[agschanno]

Hey everyone.
Wanted to ask some advice on some bottom fishing. Now that the stripers are probably on the way out, I wanted to ask someone for some advice on Taug/ Sea Bass/ Tile Fishing for the next month or two.
At what Range are the best Wrecks (I.E. Offshore Wrecks 20 miles, Inshore Wrecks, or Bay Wrecks around Cape Henry) ?
What are people using for Bait (Fishing up out of Delaware we always used used sandflies or Squid, and Possibly Green Crabs for Taug specifically)
How good is the Bottom fishing during March through May??
Finally, in DE, a lot of times certain depths would just hold the Sea bass, and we could just drift with out having to anchor up. Is that true here, or like Taug do you need to anchor up on a good wreck to have a chance.
Thanks for any advice you've got.

[1st Mate]

Dont give up on stripers yet, watch for the warmer blows of air and you will still find some rockfish hanging around! We slayed them good last year in March due to some warm air temperatures, so dont give it up yet. It may be slow as of now, but sooner or later, things will pick up, ''hopefully''!
As for wreckfishing here are some good wreck GPS numbers to check out- www.chesapeake-angler.com and they will have some good locations. But Cape Henry wreck is a good place to try, wrecks around the Chesapeake Light Tower, and the triangle wrecks offshore. You will find seabass and taugs at these locations. The bait of choice's to use are, clam, crab, fiddler crab, and squid strips. Squid strips can pick out seabass quite well, and so will crab and clam.
For taug. use ''crab'' to get the ''bigger'' fish! Crab will catch the bigger fish. The other choices of bait are good as well.
Anchoring, I would use a wreck anchor with about a 10ft chain leader. When you throw it out, dont drop it down, or the chain will bundle up. Throw it straight out, dont jerk as you try and anchor. By jerking it, you are bouncing the anchor up over the wreck. As you are drifting, just feel for a snug pull, then pull back to secure it, after you are good to go. I would preferably anchor over the wreck if possible.
As you are fishing, try different methods. Instead of standing on one spot on the boat bouncing your rig up and down, walk around the boat to cover more ground on the wreck, ''experiment''!
As for the fishing in May, it is excellent! Good luck to you, im sure others will jump in and give you more info about it, tight lines,

-Chris

[chasechance2]

Excellent, detailed report. thanks

[agschanno]

Chris, Thanks for the info, I won't put my mojo's and umbrellas away just yet, but its great to get some advice on maybe other options Again thanks

[skinnys-kid]

If you hit the wrecks, let us know how you do. Good luck!!!

[1st Mate]

Not a problem! Hope you get into some nice fish off the wrecks, looking forward to some reports, good luck,

-Chris

[Billable]

Not a problem! Hope you get into some nice fish off the wrecks, looking forward to some reports, good luck,

-Chris

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Chris!
Dave

[ba0021]

Hey everyone.
    Wanted to ask some advice on some bottom fishing.  Now that the stripers are probably on the way out, I wanted to ask someone for some advice on Taug/ Sea Bass/ Tile Fishing for the next month or two.
  At what Range are the best Wrecks (I.E. Offshore Wrecks 20 miles, Inshore Wrecks, or Bay Wrecks around Cape Henry) ?
  What are people using for Bait (Fishing up out of Delaware we always used used sandflies or Squid, and Possibly Green Crabs for Taug specifically)
  How good is the Bottom fishing during March through May??
  Finally, in DE, a lot of times certain depths would just hold the Sea bass, and we could just drift with out having to anchor up.  Is that true here, or like Taug do you need to anchor up on a good wreck to have a chance.
    Thanks for any advice you've got.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really like how you answers questions SO please tell tell when the croakers will be bitting on the james river beidge pier and ocean view pier

[1st Mate]

There isn't a whole lot going on over at the James River pier, give it a little time. You should start seeing some action beginning of April and on out! They bite hard in May! Ocean View pier, they are catching croaker here and there since they are migrating into the bay, so look for the croaker action to be good soon (beginning of April on out). Tight lines,

-Chris