Lower Bay/Tangier Sound

Big fat bluefish, that seems to be what everyone is talking about this week in the lower bay. Captains have been enjoying putting their parties on bluefish in the 4 lb to 6 lb size range whether they are trolling or chumming. Some captains are actually reporting doing both. They'll troll until they find a large school of bluefish and then toss the chum out and that's when the fun really starts.

There are still a lot of striped bass in the region and they seem to be of a larger size than the group that was in residence during September. One theory is that the larger bluefish have pushed them farther up the bay where it's a little safer from snapping jaws. Whatever the reason fishermen are enjoying good fishing for a good grade of striped bass in the region. The area around the Middle Grounds has been an excellent place to chum for striped bass, as well as the rock piles on the western side of the shipping channel and Buoy #72. Many boats from Crisfield have been making the trip to the Southwest Middle Grounds with good results. The water continues to be clear in the lower bay region and many fishermen have noted that fluorocarbon leaders can increase catches as will hiding hooks in small baits.

Striped bass and bluefish are being found along channel edges by boats trolling a variety of lures from the surface down to about 30'. There still are Spanish mackerel around the region, but most fishermen understand that they are moving out and it might not last till the weekend.

The large spot have left for the most part from the western side of the bay but some boats are still finding them in Tangier Sound around the Puppy Hole and below Tangier Light. A few keeper-sized sea trout and croakers are also being found at these locations. Shallow water light tackle anglers are finding schools of striped bass and bluefish breaking water out in the bay but many small boat anglers are focusing on the shallow water action along the bay shorelines. The Cedar Point Rips and lower Dorchester County and Somerset marshes have been particularly good. Recreational crabbers continue to do well with crabs in most tidal creeks and rivers.