bay**: Pods of fish can be located on sonar suspending in 40 to 60 feet of water[1].
Remember, the cold weather and icy conditions make fishing challenging, so be prepared and stay safe.
First off, the weather is cold, with temperatures staying below freezing, which has kept many anglers off the water. However, for those brave enough to venture out, here are the details.
### Tidal Report
For the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area, today's tide times are as follows: High tide at 3:53 AM and 4:03 PM, with low tides at 10:15 AM and 9:57 PM. Sunrise is at 7:12 AM, and sunset is at 5:21 PM[2].
### Fish Activity
The cold weather has made fishing a grind, especially in the Middle Bay. Striped bass, or rockfish, are mostly lethargic and hanging close to the bottom, scattered along ledges. Bouncing jigs with soft plastics while drifting in marked areas has been the most effective method. There have been reports of trophy-sized fish near the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP), though these bites are few and far between[1].
### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw some reports of striped bass in the 40-inch range, though the action was slow. Anglers in the Middle Bay caught a few big fish, with some misses, using BKDs and Bust 'Ems on G-Eye heads. The upper Bay, particularly around the Susquehanna River, is locked up with ice, making it difficult for boat access. However, yellow perch and blue catfish can still be targeted in the deeper waters of the tidal rivers[1][3].
### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads and jigs with BKDs or Bust 'Ems are recommended. In the upper Bay, live minnows, small metal jigs, and soft plastics are effective for yellow perch. For blue catfish, various cut baits work well[1][3].
### Hot Spots
- **Middle Bay**: Areas around the CCNPP warm water discharge and deeper ledges along the shipping channel are good spots to search for striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Beach**: This has been a hot zone with some short-lived bird action and reports of fish over 40 inches.
- **Eastern Bay**: Pods of fish can be located on sonar suspending in 40 to 60 feet of water[1].
Remember, the cold weather and icy conditions make fishing challenging, so be prepared and stay safe.