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Chilly Winter Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay: Stripers, Tautog, and More Biting Strong
As of January 4, 2025, the fishing scene in the Chesapeake Bay around Baltimore and Washington D.C. is looking promising despite the chilly winter conditions.
### Tidal and Weather Conditions
Today, the high tide in the Chesapeake Bay is at 12:57 PM with a height of 0.54 meters (1.78 feet), and the low tide is at 7:38 AM and 8:14 PM with heights of -0.03 meters (-0.1 feet) and -0.05 meters (-0.17 feet) respectively[2]. Sunrise is at 7:28 AM, and sunset will be at 4:58 PM.
### Fish Activity
Despite the cold weather, several species are active. Striped bass, particularly migratory stripers, are spreading north through the Bay and can be found in good numbers around Cape Charles, where live eels are the go-to bait[3][5].
Tautog and sea bass are also plentiful. Tautog are being caught at inshore locations like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel using green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits. Sea bass are abundant at inshore wrecks and reefs, hitting metal jigs, squid, and minnows[3].
Speckled trout and puppy drum are biting consistently around Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River. For speckled trout, Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails are effective. Redfish are taking three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Best Lures and Bait
- For striped bass: Live eels, especially around Cape Charles.
- For speckled trout: Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails.
- For tautog: Green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits.
- For sea bass: Metal jigs, squid, and minnows.
- For redfish: Three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Hot Spots
- **Cape Charles**: A hotspot for migratory striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel**: Good spot for tautog using crab baits.
- **Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River**: Consistent locations for catching puppy drum and speckled trout.
- **Broad Bay**: Another strong location for speckled trout fishing[3][4].
With the right gear and knowledge of the tides, you should have a productive day fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Remember to handle the fish gently to ensure their survival after the catch.
### Tidal and Weather Conditions
Today, the high tide in the Chesapeake Bay is at 12:57 PM with a height of 0.54 meters (1.78 feet), and the low tide is at 7:38 AM and 8:14 PM with heights of -0.03 meters (-0.1 feet) and -0.05 meters (-0.17 feet) respectively[2]. Sunrise is at 7:28 AM, and sunset will be at 4:58 PM.
### Fish Activity
Despite the cold weather, several species are active. Striped bass, particularly migratory stripers, are spreading north through the Bay and can be found in good numbers around Cape Charles, where live eels are the go-to bait[3][5].
Tautog and sea bass are also plentiful. Tautog are being caught at inshore locations like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel using green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits. Sea bass are abundant at inshore wrecks and reefs, hitting metal jigs, squid, and minnows[3].
Speckled trout and puppy drum are biting consistently around Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River. For speckled trout, Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails are effective. Redfish are taking three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Best Lures and Bait
- For striped bass: Live eels, especially around Cape Charles.
- For speckled trout: Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails.
- For tautog: Green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits.
- For sea bass: Metal jigs, squid, and minnows.
- For redfish: Three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Hot Spots
- **Cape Charles**: A hotspot for migratory striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel**: Good spot for tautog using crab baits.
- **Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River**: Consistent locations for catching puppy drum and speckled trout.
- **Broad Bay**: Another strong location for speckled trout fishing[3][4].
With the right gear and knowledge of the tides, you should have a productive day fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Remember to handle the fish gently to ensure their survival after the catch.
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By Quiet. PleaseAs of January 4, 2025, the fishing scene in the Chesapeake Bay around Baltimore and Washington D.C. is looking promising despite the chilly winter conditions.
### Tidal and Weather Conditions
Today, the high tide in the Chesapeake Bay is at 12:57 PM with a height of 0.54 meters (1.78 feet), and the low tide is at 7:38 AM and 8:14 PM with heights of -0.03 meters (-0.1 feet) and -0.05 meters (-0.17 feet) respectively[2]. Sunrise is at 7:28 AM, and sunset will be at 4:58 PM.
### Fish Activity
Despite the cold weather, several species are active. Striped bass, particularly migratory stripers, are spreading north through the Bay and can be found in good numbers around Cape Charles, where live eels are the go-to bait[3][5].
Tautog and sea bass are also plentiful. Tautog are being caught at inshore locations like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel using green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits. Sea bass are abundant at inshore wrecks and reefs, hitting metal jigs, squid, and minnows[3].
Speckled trout and puppy drum are biting consistently around Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River. For speckled trout, Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails are effective. Redfish are taking three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Best Lures and Bait
- For striped bass: Live eels, especially around Cape Charles.
- For speckled trout: Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails.
- For tautog: Green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits.
- For sea bass: Metal jigs, squid, and minnows.
- For redfish: Three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Hot Spots
- **Cape Charles**: A hotspot for migratory striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel**: Good spot for tautog using crab baits.
- **Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River**: Consistent locations for catching puppy drum and speckled trout.
- **Broad Bay**: Another strong location for speckled trout fishing[3][4].
With the right gear and knowledge of the tides, you should have a productive day fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Remember to handle the fish gently to ensure their survival after the catch.
### Tidal and Weather Conditions
Today, the high tide in the Chesapeake Bay is at 12:57 PM with a height of 0.54 meters (1.78 feet), and the low tide is at 7:38 AM and 8:14 PM with heights of -0.03 meters (-0.1 feet) and -0.05 meters (-0.17 feet) respectively[2]. Sunrise is at 7:28 AM, and sunset will be at 4:58 PM.
### Fish Activity
Despite the cold weather, several species are active. Striped bass, particularly migratory stripers, are spreading north through the Bay and can be found in good numbers around Cape Charles, where live eels are the go-to bait[3][5].
Tautog and sea bass are also plentiful. Tautog are being caught at inshore locations like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel using green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits. Sea bass are abundant at inshore wrecks and reefs, hitting metal jigs, squid, and minnows[3].
Speckled trout and puppy drum are biting consistently around Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River. For speckled trout, Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails are effective. Redfish are taking three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Best Lures and Bait
- For striped bass: Live eels, especially around Cape Charles.
- For speckled trout: Mirr-O-Lures, swim baits, and lead head jigs with soft plastic tails.
- For tautog: Green crab, sand fleas, and other crab baits.
- For sea bass: Metal jigs, squid, and minnows.
- For redfish: Three-to-five-inch paddletail swimbaits[3].
### Hot Spots
- **Cape Charles**: A hotspot for migratory striped bass.
- **Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel**: Good spot for tautog using crab baits.
- **Lynnhaven Inlet and the Elizabeth River**: Consistent locations for catching puppy drum and speckled trout.
- **Broad Bay**: Another strong location for speckled trout fishing[3][4].
With the right gear and knowledge of the tides, you should have a productive day fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Remember to handle the fish gently to ensure their survival after the catch.