Fishing for a variety of species will provide plenty of action and choice for anglers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed this month. September is a time when Southern Maryland Chesapeake Bay and Lower Potomac River waters come alive with schools of striped bass, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and sea trout. This can be a magic month, especially if you are fortunate enough to enjoy a fast paced frenzy with all four of these species feeding in the same area! It has happened to us before and hopefully, we will have similar experiences this month. 

     Spanish mackerel fishing over much of the Chesapeake Bay has been among the best in years, especially in the Smith Point Virginia area. These fast moving feeders require quick paced trolling speeds, but don’t be surprised if you catch rockfish and blues right along with the mackerel. The recreational striped bass season remains open in Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Potomac River Fisheries Commission waters but is closed in Virginia Marine Resources Waters, until October 4. Small Drone, Clark, Tony Accettas or crippled alewife spoons mimic the flash and movement of smaller baitfish which are predominate in Chesapeake Bay and tributary waters during the summer and early fall. Planers in #1 and #2 sizes remain favorite way to fish these lures but in-line sinkers from three to six ounces are another favorite. Staying just outside of a school of feeding fish and casting into them is lots of fun. 

     On calm, windless days, the current may even keep your boat near or right along with the moving schools of bait and feeding fish. Most important is to avoid spooking the fish and not run the boat through the school or close to it. When hordes of hungry blues, mackerel or rock are working over a school of baitfish, you can take the opportunity to jig for trout which may be feeding on the slashed up baitfish, underneath the surface action. When trout are around, they readily show on fish finders or depth meters, below the feeding stripers, blues or mackerel. Hopkins, Stingsilvers and other jigs in one to three ounce sizes work well in a variety of colors. Our favorites are chrome-silver colored or silver with pink or chartreuse splash colors mixed in. Small, plastic worms like those used off-shore for Boston mackerel fishing in the spring are also good to jig trout with.
September is a great month to enjoy some trolling while taking in the sights which the bay has to offer. Some call it “blind trolling” or “trolling in the blind”, but to us its just keeping the lines in the water, behind the boat, ready and waiting for the fish to come up and feed. Fish, like the bait they pursue, will be on the move, so keeping mobile yourself is always a good strategy to follow. 

     The past few years have seen the croakers leaving during September, but we can continue to enjoy them as long as they stay. It has surely been a great season for them, with some nice spot joining in with the bottom fishing action during August. Squid strips work best for croaker but they will also take peeler crab and bloodworms. Bloodworms are the favorite bait for spot. Oyster shell bottom or submerged structure areas among the better locations to look for these bottom feeders. The croakers will begin to move into deeper channel waters as they school up for their seasonal trip down and out of the bay, so following them to the edges will get you some of the last action before they leave the Chesapeake. 

© 2001 Steve & Chelly Scala All rights reserved.