Fished for: Trout
Date Fished: SEE BELOW
Boat Name:
Water Temp:
Water Clarity:
Seas:
Weather:
REPORT:
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Crew: Jay Bernstein, Vic & Tom Hughes
Date Fished: 11/9/00
Location: MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY
Water Temp.: 53.6 Degrees
Water Clarity: Clear
Water Was: Smooth
Weather: Cloudy-High 60's, Light Winds
Fished For: Trout
Boat: Jay Bernstein Chaser - Grady White, 27' Sailfish, Powered By 2 - 200 hp Yamaha Outboards
REPORT:
Jay, Vic and I had and outstanding day catching fish on light spinning tackle fishing. Trout were caught in water columns from 24' to 100'.
SPECIES CAUGHT:
Trout - to 25"
Bluefish - to 4#
Stripers - to 18 1/2"
Note: print in bold/italic is the most productive.
STRUCTURES FISHED:
Shoals, points, quick drop-offs and diving birds.
TYPE OF LURES USED:
Jigging/casting spoons, and soft plastic baits rigged on 1, 1 1/2 and 2-ounce saltwater jigheads.
MOST PRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUE:
Vertically Jigging (Jigging Spoons, Large Soft Plastic Baits, Vibrating Blade Baits)
Open up the bail and let the lure hit the bottom. With a tight line start jigging the lure off the bottom in a swift action by moving the rod tip from 9 o'clock to 11 o'clock. From the 11 o'clock position move the rod tip simultaneously with the line (at this point the line is to have no slack in it and should be straight) until the lure hits the bottom again. Repeat this again and again, until you catch a fish or the drift is over. There is no need to keep reeling the lure in while using this technique. Keeping it in the water will allow you to catch more fish.
NOTE: When fishing large or heavy lures in water deeper than 15' using non-stretch line will increase your chances of catching fish.
PRODUCTIVE LURES THIS TRIP:
Soft Plastic Bait, 5", Minnow Shape Body With Thin Tail
Casting/Jigging Spoon, Silver Green Finish
Jigging Spoon, 2 ounce, Gold (single barbless hook)
LARGEST TROUT CAUGHT ON THIS LURE:
Jigging Spoon, 2 ounces, Gold (single barbless hook)
INTERESTING NOTE: The jigging spoon out fished the soft plastic lures because of the buoyancy of the plastic. It took considerable more line and twice as much time for the soft plastic lure to hit bottom.
The jigging spoon was much easier to use. Just open up the bail and this lure was on the bottom (strike zone) in no time.
FISHING TIP:
After locating a school of trout turn off the motor. This should allow you to catch more trout before moving.
SPECIAL THANKS:
To Jay Bernstein for taking me trout fishing on his Grady. It was a true pleasure fishing with Jay and his fishing partner Vic. Jay really knows the Chesapeake Bay and kept us on fish all day long.
END NOTE:
FOR SALE: Picture and information on the 1999, 20' Ranger Boat (www.geocities.com/rangerboatforsale/boat.htm)
Good Fishing Always,
Capt. Tom Hughes
Tom Hughes Guide Service (www.geocities.com/tomhughesguideservice)