Good morning, y’all, this is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, August 31st, 2025. Let’s get right to what’s biting and where, so you can make the most of this late summer outing.

First up, the **tides** today around the Bay are setting us up for some solid moving water, with a predawn high tide at 3:50 AM, low tide at 10:43 AM, and that afternoon push coming back up for high tide at 4:26 PM. These swings usually fire up the bite, especially around structure and channel edges. **Best fishing windows** are looking like right at dawn and then again late afternoon with that second incoming—classic conditions for big strikes. **Sunrise** is at 6:34, and you can expect to fish right up until sunset at 7:33 tonight.

The **weather** for Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and Virginia Beach is lining up perfectly—mostly clear skies, temps starting in the mid-70s and topping out near 80, with light northeast winds at 5–10 knots and waves right at a friendly 1 foot. That’s just about as ideal as it gets, so no worries about getting blown off the water and it’ll be easy on the drift[National Weather Service Marine Forecast].

**Water temp** is steady at around 75°F, which is prime time for late summer fishing, keeping everything from baitfish to gamefish active and cruising in the shallows and over oyster beds[Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel tide chart].

**Recent catches** up and down the lower Bay have been hot. Just this week, local inshore fleets reported limits of **bluefish** and nice runs of **slot-size red drum** just below the bridges. **Spanish mackerel** are schooling up tight and tearing through bait balls—you’ll see birds and blitzes from the tunnel down to Lynnhaven. **Sheepshead** have been stacked up near pilings, with the usual brutes pulled off the rocks[Hatteras Harbor Marina Fishing Reports]. Offshore—if you’re chasing the bluewater species—anglers are still finding dolphin (mahi), a few wahoo, and even reports of blackfin tuna for those running out past the Capes.

Fish activity’s been strong, with the **major solunar times** predicted for around 7 to 9 AM and again from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Focus your efforts right at those switching tides around the CBBT and you’ll up your odds.

For **baits and lures**, you can’t beat a well-presented chunk of fresh peeler crab or fiddler for the sheepshead on the bridge pilings. Strip baits and cut mullet are still producing steady red drum and blues off the deeper flats. Trolling small **Clark spoons** or casting Got-Cha plugs works wonders for Spanish macks around rips. If you want a do-it-all option, tie on a **Johnson Beetle Spin**—it’s been a go-to for white perch and schoolies for decades. That unmistakable flash and vibration pull strikes from stripers, perch, and even eager trout[Discount Tackle, BBC Boards].

**A couple hot spots to hit**:
- The **Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel** itself—particularly the 3rd and 4th islands—remains the Bay’s top dog for sheepshead, big spadefish, and flurries of Spanish mackerel.
- **Lynnhaven Inlet**: always reliable for mixed-bag action with speckled trout, puppy drum, and bluefish hanging on the drop-offs and marshy edges.

With the water nice and clean, wind light, and plenty of bait around, it’s a classic late August bite—not many of these summer weekends left, so get out while the fishing’s lively.

Thanks for tuning in to your local Chesapeake Bay report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of what’s biting and where, and keep your lines tight out there.

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Good morning from Chesapeake Bay, Virginia—this is Artificial Lure with your local August 30, 2025 fishing report.

Sunrise hit at 6:33am, and you can expect sunset to cap your day at 7:35pm. Today brings healthy tidal movement, perfect for anglers dialing into the bite: high tides are at 3:00am and 3:32pm, with lows at 9:54am and 11:05pm. According to tide-forecast.com, strong tidal coefficients today mean there will be plenty of current and moving water—exactly what you want to stir up the fish and get a solid bite window.

Our late August weather’s holding steady in that warm end-of-summer groove; recent cool mornings have been giving way to hot afternoons, making early dawn or the pre-sunset hours your prime times to be on the water. The outgoing tide this morning and the afternoon push could both produce active fish, especially as that current sweeps bait around structure and channel edges.

Let’s talk about what’s biting. According to the latest Anglers Sport Center updates, striped bass—aka rockfish—remain the big story in the bay. The season’s now in full swing for Virginia waters, but keep in mind, water temps are still up in the high 70s and low 80s. That means fish are hanging off deeper structure during the afternoon and hugging pilings, bridge pilings, and ledges at first and last light. The key this week has been targeting prominent structure: the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, around the Hampton Roads Bridge, and sneaking up into the Rappahannock and York rivers where feeder creeks bring in cooler water.

Anglers have done well working classic 6” jerk shads, paddletails, and swimming mullets rigged on light jigheads. If you’re looking to draw reaction strikes, the Tsunami surface popper is a top pick this week, making some real noise and commotion. These rockfish are dialed in on sound, so working a popping cork with scented soft plastics is a recipe for action. As always, adjust weight for current and depth, and work your lures with sharp twitches near structure. For trollers, parachute rigs dressed with six-inch shads or chrome-blue Rat-L-Traps have been pulling in quality stripers.

Last week saw solid numbers of bluefish—mostly schools of 2-5 pounders—chasing bait around windblown points and channel rips. Metal spoons and fast-jigged G-Eye Rain Minnow jigs have been getting crushed. Spanish mackerel are still popping up in the lower bay and closer to the mouth—look for them slashing bait especially on moving tides, and throw small silver spoons at speedsters busting the top.

White perch remain steady on the grass flats and shallow creek mouths. Bloodworms, grass shrimp, and gulp-style scented baits on small jigheads are the ticket. Spot and croaker are being caught on bottom rigs, especially around Kiptopeke and the mouth of the York. Flounder catches are scattered, but the best odds are drifting live minnows or Gulp swimming mullets along the edges of the shipping channels or at the CBBT’s deeper pilings.

For offshore and nearshore anglers, late-season cobia are still showing up around buoys and chum slicks in the lower bay, but you’ll want to get out early before boat traffic picks up. Eels remain the go-to bait, but live spot and large jigs will work. Recent windy weather slowed some offshore runs, but look for things to pick up quick with the coming week’s calming forecast.

A couple of hot spots today: hit the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel for a mix of stripers, blues, and occasional flounder—work the pilings on the outgoing tide. Second, Poplar Island’s edges and oyster beds north of the Bay Bridge have given up some solid perch and keeper stripers at dawn. For the adventurous, the Grandview and Buckroe Beach piers continue to yield mixed bags of spot, croaker, and blues on squid and bloodworms.

That’ll do it for today’s Chesapeake Bay fishing report. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning y’all, this is Artificial Lure with your Friday, August 29th Chesapeake Bay fishing report. It’s a beauty—sunrise at 6:16 AM and sunset coming at 8:02 PM. We’ve got a full day of summer light, and with mild weather sticking around, expect temps in the 70s and light breezes—a perfect setup for serious time on the water, as noted by the Southern Maryland Chronicle. Tidal movement is solid today, starting with a low around 5:38 AM, high at 10:43 AM, another low at 5:38 PM, and high rolling back in just after 11 PM according to Tide-Forecast. Strong tidal coefficients mean active currents—fish will use ‘em to feed, so dial in on those moving waters.

Let’s talk fish. The striped bass bite is best before the sun’s high or just after it sets. Right now, water temps are holding in the upper 70s, and those stripers are moving into shallows each morning and evening. Reports from Maryland DNR show the most productive tactics are popping plugs and paddletails along grassy shorelines—think Poplar Island, lower Choptank, the mouths of Eastern Bay, and Dorchester County creeks. Early birds or night owls will see the best activity windows.

As for lures, nothing beats a white or chartreuse paddletail on a quarter-ounce jighead, or a classic walk-the-dog topwater for the dusk and dawn rush. If you’ve got spot live bait, try live-lining them for trophy stripers off sharp drop-offs—artificial reef sites and the edges north of Tilghman Island and around Sharps Island Light are holding fish.

For those after a mixed bag, bluefish schools are making regular appearances in the middle and lower Bay. They’re running small—mostly one to two pounds—but they’re smacking silver spoons and surgical tube rigs trolled at a lively clip near channel edges. Spanish mackerel are a solid bonus if you up the speed and swing metal lures through any busting bait balls you see.

Down towards the lower Bay, speckled trout and slot red drum are taking soft plastics and topwaters early in the grass. The Southern Maryland Chronicle points out that bull reds favor cut bait or live mullet in the channels—if you see birds working or bait piling up, drift or anchor and soak some fresh cut spot.

Bottom fishing is steady: plenty of white perch and spot hanging in 15-25 foot holes around oyster bars. Dropper rigs with bloodworms or peeler crab work best. Patuxent and Potomac are particularly fishy right now. For a shot at bigger pulls, blue catfish and Chesapeake channa (that’s snakehead) are piling up in tidal creeks and rivers—fishing grass edges with soft-bodied frogs or paddletails gets those predators charging.

If you’re looking for a couple hot spots:

- The Eastern Bay–Poplar Island triangle remains a prime striper zone, especially at sunrise.
- The mouth of the Patuxent River has been giving up perch and spot, and the deep channel edges right outside are seeing bluefish and some macks.
- Around the Bay Bridge Tunnel, outgoing tides are pushing bait past pilings and rip-rap, and you’ll find stripers, blues, and even a few red drum waiting to ambush.

Lastly, be mindful—regulations for striped bass are tight with slot limits and circle hook requirements in place. And as always, check your local updates before heading out.

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Good morning anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, fishing report for Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

We’re looking at a strong start to the day with **sunrise at 6:30 AM and sunset wrapping things up at 7:40 PM**. Tides are running active, with a high-tidal coefficient topping 87 and rising to 90 by midday, meaning stronger currents and plenty of water movement out there according to Tides4Fishing. Expect the first low tide at 4:42 AM, high at 11:05 AM, another low at 5:08 PM, and second high just after 11 PM per the latest from Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel tide tables.

**Weather** is seasonably warm and stable this week—classic late-August on the Bay. Look for lighter winds early that could pick up into the afternoon, so plan your trip for best success around those high tides and calm hours.

On the fish front, the bite’s firing on all cylinders. September is knocking but migratory species are still scattered around, keeping the action steady. According to On The Water, we’re seeing **bluefish, puppy drum (red drum juveniles), striped bass, and plenty of Spanish mackerel** from the mid-Bay right on down through the Virginia sections. Spanish mackerel are especially hot from the oceanfront up to the Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the bluefish have been blitzing bait along rips and around structure.

**Spanish mackerel and bluefish** are smashing metal—grab a 1- to 1½-ounce G-Eye Jig Rain Minnow, Sting Silver, or 7/8- to 1¼-ounce Hogy Epoxy Jig in olive, silver, or green. Good old-fashioned spoons are always a winner when these pelagics chase peanut bunker and silversides. Stripers have been mixed in with the same schools, and you’ll also find puppy drum working shallow grass beds and channel edges. **Three- to four-inch paddletails or spinners—Perch Hounder and Z-Man MinnowZ on 3/16- to 1/4-ounce heads—are favorites for the local crowd**. Don’t sleep on natural bait, either: **fresh menhaden chunks and bloodworms** are pulling in catches for those targeting perch and drum near marshy shorelines.

**White perch** are bunched up around shoreline rock piles and deeper docks, ideal for smaller spinners, gulp baits, and soft plastics. For fluke and spot, The Fisherman recommends bucktails tipped with squid or Gulp, especially near deeper docks and outflows.

For the trophy hunters, late runs of **cobia are still hanging in the lower Bay**. Best tactics are trolling large red, orange, or purple tubes on planers, or sight-fishing by casting live eel or big soft plastics around the Middle Grounds and off Point Lookout down into Virginia waters. Don’t forget about bull red drum—big reds up to slot and over-slot are cruising these same grounds, especially around the Target Ship.

**Hot spots to hit this week:**
- **Poplar Island** just south of Annapolis for a trifecta of mackerel, bluefish, and stripers feeding on rain bait.
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel** pilings for bluefish, stripers, and late Spanish mackerel.
- The **Middle Grounds/Target Ship** area and up the false channel for cobia and bull reds.

Last week, inshore boats along the nearby oceanfront and islands reported limits of bluefish and good numbers of Spanish mackerel, with catches of speckled trout and occasional red drum. Offshore, when weather allows, there are some dolphin, wahoo, and blackfin tuna, but most have their sights set right now on the hot inshore action.

Remember, this time of year the tides and bait are on the move, so follow the birds and look for bait balls pushed by the current. Matching the hatch with smaller jigs and spoons is making the day for most.

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, August 24th, 2025.

Sunrise rolled in at 6:29AM, and we’ll have daylight until 7:43PM, giving you plenty of time on the water. Tides today around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel see a low at 3:35AM, high tide cresting at 9:48AM, another low at 3:48PM, with a late high at 10:02PM—prime incoming water through midmorning and again late evening, perfect windows for that topwater bite.

Weather-wise, we’re looking at classic late-summer bay conditions. Winds will be out of the south at 5 to 10 knots all day, keeping the main stem relatively flat with a light chop. The National Weather Service doesn’t forecast anything beyond a gentle 1-foot wave. Keep an eye out this evening for a slight uptick in breeze and the chance for a stray shower or thunderstorm rolling through just after sundown.

Now, the fish have been active with the swing in tides and comfortable water temps. Striped bass are showing strong in the early morning at deeper channel edges and around structure, particularly near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and along the piles. Local boats report solid numbers of schoolies with the occasional slot keeper landed at sunrise on white bucktails and 5” soft plastic jerkbaits in chartreuse or pearl. If the current’s rolling, don’t shy away from vertical jigging metal spoons—bluefish and Spanish mackerel are mixed in, willing to slash through anything moving fast or ripped erratically through the water column.

Live-lining spot and peanut bunker, when you can get them, produces the biggest linesides. Fresh bunker chunks also pull in some hefty blues from the same haunts. As for the croaker, spot, and whiting—these are stacking up around the mouth of the rivers and grassy flats between Kiptopeke and Cape Charles. Bloodworms and pieces of squid are your go-tos, and a two-drop bottom rig will keep you in constant action.

Some anglers are chasing flounder with success on the reef edges—like at the Northern Neck Reef and off Cape Henry. Drift strip baits or Gulp! swimming mullets on a bucktail, bouncing slow off structure. Reports from the reefs mention keeper flounder up to 22 inches these past few days, especially during slack tide or just as the water starts to move back in.

Speckled trout and red drum action is building at the inshore grass beds and flats, especially at dawn and dusk close to Lynnhaven Inlet and Cherrystone—look for popping cork rigs with Gulp! shrimp or topwater plugs for explosive surface takes. Sheepshead are holding at bridge pilings and over rock piles, biting best on fiddler crabs or sand fleas if you can round them up.

For bait, this time of year, live spot, peeler crab, and menhaden shine—though menhaden are getting harder to source. Conservation is a hot topic right now, with regulators considering tighter restrictions on menhaden harvest to help sustain gamefish populations throughout the Bay and neighboring rivers. Bringing your own bait supply is a smart move.

Hot spots today:
- The pilings and islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel—stripers, blues, and sheepshead.
- The edges of the Northern Neck Reef—flounder and the ever-present summer bluefish.
- Grassy flats at Kiptopeke State Park and Lynnhaven for specks and puppy drum.
- Shallow points along Cape Henry—early activity for red drum and keeper trout.

If you’re after a mixed bag or just out to fill the cooler, anchor up on the river mouths during incoming tide, drop a bottom rig, and let the bites come to you.

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Good morning from the banks of the Chesapeake—this is Artificial Lure, bringing you your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Saturday, August 23, 2025.

We’ve got clear summer skies and a sunrise at 6:28 AM with sunset at 7:45 PM. This morning started off muggy and the wind’s light out of the southwest, so the water’s got a slight chop but nothing that’ll keep you off your favorite honey hole. High tide hit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at 9:07 AM and comes back around at 9:25 PM. If you’re working the lower bay, be ready for low water midafternoon at 3:05 PM. Tide swings aren’t huge today, but enough to stir up some activity according to Tide-Forecast.com.

The water temp’s sitting in the high 70s, and overall fish activity has held steady with the stable weather. Reports from folks on the docks and in the forums say the bite picked up right around first light and again with that incoming morning tide. Tides4Fishing notes an average tidal coefficient for Norfolk today, so current movement should help turn things on—especially along ledges and creek mouths.

If you’re chasing striped bass (rockfish), they’re still around and have been thick near the CBBT pilings and up into the mouths of the James and York Rivers. Early risers did well this morning before the sun got high, especially on soft plastics and paddle-tail swim baits fished deep, tight to structure. Trolling tandem rigs pulled a few keepers, but casting under working birds has definitely been the ticket. According to FishingBooker’s 2025 rockfish guide, topwater around dawn is worth the early alarm, and a lot of action is coming right as the sun peeks up.

Tangier Sound Charters and FishTalk Magazine are reporting jumbo bull red drum moving through the Tangier Sound and Kiptopeke areas this week—live menhaden and fresh peeler crab floated along the current seams have put some trophy fish in the boat. On Instagram Friday, Tangier Sound Charters shared pics of some true bull reds caught and released, so now’s the time to get on ‘em if you want to stretch your arms.

White perch fishing has been consistent, per this morning’s TidalFish report: one angler had 15 perch and a couple of catfish by 8:30 AM using bloodworms and shrimp on bottom rigs. The perch bite’s best at creek mouths and around marsh edges, especially at moving tide; small spinners and beetle spins will keep things lively if your crew enjoys light tackle.

Flounder catches have trickled in, mainly on the shallower bayside wrecks and drop-offs near Cape Charles. Drifting with Gulp! swimming mullets in chartreuse or pink, or tipping bucktail jigs with strip baits, has worked when you can find a clean drift without too much grass.

Don’t ignore Spanish mackerel—Outta Line Charters says trolling gold or silver spoons around the Chesapeake Light and Windmill Point brought in plenty, while some keeper bluefish have been mixed in on the same rigs.

Your best baits today: cut bunker and live spot for stripers and reds, Gulp! or mud minnows for flounder, and bloodworms for perch and croaker. Lure-wise, 4-6" paddle tails, bucktail jigs, and classic topwater plugs at first and last light have been steady producers.

As for hot spots, put a pin on:
- CBBT complex, working the shadows and current rips for stripers and flounder.
- Tangier Sound for bull reds, as they’re definitely in residence right now.

Don’t sleep on the Susquehanna Flats north if you’re making a road trip—lots of action up there as well.

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Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, fishing report for Friday, August 22nd, 2025.

First light cracked just after 6:26 a.m. and we’re looking at nearly 13 and a half hours of daylight with sunset at 7:47 p.m. Tides are running strong today thanks to a high tidal coefficient—expect major water movement all day. Your morning low rolled out around 4:14 a.m., with the first high tide at 9:18 a.m., another low near 4:11 p.m., and then a solid high tide at 9:44 p.m., perfect for those after-work casts. Don’t forget: high tides will be bringing higher-than-normal currents, and with the new moon tomorrow, this pattern sticks around through the weekend. According to Tide-Forecast.com, plan your outings tight around those tide changes for the best bite windows.

Weather-wise, it’s shaping up to be one of those classic late August Bay days: warm, humid, but with a wild side. The National Weather Service out of Wakefield, VA, is holding us under a tropical storm warning thanks to the tail end of Hurricane Erin. Winds may hit 40-45 mph in gusts, so boaters be cautious; coastal flood warnings are in effect, and there’s a serious rip current risk straight through the weekend. Seas remain choppy—12 to 17 feet out at the mouth—so surf and pier anglers may want to stay sharp and cautious if you’re daring the waves.

Now, down to the bite: Lower Bay action is spreading the love this week. According to the folks at On the Water and Maryland’s DNR fishing report, bluefish are popping all over the channel edges, best caught trolling small spoons or red and green surge tube lures. Spanish mackerel are moving in thick, so speed up that troll and throw out a couple small spoons behind planers—fast-moving fish want fast-moving bait. Sight-casters are still seeing action with breaking fish; keep your metal jigs handy for a shot at quick blues and macs. For bottom dwellers, the cobia have pushed up near the Middle Grounds and Target Ship—drop live eels or big soft plastics when you see those fat marks on the finder.

Up in the rivers, crabbing’s been stellar with big males pushing up the tributaries. Some anglers are still picking up quality stripers at low light around bridges and deeper rocks—especially on soft plastics, jerkbaits, or even drifting live spot. However, the hottest chatter is on those bull reds north of the CBBT and just past the mouth. These brutes have been showing up on heavy jigheads rigged with large soft plastics, and cut bait or live mullet on fishfinder rigs. Reports are also in about sea bass and flounder near the reefs off the oceanfront, but boat access has been tough with the storm surge.

Best lures and bait today: Shrimp imitators like the Prawn USA Original are catching the eye of the bigger fish, especially when bounced along the bottom or skip-cast under docks—great glide, easy to rig, and proven in local waters. If you want to try something classic, topwater walkers and poppers at dawn—such as the Yo-Zuri 3D Inshore TopKnock or Mag Popper—are drawing explosive strikes, especially near rips and shallow grass beds before the sun gets high. For bait, fresh cut mullet or menhaden chunks can be a ticket for blues, macks, and big reds when the water’s churned up.

Today’s hot spots:
- The east side channel edges from Buoy 83 down past Sharps Island Light for blues and mackerel.
- The Middle Grounds and Target Ship area for cobia and bull reds.
- Around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings for a shot at stripers and flounder—if weather allows and as always, keep safety first.

That’s your Chesapeake Bay fishing update for this wild August day. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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It’s Artificial Lure checking in with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Wednesday, August 20th, 2025. First light broke at 6:26 this morning, and we’re looking at sunset just before 7:47 tonight. That gives us a solid stretch to chase fish, especially with the strong tidal swings rolling through. The first low was around 4:14 AM and our morning high tide hits at 9:18, with a second low coming in just after 4 in the afternoon—prime windows for action according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Weather’s riding a northeasterly pattern this morning, with winds building up to 20, maybe even 25 knots as we get further into the day. Up to 4 or 5 footers in the main channel, with a stiff chop—be careful if you’re venturing out, especially off New Point Comfort or crossing to Cape Charles. National Weather Service puts us under a Tropical Storm Watch, so if you see the squalls building, tuck in and stay safe.

Fish-wise, the late-summer bite is strong across the Lower Bay. Big cobia are still thick—Coastline Supply Co says the slam’s still wide open on the oceanfront and right inside the mouths of the Bay. Folks are sight-casting with live eels, but don’t overlook a lively menhaden or chunked cut bait, especially if the chop makes spotting bells tough.

Span of the Bay from Smith Point to the Bridge Tunnel has been kicking up heaviest catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish if you’re trolling Clark spoons or small Drone spoons behind #1 planers. The macks are feeding pretty heavily along channel edges; if you find breaking fish, toss a metal jig and hang on.

Striped bass—resident schoolies and some keeper-sized slot drum—are schooling early mornings and evenings off the mouths of the James and York Rivers, especially on moving tide. Outta Line Charters reports plenty of keeper-size rockfish and a mixed bag: red drum running 24–30 inches, plus good catches of sea trout and even some flounder on the deeper drop-offs.

For tackle, finesse swimbaits like a 3" Rapala CrushCity “The Mayor” paired with a VMC Hybrid jighead are dynamite for both bass in the creeks and stripers around grass edges and oyster bars. As always for Chesapeake’s late summer, try Gulp! Swimming mullet for trout and flounder, and don’t sleep on the classic bucktail tipped with a strip of menhaden or squid for targeting bigger species.

If you prefer bait, fresh-cut menhaden and live mullet remain the tournament standby. Goofish Rod Co recommends rigging a “Stealth Rig” (¼ oz egg sinker, 24” fluorocarbon leader, 5/0 circle) for subtle presentation—especially critical with these pressured late-season fish.

Couple of hot spots to circle today:
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings, especially on the outgoing tide—prime for cobia, mackerel, even schoolie stripers.
- On the west, drop the anchor or drift through the mouth of the York River and the grass flats just inside Poquoson Flats. Look for diving terns and breaking schools for easy mackerel and bluefish, plus the occasional bull red drum pushing up with the bait.

Conditions are sporty and the bite’s on. As always, make sure you’re keeping an eye on the weather and don’t take unnecessary risks. Keep your radio handy and be ready to duck in if the wind gets rough.

Thanks for tuning in to the Chesapeake Bay fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates, tips, and on-the-water action—this has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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Good morning, this is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, August 17th, 2025.

We’re kicking off the day with balmy late-summer conditions here in Virginia. Sunrise hit around 6:19 a.m., and anglers will see the sun set at 7:56 p.m. Today brings about 14 hours of daylight, giving you plenty of time to work the water. Tides are running strong, with a high tide peaking at 2:41 p.m. and a low tide bottoming out near 8:06 a.m. at the Bay Bridge Tunnel. The tidal coefficient this morning is high—a 71—which means more current and active fish, especially around the turn of the tide. By midday, it backs off to 68, finishing at 64 this evening (source: Tides4Fishing).

Weather-wise, expect light northeast winds under 10 knots, settling down as the day wears on, with mild waves in the 1 to 2-foot range. It’s a classic August day: warm, humid, but not punishing, so bring plenty of water and the sunscreen if you plan to soak it in (National Weather Service Marine Forecast).

Now, let’s talk fish! The bite has been strong across the lower and middle bay, especially close in at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and the Hampton Roads area. Reports from recent charters, notably Four Winds Chartering and Johnny Quest Sport Fishing in Virginia Beach, show limits of **bluefish** caught consistently. Spanish mackerel are running heavy as well, making for excellent action on light tackle. **Large red drum** are getting pulled from the deeper holes and near the shoals—42" and 49" class fish caught and released have been the highlight this week according to Hatteras Harbor Marina and anglers over on Tidal Fish Forum. White perch are also hitting, particularly in the shallows early and late; tip here is to work near ledges and creek mouths around Fleet Point and Tanners Creek.

If you’re after something bigger, anglers fishing cut bait—especially menhaden pieces—have been rewarded with not just bluefish and drum, but also catches of inshore sharks and stingrays. Flounder are trickling in around drop-offs and deeper structure as well, with live minnows or Gulp shrimp getting bites.

Best baits and lures today:
- For **bluefish and mackerel**: Silver spoons, Got-Cha plugs, and flashy bucktails work best. Troll them quick near the surface.
- For **red drum and cobia**: Fresh cut bait (menhaden or mullet) fished on sturdy circle hooks. If tossing lures, go with 5–7 inch soft plastics on heavy jigheads, gold spoons, or even big topwater poppers if you see fish cruising.
- For **white perch**: Bloodworms, cut grass shrimp, or perch rigs tipped with thin slices of squid excel. Ultralight jigs bounced right along bottom structure can bring in steady numbers.

Current hotspots:
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel**: Active bluefish and mackerel bite on the pilings. The outgoing tide mid-morning should be prime.
- **Hampton Flats and Back River Reef**: Red drum and flounder reported this week—hit deeper holes with cut bait on an incoming tide.
- **Fleet Point and Tanners Creek**: Reliable white perch action in shallow water, particularly at dawn and dusk.

Anglers on Tidal Fish Forum mention steady action on 6–8 lb bluefish with a single cobia caught yesterday, despite some choppy conditions. Larger drum and bluefish continue to be the crowd pleasers, with coolers filled and smiles all around. Inshore boats are outperforming offshore lately, as the weather’s kept many out of the bluewater.

This is the heart of summer fishing. So whether you’re slinging spoons from the pier, trolling out on the drift, or soaking bait from the kayak, expect an active day on the Bay.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to hit subscribe for your daily dose of local fishing action and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning from Chesapeake Bay, Virginia—coming at you bright and early on Saturday, August 16th, 2025. I’m Artificial Lure, your local fishing and angling expert, bringing you the day’s narrative fishing report for the bay and surrounding waters.

We’re kicking off the day with a muggy start: the temperature is hovering at 78°F with light winds out of the northeast, running 5 to 10 knots and gusting up to 15 this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service marine forecast. Humidity is high—expect a sticky one until a breeze picks up later. Water temp is sitting pretty at 74°F, near perfect if you’re looking to tangle with summer species. Sunrise was at 6:21 AM and sunset will be 7:55 PM, giving us over 13 and a half hours to cast lines.

Let’s talk tides. At the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the last low tide just ticked over at 8:06 AM this morning, with the next high rolling in at 2:41 PM. This morning’s low sets up a solid window for shore-bound anglers to hit structure, and the major fishing period hits late morning from about 10:08 AM to noon. Afternoon high tide brings your best shot for the big ones near channel edges.

On the catch front, bluefish have taken center stage. The lower bay is hot: folks are catching limits trolling red and green surge tube lures or spoons behind inlines and planers. The Target Ship and the HS Buoy are both red hot right now—if you’re gunning for a bluefish blitz, jog over with metal jigs ready for surface chasers. With the water temp stable, the first Spanish mackerel of the season showed up last weekend, and the action should only improve. Trolling small Drone or Clark spoons at a brisk pace behind planers is your ticket to sharp-toothed speedsters around the mouth and along breaking bait schools according to the latest reports from Anglers Sport Center and the Maryland DNR.

Closer to shore and up the rivers, white perch are giving steady action near docks and bulkheads, with grass shrimp or peeler crab benchmarks for bait. Small spinnerbaits tossed along shady structure in the early morning still produce, but you’ll need to cover a little more water than usual to find pods of cooperative fish. Spot and croaker have been a pleasant surprise this year, with better numbers than recent summers—hit hard bottom flats in 10 to 20 feet using sabiki rigs tipped with shrimp.

Snakeheads—aka Chesapeake Channa—are active in the thick grass beds up the tidal rivers. Work topwater lures like chatterbaits or frogs over the mats in places like the Chickahominy and backwaters of Dorchester County. White paddle tails along grass edges are tough to beat for these toothy aliens.

For those after bottom dwellers, catfishing in the tributaries remains stellar, especially as the evening cools. Channel and blue cats are taking cut eel or chunked spot up the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers.

Want the local scoop? For bluefish and mackerel, head to the Target Ship area and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. For perch and spot, the Lynnhaven Inlet and the mouth of the York River are buzzing with activity.

Top lures: red and green tubes, metal jigs, small paddletails, and bucktails for the gamefish crowd; sabikis and shrimp for panfish. Fresh cut bait or live peeler crab seals the deal on demersals.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Chesapeake Bay fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with fellow anglers! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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