January 12, 2007Stripers in the bayI had hoped to get to Virginia Beach this weekend for a day or two of fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay. The bay season is closed but catch and release fishing is allowed. Most fishermen are concentrating on the ocean fishery – there’s a tournament under way that drew 280 boats -- which means pressure is relatively light in the bay. Unfortunately, for a few reasons, the trip isn’t going to happen. That’s disappointing, but maybe I’ll get down there before the fish have all left the bay. If not, the ocean fishing should be decent for a couple of months. The challenge there is timing a trip when the weather is mild enough to let us get out in the ocean in my buddy’s 24-foot Albemarle cuddy cabin. I formulated my plan for this weekend with the help of Claude Bain of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Bain said the fish have been concentrated near Cape Charles, along the ledge that runs from around Plantation Light toward the Concrete Ships. The fishing technique is, in Bain’s words, “So simple it should be criminal.” First you find the fish, using sonar or looking for diving birds or hooked-up fishermen. Then you set out four or five rods baited with live eels, hooked through the lips with a 5/0 circle hook. The hook is attached to a 6-foot-long 80- to 100-pound leader attached to the main line with a barrel swivel, above which is 1- or 2-ounce sinker. Set the eels below bobbers at various depths ranging from 10 to 25 feet deep. Drift with the current and hold on. |
About this blog
While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures. Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism. After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters. .....Advertisement.....
|
...Advertisement...
...Advertisement...
Comments
[January 12, 2007 5:05 PM]
The TaxciterDang. I was looking forward to sharing the striper action this weekend! Dang.
[January 12, 2007 9:55 PM]
Mark TaylorIt would have been better than our last trip together, Taxciter. Maybe in a couple weeks.