Anglers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed will be enjoying prime time rockfish action this month. Anglers fishing the mainstem of Virginia and Maryland bay waters will have the opportunity to tangle with some big post-spawn stripers which rockfish are often called, as they cruise down the bay towards seasonal haunts and summer feeding grounds. Lower Potomac River anglers will likewise enjoy some post-spawn striped bass action. See the Chesapeake Style website, (chesapeakestyle.com) Celebrations Calender for the Regional striped bass season dates and related information Trolling will dominate much of the action early in the month but as Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River waters warm in mid to late May, chumming action will take the lead for many strategies. Light spinning rod tackle and even fly rods are enjoyed by anglers who fish the chum slicks rich with ground Menhaden. The Southwest Middle grounds in Southern Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters and the area just North of the Coan River in the Lower Potomac will be favored spots for chumming. Likewise popular while the Virginia season is open will be the artificial fish reef east of the Great Wicomico River mouth and the Buoy 62 (“old 48") areas. This year’s Annual Reedville Bluefish Derby on June 8-9 is sure to include some great rockfish action for fishing fun and competition. For information on how to enter, call 804-453- 5325.

     Trolling for stripers in May requires patience but can pay off with larger fish. Umbrella rigs with chartreuse or “glow-white” 4 to 6 inch sassyshads remain the favored lures, but tandem rigged banjo-eye bucktails are still good lures to rig. Yellow, white, chartreuse or red & yellow splash colors are among our most successful lures during the Spring. For trolling in May, we favor lures in 4 to 6 ounce sizes. Many of the larger post-spawn stripers heading back down the bay are cruising the upper water column this month. So, lots of heavy weight is not required. “Flat lines” or “roof  rods” with no weight added to the lure are often a favorable tactic this time of year. Our preference is to fish at least two flat lines with no weight added when trolling for stripers during the Spring season, and work two others with 10 ounces or less fished closer to the boat. As May continues and Virginia’s striped bass “slot” season comes in, there will be some good inshore fishing opportunities for rockfish. Trolling or casting small bucktails and spoons will provide great sport for those popular game fish which also make some of the best table fare. Stripers will often hit minnows or squid strip baits being drift fished for flounder. 

     Enjoy an outdoor family day at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County on Saturday, May 5. Sponsored by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries’(DGIF) Outdoors Program and  the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the day long event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scheduled events include canoeing, kayaking, boat rides, boating safety, saltwater fly fishing, demonstrations on electrofishing to collect fish samples, bird watching, decoy carving, Dutch oven cooking, hiking and camping, horseback riding, muzzle loading, supervised shooting opportunities in archery and shotgun, woodworking for Wildlife, and photography. The Northern Neck Wild Turkey Association will present turkey hunting techniques and the VDGIF will run their DART system, Interactive Video hunting simulator. For more information contact the DGIF Outdoors Program at 804-367-6351 or Belle Isle State Park at 804-462-5030.

     Early next month on Saturday June 2, from 8: a.m. to 4 p.m. youth will have another great outdoor opportunity. Virginia’s DGIF, the Northern Neck Wild Turkey Association and Hacks Neck Hunt Club are sponsoring a “Talkin’ Turkey Day”. The event takes place at Hacks Neck Hunt Club in Northumberland County. The club property is not far from the Route 360/644 intersection in Burgess. In Burgess, take Route 644 (Hacks Neck Road) North towards Ophelia about 5 miles to VirMar Beach Road. The club property is at the corner of Route 644 and VirMar Beach Road. Those 18 and under will be treated to a day of turkey hunting strategies and information about the biology and habits of this popular game bird. Other events include hunting safety and ethics, a turkey calling contest for the different age groups in attendance and patterning target shoots. Pre-registration is required and is open to the first 30 kids signed up. Call Bruce Wilds at 804-580-8942 to register. 

© 2001 Steve & Chelly Scala All rights reserved.