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Winter Fishing Report: Stripers, Speckled Trout, and Red Drum Biting in the Chesapeake Bay
For those venturing out onto the Chesapeake Bay today, January 19, 2025, here’s what you can expect:
First off, the weather is quite chilly, with a forecast calling for more cold days ahead. The wind has been a significant factor, keeping many boats off the water, but for the hardy anglers, there's still some action to be found.
Tide-wise, today at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, you're looking at a low tide of 0.16 feet at 5:41 AM and a high tide of 2.13 feet at 11:43 AM. The next low tide will be at 5:58 PM with a height of 0.03 feet[2].
Sunrise is at 7:15 AM, and sunset will be at 5:15 PM, so plan your day accordingly.
In the Middle Chesapeake Bay, despite a recent lull in activity, there are still some big rockfish to be caught. Chesapeake Beach has been a hot zone with some fish over the 40” mark caught on soft plastics with 1.5-ounce heads. The mouth of Eastern Bay is also worth a look, where pods of fish can be found suspending in 40’ to 60’ of water[3].
For those closer to Baltimore and Washington D.C., the Upper Middle Chesapeake Bay offers several hot spots. Areas like Sandy Point State Park down to Poplar Island have been productive. Look for deeper ledges along the shipping channel, and the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) can be a good spot as fish seek relief from the cold water[3][4].
In terms of fish activity, striped bass, speckled trout, and red drum are the main targets. Striped bass have been biting best at night near dock and building lights, where baitfish are attracted to the illuminated water. Speckled trout and red drum can be found in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, often in deeper water but moving into shallower areas during warming trends[1].
For lures, MirrOLure Mirrodine slow sinking twitchbaits have been effective for catching speckled trout. Soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads are a good choice for striped bass.
If you're looking for specific hot spots, consider the areas around Chesapeake Beach, the mouth of Eastern Bay, and the deeper ledges near the CCNPP. These spots have historically held fish through the winter months.
Stay warm and tight lines
First off, the weather is quite chilly, with a forecast calling for more cold days ahead. The wind has been a significant factor, keeping many boats off the water, but for the hardy anglers, there's still some action to be found.
Tide-wise, today at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, you're looking at a low tide of 0.16 feet at 5:41 AM and a high tide of 2.13 feet at 11:43 AM. The next low tide will be at 5:58 PM with a height of 0.03 feet[2].
Sunrise is at 7:15 AM, and sunset will be at 5:15 PM, so plan your day accordingly.
In the Middle Chesapeake Bay, despite a recent lull in activity, there are still some big rockfish to be caught. Chesapeake Beach has been a hot zone with some fish over the 40” mark caught on soft plastics with 1.5-ounce heads. The mouth of Eastern Bay is also worth a look, where pods of fish can be found suspending in 40’ to 60’ of water[3].
For those closer to Baltimore and Washington D.C., the Upper Middle Chesapeake Bay offers several hot spots. Areas like Sandy Point State Park down to Poplar Island have been productive. Look for deeper ledges along the shipping channel, and the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) can be a good spot as fish seek relief from the cold water[3][4].
In terms of fish activity, striped bass, speckled trout, and red drum are the main targets. Striped bass have been biting best at night near dock and building lights, where baitfish are attracted to the illuminated water. Speckled trout and red drum can be found in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, often in deeper water but moving into shallower areas during warming trends[1].
For lures, MirrOLure Mirrodine slow sinking twitchbaits have been effective for catching speckled trout. Soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads are a good choice for striped bass.
If you're looking for specific hot spots, consider the areas around Chesapeake Beach, the mouth of Eastern Bay, and the deeper ledges near the CCNPP. These spots have historically held fish through the winter months.
Stay warm and tight lines
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By Quiet. PleaseFor those venturing out onto the Chesapeake Bay today, January 19, 2025, here’s what you can expect:
First off, the weather is quite chilly, with a forecast calling for more cold days ahead. The wind has been a significant factor, keeping many boats off the water, but for the hardy anglers, there's still some action to be found.
Tide-wise, today at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, you're looking at a low tide of 0.16 feet at 5:41 AM and a high tide of 2.13 feet at 11:43 AM. The next low tide will be at 5:58 PM with a height of 0.03 feet[2].
Sunrise is at 7:15 AM, and sunset will be at 5:15 PM, so plan your day accordingly.
In the Middle Chesapeake Bay, despite a recent lull in activity, there are still some big rockfish to be caught. Chesapeake Beach has been a hot zone with some fish over the 40” mark caught on soft plastics with 1.5-ounce heads. The mouth of Eastern Bay is also worth a look, where pods of fish can be found suspending in 40’ to 60’ of water[3].
For those closer to Baltimore and Washington D.C., the Upper Middle Chesapeake Bay offers several hot spots. Areas like Sandy Point State Park down to Poplar Island have been productive. Look for deeper ledges along the shipping channel, and the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) can be a good spot as fish seek relief from the cold water[3][4].
In terms of fish activity, striped bass, speckled trout, and red drum are the main targets. Striped bass have been biting best at night near dock and building lights, where baitfish are attracted to the illuminated water. Speckled trout and red drum can be found in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, often in deeper water but moving into shallower areas during warming trends[1].
For lures, MirrOLure Mirrodine slow sinking twitchbaits have been effective for catching speckled trout. Soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads are a good choice for striped bass.
If you're looking for specific hot spots, consider the areas around Chesapeake Beach, the mouth of Eastern Bay, and the deeper ledges near the CCNPP. These spots have historically held fish through the winter months.
Stay warm and tight lines
First off, the weather is quite chilly, with a forecast calling for more cold days ahead. The wind has been a significant factor, keeping many boats off the water, but for the hardy anglers, there's still some action to be found.
Tide-wise, today at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, you're looking at a low tide of 0.16 feet at 5:41 AM and a high tide of 2.13 feet at 11:43 AM. The next low tide will be at 5:58 PM with a height of 0.03 feet[2].
Sunrise is at 7:15 AM, and sunset will be at 5:15 PM, so plan your day accordingly.
In the Middle Chesapeake Bay, despite a recent lull in activity, there are still some big rockfish to be caught. Chesapeake Beach has been a hot zone with some fish over the 40” mark caught on soft plastics with 1.5-ounce heads. The mouth of Eastern Bay is also worth a look, where pods of fish can be found suspending in 40’ to 60’ of water[3].
For those closer to Baltimore and Washington D.C., the Upper Middle Chesapeake Bay offers several hot spots. Areas like Sandy Point State Park down to Poplar Island have been productive. Look for deeper ledges along the shipping channel, and the warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) can be a good spot as fish seek relief from the cold water[3][4].
In terms of fish activity, striped bass, speckled trout, and red drum are the main targets. Striped bass have been biting best at night near dock and building lights, where baitfish are attracted to the illuminated water. Speckled trout and red drum can be found in the tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, often in deeper water but moving into shallower areas during warming trends[1].
For lures, MirrOLure Mirrodine slow sinking twitchbaits have been effective for catching speckled trout. Soft plastics on 1.5-ounce heads are a good choice for striped bass.
If you're looking for specific hot spots, consider the areas around Chesapeake Beach, the mouth of Eastern Bay, and the deeper ledges near the CCNPP. These spots have historically held fish through the winter months.
Stay warm and tight lines