Cold weather and early December’s “wintry mix” brought anglers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed back to seasonal reality. The sometimes balmy weather of November which made for some mid-day “Tee-shirt” dress while fishing the bay is now for the most part, well behind us. It’s “rockfish weather,” some of the more salty historians of rod and reel fishing across the Lower Chesapeake Bay will say, as they steady themselves against the rock and roll of windy weather and cold spray coming over the rub rails of even sturdy boats with “bay built, deadrise” hulls. 

     Anglers and charter boat captains in the know began chasing the big, foraging schools of rockfish south as early as late November. Included was Captain Jim Brincefield and his boat, the “Jil Carrie” who left Ridge, Maryland near Point Lookout, the first few days of December to finish the seasonal rockfish chase in Virginia Beach,. The “Jil Carrie” will be at Long Bay Pointe located at 2109 W. Great Neck Rd., Virginia Beach, 23451. Capn’ Jim can be reached by phone for fishing charter information at (410) 292-9975. Others may stick it out to see if the cool weather snaps effect bay and Lower Potomac River temperatures to drop and bring about additional baitfish patterns and larger foraging fish. Others, may have harbors of choice to fish from between the Maryland-Virginia Line and Capes Henry and Charles, where the Chesapeake meets the Atlantic Ocean. December can be an action filled month for big stripers with the chase on for following the baitfish and the marauding feeding big rockfish in their pursuit.

     The action of choice remains trolling deep for the big rock, but chumming can continue this month especially for smaller school size rock ranging from 18 to 24 inches. In late November, anglers were catching lots of small stripers including sub-legal fish which had to be released. Good news for upcoming seasons includes this resurgence of young striped bass being caught in the chumslicks. Last month, saw lots of top water action across Maryland’s Lower Bay and Potomac River waters as rockfish chased baitfish on or near the surface. This kind of fishing can continue in the Lower Potomac and especially further South in Virginia Chesapeake Bay waters this month. Jigging on schools of foraging rockfish can bring all kinds of surprises including larger fish feeding underneath. Favored jigs include “Stingsilvers, Hopkins and others can be supplemented with 1/4 ounce bucktails and even “mackerel worms” which look like small surgical eel lures. For those who continue to troll deep for late season rockfish, umbrella lures rigged with sassy shad teasers and parachute lures remain favorites. Others may rig big spoons such as Tony Acettas or Crippled Alewives in white, chartreuse or chrome colors. With some big chopper bluefish showing up as a surprise this month, these big spoons can better stand the toothy attacks of these voracious feeders.

     Virginia 's 2003 fall striper action continues through December 31. In Virginia Chesapeake Bay and tributary waters a two fish per person per day limit, with a minimum length of 18 inches is the daily creel. Call the Virginia Marine Resources Commission at (757) 247-2200 or visiting their website at; http://www.mrc.state.va.us/ for information. The striped bass season for tidal Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) waters continues through December 31. Within this jurisdiction, there is a two fish per person per day creel limit at 18 inches to 28 inches. One of these is permitted to be over 28 inches. For PRFC information, call 1-800-266-3904 or (804) 224-7148. The PRFC website is at; http://www.prfc.state.va.us/ Maryland’s current Chesapeake Bay recreational rockfish season ends after December 15. The possession limit for striped bass in Maryland tidal waters is two per person per day from 18 to 28 inches in length. One of the these daily possession fish can exceed 28 inches. For Maryland rockfish information call 800-762-5347 or 1-800-688-3467. Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources website is at; http://www.dnr.state.md.us/. 

© 2003 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved

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