Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for November 26, 2025, straight from Virginia’s salty doorstep.

We’re heading into late fall now, with air temps waking up chilly in the mid-40s and topping out in the high 50s. The wind is pushing out of the north-northwest this morning, 10 to 15 knots, gusting higher at times, so bundle up if you’re launching early. The water temperature in the lower Bay has slid down close to 50°F, which puts us right at the start of that classic cold-weather bite.

Sunrise hit at 6:55 a.m., and sunset will come early today at 4:54 p.m.—plan your trip to maximize those juicy in-between hours. Tides are moving: Low tide at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel set in around 5:08 a.m. at 0.52 ft, peaking with the day’s high at 11:40 a.m. at a healthy 3.05 ft. Expect another low just after 6 p.m. If you’re fishing near the mouth, look for rolling current on that late morning rising tide—that’s when the stripers like to feed.

Speaking of stripers, the Maryland DNR reports a small uptick in juvenile numbers this season, but adult spawning ratios remain below historical averages. Don’t let that get you down: November brings trophy striped bass sliding into the Bay, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and Potomac mouth. Reports from FishTalk Magazine say the CBBT is still one of those “perennial winners” for early winter big fish, and Smith Point to Point Lookout is firing as well.

The bite lately has favored **striped bass** but don’t rule out fleets of healthy **bluefish**, especially further south. Last week, locals boated solid numbers of legal-sized rockfish (mostly 24 to 34 inch), with a few pushovers into the upper 30s. Bluefish have shown in smaller packs, averaging 2-5 lbs, making for fast action on the edges and up creeks.

On the tackle front, you want to keep it simple and tough. Crankbaits are hot right now—seven-to-ten-inch shad-patterned hard baits, especially with a SPOTTED glide or silvery profile, have produced fish in open water. Jigging spoons (1–2 oz.), leadheads dressed with big plastics, or classic bucktails tipped with Gulp are also getting the job done, especially when the schools are deep. For bait, nothing’s beating live eels—drift them over the shoals in Virginia waters or slow-troll along structure. Cut bunker and peeler crab also work when fish get tight to the bottom. If the wind lays down, try drifting soft plastics or working topwater plugs at daybreak for some explosive strikes.

A couple of HOT SPOTS you should know:
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel:** Early season trophy stripers, especially along the light-lines after dark. Try floating eels here for a real fight.
- **Mouth of the Potomac (Smith Point to Point Lookout):** Strong mix of striper and blues this week, with good bird action showing bait movement offshore—look for diving gannets and you’ll find the fish.

With water temps dropping, expect fish to stack near deeper ledges or warmwater discharges. If you’re searching for a quieter bite, target creek mouths and deeper holes in the early afternoon as the sun warms the area.

Remember, stay flexible with your presentations. If the fish turn finicky, downsize your plastics or toss in a finesse soft bait to tempt a strike.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s fishing report for Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Don’t forget to subscribe for your next trip, and keep those lines tight.

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