Chesapeake Bay Fishing, Striper Fishing Chesapeake Bay

Virginia Beach is located at the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay. This town is all about fishing! Of course, there are lots of other attractions in the area, but as far as anglers are concerned, they all pale in comparison to Chesapeake Bay fishing. The Bay is an amazing fishery - one of the best on the planet. It also hails as the largest estuary in the nation.

If you didn't know that the Chesapeake was formed by the powerful forces of Nature thousands of years ago, you'd swear that it had been designed by fishermen for fishermen - it's that incredible. The Bay has just about every habitat that saltwater fish enjoy. These include river and creek mouths, wrecks, shallows, and channels. Two huge manmade structures - the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel - are especially appealing to a wide range of attractive fish species. This is just part of the appeal to Virginia Beach fishing, since the Bay Bridge-Tunnel connects Virginia Beach and Cape Charles. Another reason Virginia Beach fishing and Chesapeake Bay fishing are so productive is due to the climate. The sub-tropical climate means hot summers and mild winters.

What fish species bring anglers from all over to enjoy Chesapeake Bay fishing in Virginia Beach? The answer lies partly in the changing seasons. Chesapeake Bay fishing is great all year, but different species peak at different times. If, for example, you want some delicious flounder for the table, your best chance in the lower Bay is in the summer and fall months.

Cobia fishing in the Bay usually begins just before Memorial Day, and the fish hang around until the end of September or the first of October. Bay cobia can reach weights of almost a hundred pounds, and they're fast, too. One of their favorite haunts is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, especially from mid-summer until the end of the cobia season. You'll find several Virginia Beach fishing charters that help you land a big cobia.

If you're into big reds, Virginia Beach fishing is for you. Beginning in May, large red drum prowl the mouth of the Chesapeake, which is just off Virginia Beach. Many of these fish average over 25 pounds each, and individuals weighing over 50 pounds aren't rare. Another hot spot for reds is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The king of the Bay is the striped bass. Also called "stripers" and "rockfish," striped bass are much sought after by anglers, and they grow large in the Bay. The current Virginia State record holder was hauled in just off the coast of Virginia Beach and tipped the scales at a hefty 73 pounds. The best time for rockfishing is during the annual Chesapeake Bay striper run, which occurs from December through May. Numerous Chesapeake Bay fishing charters specialize in trophy stripers. While anglers in much of the rest of the U.S. are huddled indoors, awaiting the spring thaw, you can be out on the Bay catching stripers! All you need to do is contact one of the excellent Virginia Beach fishing charters and book your reservation.