As I have mentioned on this board before, I am a serious fisherman, just having moved here and have a LOT to learn. Could guide on lake Erie for walleyes; same in Ontario......but need LOTS of help on the BAY!

1) I live north of Williamsburg, but am keeping my 18 ft. Boston Whaler on Chisman Creek. A short trip out to the Bay puts me in York Spit area. I know the "fish of choice" all fall long was the striped bass, but I also know that area did not produce well (or as good as normal) this past fall/early winter. I was out there several times, including New Year's Eve...trolling Stretches. Anyway, I realize, you can't keep stripers right now, but are there any other fish that would be in the York Spit area NOW or in a month or so??? Anything out there now (croaker, cobia, flounder, tautog,???) worth targeting? If not, what will be one of the 1st fish of the spring to target, that is IN season? I haven't done real well meeting folks who are serious fisherman to fish with...probably have myself to blame on that one.

2) I live VERY close to the York River State Park, about 18 miles north of the mouth of the York, where it enters the Bay. I was down here last early May and the boat launch was PACKED....boats from North and South Carolina, local, etc. Croakers going nuts! I guess it's a known spot that time of year. I intend to learn the area...maybe even eventually keep my boat up here, close to home. My question: Would there be anything worth targeting out there now? Heck, even if I could not keep them, I'd go out there to fish stripers if they were there. I am assuming the croakers will not be up toward the pier (shallow) yet, but what do I know? Any comments?

I have SO much to learn. I see on this site how folks were catching speckeled trout this past late fall...but I wasn't! I am almost intimidated.....coming from fishing I know
SO well, I could guide, to this.....that I know and understand SO little. Heck, I just learned how to "flush" my motor this past fall. It's fun to check this site out, how you folks are catching So many and doing so well.......I wish I had moved a little closer to the lower Bay, but heck, maybe York Spit will be better to me this spring/summer. I will take suggestons from any of you....I am trying to learn! I'm a recently retired teacher/basketball coach from Indiana that came down here just for the opportunity to fish saltwater....We do have reservoirs in Indiana, but mostly cornfields and soybean fields....and more cornfields. Did I mention cornfields??? Not easy to catch a fish in a cornfield! I got tired of driving 5 hours to lake Erie (although it certainly is THE world-class walleye fishery of all-time) to catch a fish. Hope I can make this work down here!

Thanks,
3 Point Shooter