That welcome late summer pre-fall fishing month called September is here with great hook and line news. The entire Chesapeake Bay Region is alive with fishing which provides a variety of opportunities and angling types from which to choose. The chumming grounds in Southern Maryland and Lower Potomac River remain alive with striped bass (rockfish) and bluefish while those fishing further north in Maryland’s mid-Bay area are enjoying similar success. Both regions have a lot to offer both in chumming and trolling this month, as there are still lots of marauding schools of rock, blues and some Spanish Mackerel chasing bait fish this month.

     Virginia anglers have to wait until October 4 for the Commonwealth’s fall, 2002 striped bass season to open but until then, there are plenty of other species available for catching across the Virginia line. Some larger Spanish mackerel will be caught this month as they mix things up with schools of bluefish. Gray trout fishing is another good choice to make and can be especially good if anglers work diamond jigs, stingsilvers or other lures underneath areas where blues and Spanish mackerel could be feeding. Croakers may be on the way out of the bay and it’s tributaries this month and the spot may soon follow. Still, seatrout, blues, mackerel and rockfish will be there to provide some great options. Trolling with #1 or #2 planers will continue to be popular in September for blues, mackerel and rock

     Stay informed for changes in fishing season date and times by calling visiting the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) website at www.state.va.us/mrc/homepage.htm The VMRC can also be reached by phone at (757) 247-2200. Information on Maryland fishing regulations is available by calling 1-800-688-3467 or visiting their website at www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries. Fishing regulation information on Potomac River waters within the jurisdiction of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) is available by calling 800-266-3904. The Lower Tidal Potomac River will be the scene for an annual fun filled fishing tournament later this month, with festivities and the competition staging from Coles Point Plantation Marina, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Call (804) 472-3955 for registration information. More details on the September 27-28 rock n’ blues tournament be seen in the "Outdoors Online" September/02.

     The “Hunter’s Ministry”of Upper Essex Baptist Church is sponsoring it’s first annual fish and wildlife event on Saturday, September 14, 2002 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All events take place at the Aylett Country day School in Millers Tavern in Essex County, Virginia. There is no admission charge for what is planned as an event for the whole family. Among those to be at the fish and wildlife event will be Hunters for the Hungry, the Virginia Deer Hunters Association, Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) and their hunting & fishing simulators. Exhibits and information concerning conservation and the outdoors are scheduled for the September 14 event. Samples of venison fixed in a variety of delicious ways, a silent auction and a “big buck” contest for adults and youth are planned. For information and directions call (804) 443-5720 or 443-5055.

     Belle Isle State Park which is located along the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County, Virginia, provides some of the most beautiful tidewater and woodlands habitat in the Chesapeake Bay Region. On Saturday, September 21, 2002, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the public is invited to a day long series of events and demonstrations which provide families and individuals a hands on idea of what the great outdoors has to offer. Hosting the 9/21/02 Virginia Outdoors Day”event at Belle Isle State Park are Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Those in attendance can choose from an all terrain vehicle (ATV) demonstration, boat rides and boating safety tips, canoeing, kayaking, interactive video hunting simulators with the DGIF-DART machine, decoy carving, electrofishing and how it relates to fisheries biology sampling, Dutch oven cooking, a fishing simulator, an introduction to hiking and camping, horseback riding, hunting dog handling demonstrations, mountain biking, muzzle loading, saltwater fly fishing, woodworking for wildlife, supervised shooting opportunities in archery and shotgun and turkey hunting techniques as demonstrated by the Northern Neck Wild Turkey Association. For information or directions, call Bob Mathers at (804) 436-0717, the DGIF Outdoors Program at (804) 367-6351 or Belle Isle State Park at (804) 462-5030. 

     A hunter education class which includes hunting regulations, ethics and safety issues takes place during the evenings of September 9, 11 and the 13th. The course location is in Northumberland County, Virginia at the new Callao Rescue Squad on Route 360. No advance registration is required and attendance is free. For additional information, call Bruce Wilds at (804) 580-8942. 

© 2002 Steve and Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved