Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing

There are a great many sportfishing and charter fishing hotspots throughout the US coastal regions but from an anglers point of view there aren't many regions that quite compare to Chesapeake Bay charter fishing. With a large population of marine life the Chesapeake Bay is a seafood lovers and saltwater sportsmans paradise.

The massive Chesapeake Bay saltwater basin is at its widest point is near 35 miles wide at the mouth of the Potomac in Maryland and is over 200 miles long extending all the way from Virginia Beach, VA. to Baltimore, MD. In between are some salty charter fishing hotspots like Solomons Islands, Deale, and Chesapeake Beach which lies just south of Annapolis. All these locales have fertile fishing grounds and are frequent stops for anglers on a Chesapeake Bay charter fishing vacation. In fact the Maryland fishing charters and the Chesapeake Bay are a major tourist draw for the state.

Chesapeake Bay Fishing

More than 350 different species of finfish can be found in the Chesapeake Bay. Some of the more well known species are permanent residents, while others migrate seasonally. Depending on their feeding habits and spawning requirements, many fish move between shallow and deep water or between freshwater and saltwater throughout the year. Not all of these species are ever targeted by the fishing charters of the region though. In fact only a handfull of species are sought out by anglers fishing the Chesapeake Bay, whether they be a private angler or on a local fishing boat charter.

A Few Regional Fish Species for Recreational Anglers:

A Few Chesapeake Bay Facts

1. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest of 130 estuaries in the United States.
2. The Bay supports more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals, including 348 species of finfish, 173 species of shellfish and over 2,700 plant species.
3. The Chesapeake is a commercial and recreational resource for the more than 15 million people who live in its basin.
4. The Bay produces 500 million pounds of seafood per year.

Chesapeake Bay Striper Fishing

Even though there are many fun and exciting species to fish for in the Bay you will find that the Maryland fishing charters like to go after the most famous inshore sportfish of all, the Chesapeake Bay Striper. Years ago the Bay was teeming with striper, also called rockfish, and with no restrictions or regulations the striper population quickly declined from over-fishing. Chesapeake Bay striper fishing was almost non-existent for many years. For a time the Virgina and Maryland fishing charters didn't even list striper as an available species, at least any that were fishing the mid and lower Bay areas.

But Chesapeake bay striper fishing did return sometime in the 1980's. Through the extreme efforts of federal and state fisheries, along with other agencies farm hatched striped bass were re-introduced into the Chesapeake Bay where they now flourish. With current restrictions on seasons and limits on how many fish anglers can keep the striper are now flourishing more than any other fish in the Chesapeake Bay. From the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the upper Bay area in Marland an angler can now catch striper almost year round, except for the restricted months of course. Due to the great restoration efforts striper are now heartier than ever and some striper now grow to tremendous sizes. If you are a lucky angler you could very well catch what is called a "trophy striper" which can reach weights in excess of 60 pounds. WOW!

Maryland Charter Boats

The mid Bay area, around Deale, Chesapeake Beach, and Annapolis is known for great fishing, delicious seafood, and numerous professional fishing charters and guides. Maryland charter boats in this region of the Bay will offer many different types and styles of fishing. Usually the season will determine what fish the Captain will target but as we have said, striper fishing will probably be first on the list if the season is open and the fish are available. If striper isn't your favorite type of fish to catch then there's also plenty of bottom fishing for croaker and flounder during the summer months.

Maryland charter boats range from smaller sized vessels that may carry just a couple anglers to larger boats of over 40' long than can accommodate much larger parties. Boats like the Dockoar for instance will carry a party of six but should you need more room for more anglers she can comfortably carry up to 26 anglers. A charter boat like the Dockoar or Tamshell is the ideal boat for fishing the Chesapeake Bay. Especially if you are bottom fishing for flounder or big hardhead croaker as you have plenty of room to fish and plenty of room to move around the boat with ease.

If you have experienced Chesapeake Bay charter fishing trip before then you already know how much fun it is. If you have never fished on a Maryland fishing charter in the Bay and you get the chance to you should certainly go, it's something you will never forget. They are fun, exciting, adventurous, and you get to spend valuable leisure time with friends and family on the water, nothing could be better.

Charter Contact Information
Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732
301-855-0739 - Home
410-610-7420 - Cell

CaptainLee@DockOar.com