Sandpiper Marine | 757-787-7783 21530 Taylor Rd, Accomac, VA 23301 sandpipermarine.net
Centerville Waterway Marina | 757.547.4498 100 N Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA centervillemarina.com
Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804-453-3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com
Friday’s Marine | 804-758-4131 (Malise Marine Sales & Service) 14879 GW Memorial Hwy, Saluda, VA facebook.com/fridaysmarine
Legasea Marine | 757-898-3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com
Uncharted adventure is on the horizon—and the Yamaha 450 hp XTO Offshore® is ready to power it. 5.6 liters of V8 displacement, a Phase Angle Control charging system, and integrated electric steering combine to change the way you offshore. And with Helm Master® EX, it becomes a complete power platform that takes outboard engineering to the edge—and back. Learn more at YamahaOutboards.com/XTO.
DELAWARE
DELAWARE
Cedar Creek Marina | 302.422.2040 100 Marina Lane, Milford, DE cedarcreekmarina .com
Cedar Creek Marina | 302.422.2040 100 Marina Lane, Milford, DE cedarcreekmarina.com
North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com
North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com
Anchor Boats, Inc. | 410.287.8280 448 N Mauldin Ave, North East, MD anchorboat.com
Boatyards - Jack’s Point
Campbell’s Boatyards - Jack’s Point 410.226.5105
campbellsboatyards.com
106 Richardson St, PO Box 410, Oxford, MD campbellsboatyards.com
VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA
Centerville Waterway Marina | 757.547.4498
100 N Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA centervillemarina.com
legaseamarine.com
Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611
18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com
Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000
821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025
Join us in 2025 as we celebrate our continued commitment to making a splash in cancer care for our community.
Fish For A Cure (F4AC) is a fishing and fundraising competition that benefits cancer patients and their families in our community. Over the last 18 years, F4AC has raised more than $6.5 million to support the Cancer Survivorship program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. The 19th Annual Fish For A Cure Tournament, Paul C. Dettor Captain’s Challenge, and Shore Party will be taking place on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Safe Harbor Annapolis, our tournament home. For more information and to register, visit us at www.fishforacure.org.
All Mixed Up at the CBBT
Visit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel this fall for maximum species diversity.
By Lenny Rudow
Fishing Structure That’s Out of Bounds
Those lines on your chartplotter don’t tell the entire story. By Wayne
Young
Five Must-Have Saltwater Lures for Beginners
Make sure these top picks are in your tacklebox before you head for the Bay, tributary, or seashore.
By Staff
45 Fatal Attraction
Make sure your lure is doing this, not that.
By Lenny Rudow
Spotlight on the Susquehanna
The Susquehanna River is the Bay’s biggest tributary, and these five lower river hotspots might convince you it’s also the best.
By
Staff
49 Put a Plug in it
The thrill is in the strike.
By Chuck Prahl
Leaders for Beginners
Sometimes the difference between a bite and a break-off is just a few feet of invisible insurance.
By Ian Rubin
Reports Editor Dillon Waters found this nice flattie at the CBBT.
Expert Local Fishing Knowledge & Advice
ANGLER IN CHIEF
Lenny Rudow, lenny@fishtalkmag.com
PUBLISHER
Mary Iliff Ewenson, mary@fishtalkmag.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Chris Charbonneau, chris@fishtalkmag.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Molly Winans, molly@fishtalkmag.com
SENIOR EDITORS
Beth Crabtree, beth@fishtalkmag.com
Kaylie Jasinski, kaylie@fishtalkmag.com
COPY EDITOR
Lucy Iliff, lucy@fishtalkmag.com
FISHING REPORTS EDITOR
Dillon Waters
ADVERTISING SALES
Eric Richardson, eric@fishtalkmag.com
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Brooke King, brooke@fishtalkmag.com
DISTRIBUTION / BROKERAGE / CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER
Beatrice M. Mackenzie, beatrice@fishtalkmag.com
ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER
Zach Ditmars, zach@fishtalkmag.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Royal Snyder, royal@fishtalkmag.com
COASTAL CORRESPONDENT
John Unkart
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Adam Greenberg, Jim Gronaw, Chuck Harrison, Capt. Monty Hawkins, Eric Packard, David Rudow, Wayne Young
DISTRIBUTION
Keith Basiliko, Martin and Betty Casey, Jennifer and Al Diederichs, Gregory and Dorothy Greenwell, Dave Harlock
Rudow’s FishTalk is a monthly magazine for and about Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic anglers. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the officers of Rudow’s FishTalk LLC. Rudow’s FishTalk LLC accepts no responsibility for discrepancies in advertisements.
Rudow’s FishTalk is available by first class subscription for $45 a year, and back issues are available for $4 each. Mail payment to Rudow’s FishTalk Subscriptions, 612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD, 21403.
Rudow’s FishTalk is distributed free of charge at more than 850 establishments along the shores of the Chesapeake and the DelMarVa Peninsula. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute Rudow’s FishTalk should contact the Rudow’s FishTalk office, (410) 216-9309 or beatrice@fishtalkmag.com.
Are you ready to embark on your next on-water adventure? Before you set sail, here are ve things to know about boat insurance.
1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents
With comprehensive coverage, you’ll also be protected nancially for theft, vandalism, and unexpected events like storms if you need repairs or replacements due to damage.
2. Accidents can happen to anyone
When accidents happen, boat insurance offers liability coverage for damages or injuries you cause while boating, up to speci ed limits. It can also cover lawsuit costs if you’re sued.
3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments
Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you’re in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.
4. Most lenders require boat insurance
If you nanced your boat, you’ll likely need boat insurance since most lenders require boat insurance to protect their investment. Additionally, some marinas or municipalities require proof of insurance for docking.
5. Progressive offers specialized boat coverages
Ever worry about getting stuck on the water?
Progressive’s Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage** can help. It’s an additional coverage that steps in if your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, paying for on-water towing, jump starts, soft ungroundings, and fuel delivery. Fuel cost isn’t included.
Don’t let unforeseen circumstances disrupt your voyage. Cruise with con dence thanks to Progressive Boat insurance. Because when it comes to your boat, peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.
Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and af liates. Product features are subject to policy terms and conditions and may not be available in all states or for all vehicles and coverage selections.
*No. 1 rating based on boat market share data from Rate lings.com.
**Sign & Glide® is an optional coverage you can add to any Progressive Boat policy and costs $30/annually ($50/annually in Florida). Prices are subject to change.
Scan to get a quote in as little as 4 minutes.
Go to progressive.com to learn more.
Notes from the Cockpit
By Lenny Rudow
Okay, I admit it: side-scan has become a critical part of my fishing repertoire. Yeah, the bow-mount electric trolling motor and Spot-Lock, too. I haven’t broken down and bought real-time imaging yet, but I’ve used it several times and I’m sure that will eventually become another must-have. Ugh…
Does anyone else remember when you’d look around and line up this lighthouse with that tower, verify your depth was about right by looking at the flasher, and start casting? When a color fishfinder that looked straight down seemed like a major-league advancement?
I’m not sure if the fishing just got tougher or I became accustomed to all the newer goodies and gadgets, but today, when any of these new machines break down I feel severely handicapped. Yet at the same time, it seems like we caught more fish without all that stuff back in the days when fishing was a lot simpler. Well, I’m afraid that it’s time to add yet another gadget into the mix: a drone.
I still don’t own a drone of my own, but my son David does and several times
now I’ve watched as it provided a significant advantage to me and the anglers aboard my boat. He’s flown it along a shoreline, then hovered it above fish so we knew exactly where to go and where to cast. He’s recorded the view as we did so, then watched later to gauge the fish’s reactions. It hasn’t always meant we’ve caught fish as a result, but the value of a drone as a fishing tool is right there up with the other aforementioned electronic goodies.
Case in point: One day early this summer we were fishing for snakeheads on the Chick, and despite spotting a few fish couldn’t buy a bite to save our lives. They were acting particularly sketchy and even when David sent up the drone and earmarked a location with six or seven milling around, our topwater frogs, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits all went ignored. That night, he reviewed the footage and it became clear that the fish had been on edge far more than usual.
Visible on the screen, the snakeheads looked perfectly happy until a lure and the line went whizzing through the air. Yes, the fish were clearly spooked by mere casts—made from 25 or 30 yards
away, with the lure splashing down well clear of the fish. Even armed with this knowledge I’m not sure how we could have adjusted tactics to get them biting; use smaller lures? Switch to lighter lines? Regardless, the revelation was rather shocking to me. But, not to David. He went on to tell me that while reviewing drone footage he’s seen redfish spooked by flying lures and line, too. And now when sight-fishing, if the reds are acting spooky he holds his casts until maneuvering into a position where he can present his offering without the lure or line passing above the fish.
Wow. All these years I’ve been focused on not spooking the fish with noise and vibration, but it never even occurred to me that casting over fish could shut down a bite. What else might an angler learn by flying a drone?
I don’t know. Yet. And I sure do miss the days when fishing was a whole lot simpler… but I guess I gotta get me one of those things.
# This angler hates to admit it, but adding a drone to your tech suite can help you catch more fish.
Color Blind
Dear FishTalk,
When you choose a jig and jighead do you match the colors up or mix and match?
Bill G., via IM
Dear Bill: Having some color-contrast in a lure is generally accepted to be a good thing, so mixing and matching can’t hurt. That said, in most scenarios we don’t honestly think it makes all that much of a difference. Years ago we used unpainted leadheads all the time and they caught plenty of fish.
Yeah But No
Dear FishTalk,
I heard that oyster toads are actually edible and taste pretty good. Has anyone in the crew there ever tried them?
Max P., via email
The AIC responds: Yes, I have tried them. They are edible, but I’ll never keep one again because the meat was really mushy and pretty much tasteless. Also, thanks to those massive heads they have, a really big toad fish produces tiny little nuggets of meat. Mushy, tasteless meat.
Bite Me
Q: Why did all the other sea creatures hate the bluefish?
A: They thought he was a serial kriller.
Send your fish photos, questions, and comments to lenny@fishtalkmag.com
-Anonymous
FISH NEWS
By Lenny Rudow
Wye Be Happy
The Wye River Oyster Program (WROP), a component of the Mid Shore Community Foundation, hit a grand-slam home run this summer when setting out to plant 14 million oysters in the Wye River oyster sanctuary. Spat-on-shell samples showed the load hauled to the river by the Gregory Leonard, a buyboat turned oyster restoration vessel, actually had closer to 21 million baby bivalves aboard thanks to a higher-than-expected spat set. On June 29 volunteers from WROP watched as the oysters they funded were placed over approximately three acres of bottom in two locations which were historically productive oyster grounds.
“Community interest has been high, engaging, and supportive,” said WROP member Steve Burleson. “Future oyster plantings will be determined by funds raised, and all program organizers are volunteers, allowing all donations to go directly towards oyster planting efforts.”
To volunteer or donate to WROP contact wyeriveroysterprogram@gmail.com.
Another Chapter in Channa
Maryland has a new state record snakehead, a 21.8-pounder captured by fish-archer Matt Foreman of Crownsville, MD. Foreman skewered the 36-inch dragon in the lower Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam. Since snakeheads are an invasive species, the state recognizes bowfishing captures for records, and Foreman’s fish counts to top the former 21-pound hook-and-line mark. However, Damien Cook of Lowland Outfitters remains the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record holder for that 21-pounder, since the IGFA doesn’t recognize bowfishing catches.
SGet Festive
eptember 6 is the date for the 2025 Oyster Blues and Brews festival, located at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore, MD. Partnered with such organizations as the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Blue Water Baltimore, the event will include everything from live music to seafood to arts and crafts for the kids. Best of all, CCA will have reef ball building going on there at the festival, so you can help create Chesapeake Bay habitat as you enjoy the vibes. Visit oystersbluesandbrews.com to learn more.
# The Gregory Leonard hauls its bounty of baby oysters to the Wye River for planting.
Hook ‘em at Cook
The Clint Water’s reef off Cook Point in the mouth of the Choptank River has been significantly expanded thanks to the efforts of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland (CCA-MD) and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). In a joint effort this summer dozens of clusters of four to eight reef balls were placed throughout the site by the Patricia Campbell, manned by CBF staff and volunteers from both organizations. About 200 reef balls built by CCA were deployed.
“Placing reef balls on shell helps recreate the habitat the Chesapeake Bay originally had,” says CCA-MD executive director David Sikorski. “The bottom line is that the Bay needs more hard substrate, and the more we can provide the more biodiversity in the ecosystem we can have.”
TOURNAMENT NEWS
Competing Kayakers
The Tidewater Kayak Angler Association is holding its 21st annual Charity Fishing Tournament benefitting Heroes On the Water and Project Healing Waters, on Saturday September 27, with a mandatory Captains Meeting Friday evening at 7 p.m. Based out of the Norfolk Masonic Temple in Norfolk, VA, there are both freshwater and saltwater divisions for this event, so anglers of all persuasions can participate. Visit tkaa.org to get the scoop.
TOURNAMENT NEWS
Tango in the Tangier
Get ready for September 26 to 28 and the 2025 Tangier Classic, people! Anglers fish two of the three days in the Chesapeake and its tidal tribs and submit catches via C-P-R or can bring legally harvested catches for physical judging at the Crisfield American Legion. Divisions include Powerboat, Kayak, and Youth 14 and under. There are a lot of ways to win in this one including top two-day five-fish stringers plus a dozen different calcuttas; last year’s payout topped $38K.
More important than the fishing or the winnings, however, this tournament raises money for a local family in need. This year’s beneficiary is Junia Stewart, a child from Salisbury with Down syndrome and multiple birth defects. Junia has had multiple surgeries and has been in and out of the hospital for much of her short life. You can read Junia’s heartbreaking but inspiring story on the Beneficiaries page of the tournament website. Bottom line, the Tangier Classic finds a local child in serious need to benefit from the tournament every year, and 2025 is no different, giving us yet another reason to head for Crisfield and get ready to cast our lines this September. Visit tangierclassic.com to enter and get all the details.
It’s No Fluke
September 7 marks the date for the Flounder Pounder tournament in Ocean City, MD, hosted by Bahia Marina. The one-day tournament usually runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a captain’s meeting immediately beforehand at 9:30 a.m., with fishing taking place from Fenwick Ditch to the Verazano Bridge and the south jetty. However, as of press time the website hadn’t been fully updated with the details for 2025 so visit bahiamarina.com to get the latest.
See You at the Seashore
September 27 the Annual Delaware Seashore Fall Surf Fishing Classic will be held for the 28th year, with headquarters at Old Inlet Bait & Tackle in Rehoboth Beach, DE. The tournament will be a one-day event for 2025, with fishing taking place from 7 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. at the Delaware Seashore State Park and Fenwick Island State Park. Over $15K in cash and prizes will be awarded, including in Woman’s and Kid’s divisions. Visit oldinlet.com to learn more.
For more upcoming events find our calendar on page 25 or visit fishtalkmag.com/calendar
HOT NEW GEAR
Editor’s Note: We wish we could personally test every item that appears on these pages, but that simply isn’t possible. So that you know the difference between when we’ve physically tested a piece of gear and when we’re writing about it because it’s newsworthy and we think you’ll want to know about it, we’ve developed this FishTalk Tested button. When you see it printed next to something in this section, it means we’ve personally run it through the wringer.
Feeling Salty
Those on the lookout for a seriously potent spinning reel designed to last through seriously salty situations will want to check out Daiwa’s newest version of the Saltiga, the Saltiga G. These big-game reels are offered in 8000 to 20000 sizes, are rated to handle 40to 100-pound test braid, and can put out an outrageous amount of drag—55 pounds for the 8000, 10000, and 14000, and 66 pounds of drag for the 18000 and 20000. These are “Magseal” reels with a magnetized oil seal on the main shaft to keep out dust, water, and salt. They also boast ATD drags which utilize a low viscosity oil that becomes more viscous as the drag spins, reducing start-up inertia for improved smoothness from the first strike to the final gaff shot. Price: $999 to $1099. Visit daiwa.us to get the spinning reel equivalent of heavy artillery.
Going for a Cruise
By Eric Packard
Idon’t do many product pitches, but here we go with Handing’s Cruiser Shadow Slow Pitch Jigging rods. I tested their 6’6” medium-heavy spinning rod, paired with a Handing M1 3000 model spinning reel. They’re balanced perfectly when used together and you can feel that slow rise of the rod as you crank the M1’s handle. Anticipation builds as you wait for the bite that comes when you lower the rod tip and the jig starts to flutter down. These are two-piece rods with a 30+40T Toray carbon fiber blank, delivering the responsiveness, strength, and sensitivity you need to feel every bite. The Fuji reel seat and ring guides pair nicely on the carbon fiber blank, adding to its sensitivity. The Cruiser Shadow Slow Pitch Jigging spinning rods come in three lengths and powers: 6’ medium light, 6’ 3” medium, and 6’ 6” medium heavy. Price: $101.99 to $105.99. Visit handingfishing.com when you’re ready to pitch and catch.
You want AI Routing! Let TZ MAPS with AI Routing make route planning a snap. Don’t take our word for it. Scan here to see for yourself how easy it is!
Custom Creations
When you want to catch a cobia by casting the coolest custom creation around, it’s time to tie on a Gettin Jiggy cobia jig. Ranging from one to two ounces with 7/0 hooks and octo- or spire-heads, these hand-made jigs are tied locally in Norfolk, VA. Rather than using bucktail or silicon skirts they get their profile from feathers, just like classic feather jigs. We became aware of these after receiving a report from cobia sharpie Scott Heinz that they’re “pieces of art that fall slowly,” which tempted a bull red and a pair of cobia into striking during an afternoon of preseason fishing this spring. Price: $20. Visit gettinjiggyfishing.com to check ‘em out.
Cast With a Mad Man
Mad Scientist Tackle burst onto the scene with a wide range of fishing lures including jerkbaits, topwater lures, spoons, and more, which you can check out at their website, but what we anglers need to know about is their unique finish. Founded by folks from RLVNT Eyewear, these lures are finished with the Apex vision coating. Colors and brightness change with the angle of view, and radiate UV light farther than other coatings. That means that as their lures move through the water they create iridescent flashes and colors. And different colors are designed for different water conditions; there’s +Red for green water and algae blooms, +Blue for murky or stained water, +Green for clear water, +Cisco for sunny conditions, and more. Price: Varies by lures. Visit madscientist.technology to enjoy some angling eye candy.
Chillin’ Take II
Those of you with very good memories (or very little to think about) might remember the Chill-N-Reel, which we told you about on these very pages a few years ago. This is a beverage koozie with a hard outer shell that has a spool attached. The spool holds 50’ of eight-pound test, and the idea is you can walk into the lake, bay, or river, bait the hook, fling out the line, and enjoy a frosty cold beverage at the very same time as you fish. EUREKA! Well, we’re bringing the Chill-N-Reel back this month because evidently the geniuses on Shark Tank decided it was a million-dollar idea. And now the Chill-N-Reel is NEW and IMPROVED, because it now comes with a spill guard that snaps on top of your can to “limit sloshing and keep out debris.” Price: $19.95. Visit chillnreel.com if you want to fish with a handline and stay hydrated at the VERY SAME TIME!!!
Tackle Tamer
At first glance the new Flambeau Super Half Satchel Soft Bait Organizer 4510 looks like any other bulk-stowage box for fishing lures which is sized for larger lures and soft bait packages. What sets it apart from other tackleboxes, however, are the blue dividers. These are Flambeau’s Zerust, featuring a chemical impregnation that releases an invisible, odorless, tasteless, FDA-safe vapor which diffuses through the box and settles on any exposed metal surfaces. Then it forms a protective layer that inhibits rust and corrosion, keeping your hooks and tools looking like new. That sounds like a big claim, but this stuff works so well the U.S. Navy uses Zerust to help protect high-tech shipboard weapons systems. Price: $19.95. Visit flambeauoutdoors.com to keep corrosion at bay.
Sighting Schoolies
Any dedicated angler who takes their kids fishing knows that finding high-quality gear that’s designed to fit younger generations can be tough. That includes sunglasses, but Costa sets out to eliminate the issue with their new Schoolie series. These sunglasses are sized and shaped for younger faces and have an eight-base wrap paired with 580P bio-poly impactresistant, fully polarized polycarbonate lenses. They also absorb HEV blue light, have C-wall molecular bonding to improve scratch resistance, and are feather-light for maximum comfort. Price: $157. Visit costadelmar.com and your kid might spot that cobia before you can.
North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com
Carlisle’s Marine | 302.389.0100 49 Artisan Dr, Smyrna, DE carlislesmarine.com
Virginia
Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com
Supporting Actor
You need a trolling motor support, but the mounting spot makes it impossible to use a straight vertical arm? Railblaza has the solution with the Trolling Motor Support XL with Starport. This fiberglass support arm has dual adjustment points so it can allow clearance for rails, GPS antenna, and other potential obstructions, and height can also be adjusted as necessary. It’s designed for large motors and has a rubber cradle head with a flexible lock-down strap. The 13” tall Trolling Motor Support XL fits into a 2.5” Starport mount so the whole affair can be removed if necessary. Price: $50. Visit railblaza.com for more details.
Landing Gear
If you have one of those old nylon knotted nets, it’s long past time to throw that fish-injuring relic into the garbage heap and get a net with fish-safe mesh. One option is Aftco’s new Titan, which is designed for seriously big fish. The hoop (21” and 24” sizes are available) and handle (which adjusts to 30” to 55”) are aircraft-grade aluminum and the bag is made from hand-sewn latex-infused one-inch mesh that goes easy on the fish’s slime and scales. The Titan is covered by a lifetime guarantee, so this may well be the last landing you buy. Price: $399. Visit aftco.com to get the full scoop.
Ask an Expert
Capt. Chuck Jones of Salty Siren Fishing
This month we talk with Capt. Chuck Jones, of Salty Siren Fishing. Capt. Chuck runs the 26’ Chesapeake by Composite Yachts Salty Siren out of multiple ports through the Upper, Middle, and Lower Bay depending on where the fish are, for light tackle fishing fun. The topic of the day: critical fishing tackle and gear.
Q: What’s this we hear about a KISS gear management method?
A: When it comes to tackle I use the Keep It Stupid Simple method and try not to get bogged down with a million varieties. This is easier said than done, I know. I have a tackle shelf at home that stores a variety of lures and tackle based on the season and targets. I keep all my jigs, spoons, topwater, and jerkbaits in small 10” x 7” Plano boxes. There are one- to two-ounce jigheads in one for the winter, and half-ounce to one-ounce jigheads in another box for spring fishing. I don’t have a huge variety of soft plastics, either and they are mainly chartreuse, pearl and smokey shad for low light.
Q: What else do you have hidden away in that tackle box?
A: Since I have an open boat in a slip I carry my tackle with me. I use a tackle backpack with soft plastics up top and four Plano boxes below. The odd stuff in the pockets are as follows: Aveeno sunscreen, number 44 and number 70 tactical angler clips, 25-pound fluorocarbon leader, 40-pound mono leader, a fish de-hooker, fish grips (for customers that don’t like to handle fish), a hand towel, an extra set of fishing pliers, Loctite super glue, Fujinon stabilizing binoculars, lens wipes, a handheld VHF radio, bloodworm Fishbites, Sabiki rigs, half-ounce sinkers, and finally all my credentials. If I can’t make a day happen with that, it just wasn’t meant to be.
Q: Tell us about some critical “gear” that isn’t in that box. What else do you consider must-haves for a day of fishing or to prep for a day of fishing?
A: Before I go out on the water I am constantly checking the weather forecast between my Weather Channel app, the Windy app, the Windfinder Pro app, and even an occasional check on the NOAA marine weather site to keep them all honest. Unfortunately, sometimes all four get the weather wrong… I am also constantly checking my Navionics app for currents, as well as scouting for new spots on Google Earth.
Thanks for the insight, Capt. Chuck! You can learn more about Salty Siren Fishing or contact Capt. Chuck at saltysirenfishing.com, or by calling or texting (410) 353-0589.
Annapolis Powerboat Show
By Kaylie Jasinski, PropTalk editor
This is the big one! The Annapolis Powerboat Show is the place to be in October, whether you’re an experienced powerboater/angler or are looking to break into the boating lifestyle. You can expect new and preowned vessels on display, the chance to actually test drive boats out on the water, door prizes, free seminars, and more. This is one of our favorite events of the year; we hope to see you there!
Details:
Dates: Thursday, October 2 through Sunday, October 5
Times: 10 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Location: City Dock, Annapolis
Tickets:
Box office located at Dock Street, exit bus at second stop, or visit annapolisboatshows.com to purchase tickets.
Preview Day (valid one day only, Thursday, October 2) – $45
General Admission (valid one day only, October 3-5) – $32, Children ages seven to 15 – $10, children ages six and under are free
Preview Day and General Admission Combo (can be used on Thursday, October 2 and one general admission day only) –$72
Two Day General Admission Combo (can be used for two general admission days only, October 3-5) – $59
Military Personnel Day Sunday, October 5 – $22 (tickets available online but must present valid ID at gate)
VIP Experience presented by LaVictoire – $201.75 (Each ticket includes boat show admission and exclusive access to the VIP Lounge which features a full bar starting at noon, continental breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon appetizers, and comfortable seating. Valid one day only.)
Parking: Boat show visitors are encouraged to park at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (550 Taylor Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401) and take a free shuttle to and from the show. Shuttles will run one hour prior to show opening through one hour after the show closes. Pre-sale of Stadium parking is offered at the discounted rate of $23 pre-paid and $30 day of event.
Highlights:
• VIP Experience: If you want to get away from the crowds and feel pampered, the VIP lounge now offers catering all day, Bloody Marys and Mimosas starting at 10 a.m., a full bar opening at noon, live music, and of course the opportunity to speak with representatives from LaVictoire Finance who can help you obtain the boat of your dreams. All guests must be at least 21 years old to enter the VIP lounge.
• Premiering Boats: Currently there are two premiering boats scheduled to be at the show: the Fleming 55 and the Formula 360 CBR—stay tuned to annapolisboatshows.com for more details as we get closer to show time.
• Hundreds of Boats on Display: Both in-water and on-land. Visit the boat show website for the full list of boats on display, which is constantly being updated. Search by size, type, or manufacturer.
• Brokerage Cove: Just a short walk or free water taxi ride from the main show location is Brokerage Cove, where you’ll find a fantastic selection of pre-owned powerboats available for immediate purchase on display.
• Demo Dock: The Demo Dock gives potential buyers a chance to sea trial a variety of boats to help make an educated
decision on what engines, electronics, and other functions work best for them. Visit the demo dock early in the day to set up an appointment.
• New Products: Discover new products, as well as the latest in navigational equipment, high-tech electronics, boating accessories, clothing, and gear.
• Educational Opportunities: Chesapeake Boating Academy in partnership with BoatUS will offer a number of family-friendly introductory on-water boating courses including Intro to Boating, Precision Docking and Boat Handling, and Open Water Boat Handling. Each course costs $199 per person and includes free entry to the boat show that day. There will also be a variety of free, daily seminars with topics such as The Great American Loop, Dock and Dine on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, Light Tackle Jigging for Rockfish in Rocktober, Photography Tips From an Expert While out Boating, and more. For the full schedule and more details, visit the Annapolis Boat Shows website.
For a list of exhibitors; seminar lists; details on the Demo Dock, premiering boats, and Brokerage Cove boats; or to purchase tickets, visit annapolisboatshows.com
CHESAPEAKE CALENDAR
5-7 The Boaters’ Boat Show
The Boaters Boat Show celebrates classic cruising boats and the people who love them. No sales pitches – just real boats, real stories, and passionate owners sharing their pride, upgrades, and adventures. Come walk the docks and be inspired. At Lighthouse Point Marina in Baltimore.
6
3rd Annual Oysters Blues and Brews Festival
12 to 7 p.m. at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore. Enjoy oysters and other great seafood from the Chesapeake, sip on a cold beer, shop with local vendors, dance to live music, and enjoy family friendly activities including arts and crafts. CCA Maryland will be on hand with free family and youth fishing opportunities and reef ball building activities.
6
5th Annual Portsmouth Paddle Battle
Participants will compete in SUP, kayak, and canoe categories on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, VA, depending upon age/experience level. Music, good food, drinks, and special events for children, including the Junior Paddle Battle. Proceeds will help The Friends support the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum.
6 Anglers Combos for Kids Event
At port Covington. CCA family fishing. Boats needed. Presented by Anglers Sports Center.
SEPTEMBER
6 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking
In Salisbury, MD.
6
Ocean City Seafood Festival
The inaugural festival takes place at Northside Park in Ocean City, MD. Get ready for a delectable waterfront experience featuring top Maryland restaurants, live music, and more!
6
Shaw Bay Raft-up Concert
Raft up and relax with music by Eastport Oyster Boys and Wye River Band in lovely Shaw Bay along the Wye River. Bring your dinghy, paddleboard, kayak, or sailboat and enjoy the music and scenery. 3 to 6 p.m. This free concert is held each year to raise funds and awareness for clean water efforts on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Consider making a donation to support the clean water initiatives of ShoreRivers.
7 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking
In Hoopers Island, MD.
10 Frederick Saltwater Anglers Monthly Meeting
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Frederick Elks Lodge #682. Optional food starts at 6 and meeting begins at 7. We have a speaker and vendor along with raffle prizes and a 50/50.
13 FamilyFest on the Potomac
Enjoy a full day of family fun along the Potomac at the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in Piney Point, MD, with live music, food, vendors, displays and a variety of kids and family activities. Free admission.
13
Lil ‘Amps Bent Rods 3rd Annual Fishing Tournament Rods in at 6 a.m. Weigh ins and after-party at Red Eye’s Dock Bar. Reel in big catches, great prizes, and help support individuals in recovery. Registration: $550 per boat (ends August 30). First place rockfish stringer: $15,000.
13
SS John W. Brown Living History Cruise
“Honoring Those Who Served.” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. aboard the SS John W. Brown World War II Liberty Ship on the Patapsco River. Each six-hour day cruise features: music of the 40s and 50s, period entertainment and historical re-enactments, fly-bys (weather permitting) of vintage World War II aircraft, tours of the ship, and more.
13-14 Maryland Seafood Festival
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. New this year: the festival is partnering with Skipjack heritage days to bring you an upclose look at the cultural heritage of Skipjacks on the Chesapeake Bay.
SEPTEMBER
(continued)
14
Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Suicide Bridge, MD.
18
MSFC Monthly Meeting
7 to 8 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge, MD. MidShore Fishing Club of Maryland.
19-20 Seattle Yachts Annapolis Boat Show
Preview Open House Friday 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seattle Yachts Annapolis. Nimbus dockside reception beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Team members will be on site to walk you through in-stock Nimbus Powerboats. Chalk Talk with Chris Humphries on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Topic: Adding Starlink, Solar, Lithium Batteries, Generators. General information, comparisons, and installation - which is right for you? Nimbus T9, C9, W11, T11, C11, and 305 Coupe will be on display and available.
20 Boatyard Beach Bash
4 to 10 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Concert for a cause! Let yourself be whisked away to Key West as you immerse yourself in the incomparable talent of world-class musicians, and members of the iconic Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. General Admission Tickets: $150; includes drinks and delicious food plus six hours of entertainment.
20 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Chincoteague, VA.
20 Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Tour
The duration of the tour is two hours and includes a 30-minute boat ride to the lighthouse, a docent led tour of the interior, and a 30-minute return boat ride. Tours depart from Annapolis, Maryland. Two tours are offered each day. One at 9:30 a.m. and the other one at 12 p.m.
21 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking In Solomons Island, MD.
21 Dinner and a Cruise Series: St. Clement’s Island Museum Cruise the waters of the Potomac River near St. Clement’s Island with fresh eyes, looking at the issues surrounding the local ecosystem and what makes this historic waterway unique and worth preserving. All cruises will leave the dock at 4 p.m. A seafood dinner with a chicken option will be offered for all cruises.
23-27 TrawlerFest Baltimore
An impressive inwater selection of new and pre-owned cruising powerboats, first-class education and demonstrations, the latest in marine products and services, and opportunities to share cruising adventures with fellow cruisers and industry experts. Seminars Sept. 23-Sept. 27 at Courtyard Marriott and Homewood Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor. In-water boat show Sept. 25-Sept. 27 at Harbor East Marina.
26-28 7th Annual Tangier Classic
Fishing tournament headquarters: Crisfield American Legion Post #16. Come out for a good cause, support a local family in need, and have a great time doing it!
27 Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking
In Havre De Grace, MD.
27 4th Annual HdG Lighted Boat Parade
7 p.m. in Havre de Grace, MD. Special parade participants: the Chesapeake Cowboys. All registered captains will receive a free T-shirt and swag bag worth over $100. Registered boats will compete for trophies and prizes in five categories. Registration is $10 and can be completed at the HdG Visitor Center or on Eventbrite.
OCTOBER
2 The World Is Your Oysterfest Party at the B&O Railroad Museum, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Shucking Competition and Shuck Like a Pro workshop. Proceeds go to the Oyster Recovery Partnership.
3-5 Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival
One of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s campus 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
16 MSFC Monthly Meeting
7 to 8 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge, MD. Mid-Shore Fishing Club of Maryland.
18 Oyster Festival
Featuring good community company, fine regional music, an array of choice gifts for purchase, a cash raffle, local food and drink, and the best oysters anywhere. Enjoy the day on the broad green lawn on the banks of the West River in Shady Side at the Captain Avery Museum.
21 Boater Education: How To Use GPS Annapolis Sail and Power Squadron’s education course will teach how to choose a suitable GPS chartplotter, create waypoints, build and execute routes, monitor your progress, and integrate with other electronic systems onboard, including VHF marine radio, radar, and autopilot. Zoom 7 to 9 p.m., $15. Instructor: John Locke.
22 Boater Education: Winterization of Your Boat Learn about what you need to do to make sure your boat is able to survive the winter weather. Zoom, 7 to 9 p.m., $15. Instructor: Dick Radlinski.
25
CBMM OysterFest Features live music, retriever demonstrations, oysters, and more at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s campus in St. Michaels, MD. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
30
CCA Annapolis Chapter Annual Fundraising Banquet 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis. This fundraising dinner directly supports CCA Maryland’s focus on ensuring the health of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them, and our objective to conserve, promote and enhance our marine resources for the benefit of the general public.
Reader Photos
# Herb found a nice speck swimming among the rockfish in the Tangier Sound.
# Broughton paid a visit to Uganda, where he discovered what it’s like to catch Nile perch instead of white perch.
# Kyle cranked up this nice channel cat while fishing on the Magothy.
# A group from the Mt. St. Joseph High School fishing club hit the water with Fish With Weaver, and had an awesome day of angling.
# Jack tied into his new PB black drum on the fly, a 41-incher.
# Noah at left, Lenny at right. WTG Noah! As for you Lenny, ummm…
# John picked up five – count ‘em five – flounder in the surf of Assateague one morning.
# Isaiah caught this bass on a minnow pattern his dad tied up.
# Don dropped a Gulp minnow at the OC inlet, and reeled up this nice flattie.
# Chris ran across a school of reds off the Delaware coast and managed to land this one on his flounder rod. WTG, Chris!
# David put one heck of a nice flounder onto the kayak at Kiptopeke.
# Henry laid down the law on the Deep Creek bluegills.
# Henry doubled up casting a topwater plug with a bucktail trailer near Eastern Bay.
# Luna meets a rockfish!
# Sebastian caught (and carefully released) his first spot in the South River, on a grass shrimp he scooped up in the net.
# Rich tied into a mega-cat while fishing near Port Deposit.
# Allison and Nick caught some nice white perch while fishing Seven Foot Knoll.
# Ian and Ashton enjoyed some quality perch fishing on the Severn this summer.
# Luke lassoed a 31” snakehead in his cast net. Sweet throw, Luke!
# Emmett tied into a beautiful cobia.
# Canden tied into a mammoth 47”, 60-pound blue cat.
# Noella’s first sea bass! Noella’s first sea bass!!
# Enzo tied into his new PB bass while fishing with cousin Orion.
# Julian hit Poplar at daybreak and discovered an excellent topwater bite.
# Matthew crabbed up a storm on Middle River this summer.
# Alex tugged up this nice catfish.
# Brent went over the slot, but got this pic before sending that beautiful fish back ino the water.
# Big Fish Dave tied into this beautiful red while fishing Point Lookout.
# Zach tied into a nice bluefish in-between the summer thunderstorms.
# Sean found ‘em biting along the rocks.
Contender 24 Bay: No Holds Barred
By Lenny Rudow
In a world full of frou-frou boats it’s rare to come across a fishing machine that truly lets an angler do battle with no restrictions. Contender has a rep for building offshore boats that focus on the fishability, period, but up until now its fleet consisted of only one offering designed for inshore angling, a 26-footer. Enter: the 24 Bay, the newest Contender on the water and a bay boat that’s designed for serious fishing and nothing but.
The foredeck provides an excellent example of the no-holds-barred angling attitude. Most bay boats incorporate a pair of cushy forward-facing seats in the bow, usually with removable backrests. But those perches for your passenger’s posteriors come at a cost. They’re generally a foot or so lower than the upper foredeck, so you lose elevation on much of the casting territory. When the cushions are in place your casting area shrinks precipitously.
# Zero angling sacrifices are made on the Contender 24 Bay, which is made evident by the foredeck design.
In many cases getting into the stowage compartments below means fumbling with cushions, and removable backrests take up a bunch of stowage space. If you were designing a boat for fishing, period, you’d do away with the seats entirely and instead create an entirely elevated casting deck—which is exactly what you’ll find on the 24 Bay. Added bonus: with this area all the same level you now have the ability to build long port and starboard rodboxes into the sides, as Contender does, so you can carry even more rods.
The console is kept minimal to maintain maximum fishing space, and rather than integrate a seat into the front Con-
QUICK FACTS
LOA: 23’10” Beam: 8’4”
Displacement: 4500 lbs.
Draft (min.): 1’0”
Transom Deadrise: 15.5 degrees
Fuel Capacity: 80 gal.
Max. Power: 350 hp
tender opted to add a 70-quart cooler/ seat that can be removed when maximum deck space is needed. You can leave it in the garage when you’re out to fish and fish hard, and besides, there’s a 70-gallon fishbox in the foredeck for chilling down the catch. At the helm you’ll find a flat for a 12” MFD, a panel of push-button switches, and a glove box, and under the wheel there’s a blinker-style jackplate switch.
The aft deck is also 100-percent focused on fishing, with a 35-gallon livewell in the center and oversized bilge access to either side. There’s a cushion and backrest package you can opt for to add seating back there (remember, Contender is a semi-custom builder and there are lots
of potential add-ons you can order and tweaks you can make), but we say don’t get it and risk messing up this unmitigated fishability one bit. Note the use of friction hinges on the smaller aft deck hatches so they stay up when you lift them, while the larger foredeck hatches swing up on gas-assist struts. Also take note of the hatches themselves, which are fully finished on both sides, guttered, gasketed, and dog down tight.
Those are nice construction touches, and they jibe with the way the boat is built. The hull and deck are resin infused, cup holders and rod holders are stainlesssteel, and detail work is excellent. Just as important, all are centered around a slick double-stepped hull bottom that
performs, well, like a Contender. With a 300-hp outboard on the jack plate top-end speeds are in excess of the 60-mph mark and you can cruise in the 40s. Or go for the max power of 350-hp and you’ll see wide-open speeds in the mid- to upper-60s and a cruise in the upper 40s.
You want gobs of poofy seating, hot water transom showers, and a minicabin inside the console? Look elsewhere. If you want to enter the angling arena with no holds barred, check out the Contender 24 Bay.
Area Dealer
Legasea Marine, Yorktown, VA (757) 898-3000 or legaseamarine.com
Key West 291 FS: Exceeding Expectations
Here’s the great thing about much of the Key West lineup: take one of their boats for a sea trial, and you’ll likely be surprised at just how well it handles a Bay chop and how well it stays on an even keel while drifting. The trick is an unusual hull design, one that has two different planes of deadrise running parallel to the keel. In the case of the 291 FS, at the very bottom plane it’s a 24-degree transom deadrise. Slightly higher up the hull, however, it transitions to a 19-degree transom deadrise. That means you get maximum V for chopping the waves and the better stabil-
ity delivered by less of a V, all in the same hull. Of course, design concepts don’t always play out in the real world and talk is cheap, so don’t take our word for it. Get on a 291 FS for one of those sea trials and draw your own conclusions—just be sure to pay close attention as you bop through the chop, then shift into neutral and feel how the boat handles waves while drifting in a beam sea.
Oh, and while you’re out there be sure to hold on to your hat. With a pair of firebreathing F350s on the transom this boat will go shooting past the 60-mph mark. Pull the throttles back to a more reason-
able 4500-rpm cruising speed, and you’ll be running at a rather awesome mid-40s pace.
At some point as you’re blazing across the water you’ll question how the boat can remain so flat and stable even as it hits the waves, so know that more than just hull design is coming into play. The Seakeeper Ride system (think of it as super-fast
QUICK FACTS
LOA: 29’1”
Beam: 9’8”
Displacement: 6100 lbs.
Draft: 1’4”
Transom Deadrise: 19/24 degrees
Fuel Capacity: 200 gal.
Max. Power: 800 hp
computer-controlled trim tabs that go up and down so quickly they help keep the boat on an even keel as it cruises) is a standard feature on this model. There are several other big-ticket items included on the stock boat, too, like an eight-speaker stereo system, a through-hull windlass, and a three-bank battery charger. Adding in the onboard charging system is a good move considering how widespread bow-mount trolling motors are becoming on boats of this size and nature, so also note that Key West pre-wires in a trolling motor plug.
Other angling armaments you’ll be pleased to discover include a pair of lighted livewells in the transom, twin-level racks with nine rocket launchers on the hard top, flush-mount rodholders ringing the gunwales and across the transom (22 in total), raw and freshwater washdowns, under-gunwale racks, and a forward indeck fishbox big enough to house misbehaving crewmembers. The livewells have a nifty perk in that Key West designed in a retaining rig around the perimeter for holding a 30-gallon trash bag. That’s pretty darn smart considering that the livewell often becomes a de facto garbage can when not in use, and digging out all those cans and wrappers at the end of the day is not exactly something anyone looks forward to. Another real highlight in the
Wfishing department is the utterly massive tackle stowage compartment behind the aft-facing leaning post seat’s backrest. Swing it down, and you’ll be greeted by eight standard Planos, four double-deep Planos, and two bulk stowage drawers. That means you have room for all the gear you need to try anything from dropshotting to deep-dropping.
Another unique Key West feature is the bow seating design. Rather than go with removable or swing-out backrests, they mold in wraparound backrests that swoop right out from the gunwales. Though these can’t be removed and
stowed to gain fishing space, they’re comfortable for sitting both forward and center facing. And with a boat of this size there isn’t exactly a shortage of casting territory, which you can turn the entire bow into by removing the cushions and sliding in the filler.
Okay: now, are you ready to go for that sea trial?
Area Dealers
Anchor Boats, North East MD, (800) 773-2628 or anchorboat.com; Annapolis Boat Sales, Chester, MD, (410) 604-6962 or annapolisboatsales.com.
Neoteric Hovercraft: Cushioned Casting?
hy get a boat that pounds through waves when you could get one that rides on a cushion of air? Okay, technically speaking the Neoteric Hovercraft may not actually be a boat, but add a couple of rod holders and it certainly would be an interesting fishing machine. It’s unique, too, as the only recreational hovercraft with a reverse thrust “braking” system. WOT speed is 45 mph over calm water and there’s even an option for a removable cabin, should you need protection when going for those winter stripers. Don’t worry, the carbureted two-stroke swirling a massive fan via a 64-tooth sprocket chain won’t bother them one bit good luck! Visit neoterichovercraft.com to learn more.
# The tackle stowage capabilities of the Key West 291 FS are nothing short of magnificent.
All Mixed Up at the CBBT
By Lenny Rudow
You say you can’t decide whether you want to focus on flounder, concentrate on cobia, or dedicate the day to drum? One of the coolest things about fishing at the CBBT is that if you play your cards right, you can reel up one species after the next
on one cast after the next. Naturally, you’ll do best if you tailor your tactics to one specific species. But if you come here properly prepared and with the right mindset you can enjoy a mix-matched adventure that can’t be matched anywhere else on the Bay.
Loading for Bear (and Squirrel, and Goose, and Grouse)
Going on a mixed species mission means coming prepared to employ a number of different lures, tactics, and baits. It also means grabbing more rods than you usually might so you can cover the different classes
# When it comes to mixed bag fishing at the CBBT all bets are off. (Well, okay… the lower right corner is a longshot, but it could happen!)
of fish as well as the different techniques. Before leaving for your adventure make a mental list of the different species that have been biting recently (check the Way South reports at FishTalkMag.com for the latest intel), and sketch out a miniplan for each. Then gear up accordingly. Let’s say the recent reports have mentioned bull drum, cobia, flounder, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and cutlassfish. That’s quite a nice mix, but catching each of these (excepting the Spanish mackerel/bluefish team) requires very different methods and gear. You might choose to grab:
• A relatively heavy fast-action rod and reel in the 4500-ish size range for casting ounce-ish lures to the reds and cobia.
• A slightly downsized rod and reel with a slower action for drifting baited Fluke Killer rigs for flounder and light-tackle trolling for cutlassfish.
• Jigheads and large paddletails for reds.
# This flounder was just one of a dozen different species FishTalk Fishing Reports Editor Dillon Waters encountered during a day of multispecies fishing at the mouth of the Chesapeake.
• Live eels and the appropriate rigs for cobia.
• Minnow and squid for the flounder.
RETURN THIS FORM BY MAIL OR EMAIL: MaIl: 612 Third St., Ste. 3C, Annapolis, MD 21403 EMaIl: beatrice@fishtalkmag.com O R SUBS c RIBE ONLINE : fishtalkmag.com/subscribe-to-fishtalk
• Small swimming plugs and casting spoons for the cutlassfish, mackerel, and bluefish.
The exact choices will vary from angler to angler since we all have our own favorite baits and tactics, but you get the picture—paint yourself a mental picture of the different options you’re likely to encounter through the course of the day, and gear up in such a way that you can cover all the bases.
Mixed Species Frame of Mind
The critical element here is making sure you don’t become hyper-focused on any one species for too long. Tell yourself that if you fish for two hours for any single species and come up emptyhanded, rather than sticking with it be willing to let it go and move on. Different fish bite differently from day to day, and when you’re drawing a blank on one species there’s every chance in the world that a different one is feeding hard just a few feet away. The sheepshead refuse to bite? Rather than waiting them out put away the crab baits and shift to targeting flounder. You can’t find the schools of bull redfish? No biggie, those birds on the horizon tell you that if you tie on small spoons you’ll soon be reeling back Spanish mackerel or blues. Bob, weave, and embrace the change.
On the flip side of the coin you may have a very different problem to address: a bite so good you never want to leave. This is a great problem to have, but let’s say you found a school of slot reds chewing hard and have a half dozen in the box. Do you really need to keep banging on them until you hit your limit? Or, is it time for a round of high-fives followed by moving on to a different species? It’s hard to leave the fish biting, no doubt, but if you begin the day by reminding yourself that the goal is species diversity rather than raw numbers, shifting gears can lead to a completely new microadventure.
Which Way the Wind Blows
To enjoy this sort of open-minded adventure it’s also important to follow Mother Nature’s lead. Maybe you planned to start the day by casting to monster redfish gathering on the east side of the fourth island on an incoming tide, and arrive to discover that a stiff south-east breeze has turned the area into a washing machine. It’s a constant battle to keep the boat in position and no small chore to remain standing as
the boat bobs and rolls. Why fight it? Instead, head for the edges and drops near the first island where you’ll be sheltered from the wind and have a good shot at flounder.
There are plenty of other curveballs Mother Nature might throw your way. Heavy cloud cover can dash your plans for sight fishing. A too-strong current can make sheepshead fishing tough. Word of a hot bite can draw a thick crowd of boats to one spot or another. The bottom line? Rather than trying to
force the issue and battle with Mother Nature, shift to a spot, a species, or a style that’s in harmony with her and your chances of success go way, way up.
Is deciding to embark upon a day of mixed-bag fishing going to produce epic trophy fish? It’s always possible, but it’s certainly less likely to than focusing in like a laser beam on one specific target. If what you’re after is an angling adventure, however, the results may well be epic indeed. #
Fishing Structure That’s Out of Bounds
Those lines on your chartplotter don't tell the entire story.
By Wayne Young
An old side-scan sonar image suggested a massive reef straddled the westside boundary of Hollicutts Noose Fish Haven northeast of Bloody Point on Kent Island. That’s where reef records recorded remnants of two bridges and a pier, other concrete materials, a cut up steel tugboat, and fabricated tire units. Shell piles, concrete cubes, and some of the first reef balls in Maryland’s Bay artificial reefs program are also in the fish haven. After outfitting my boat with an early Humminbird side-scan sonar back in 2009, checking out fish haven structure was on my striped bass prospecting list.
Cruising north along the westside boundary, a bottom feature with a tireunit profile appeared on the side-scan sonar screen. It was adjacent to a massive pile of reef materials which straddled the charted boundary. Two shell deposits
and cubes I found by chance on the sonar aren’t recorded in reef files but are consistent with early artificial reef development in Maryland Bay waters, which included shell piles. That they were outside the reef’s boundary was a surprise.
Boundary anomalies at Hollicutts Noose are probably the result, at least in part, to navigational positioning error using Loran C. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that there are other state-sponsored artificial reefs and reef deposits in the Chesapeake Bay (and also the Delaware Bay) which geographically aren’t where they’re supposed to be according to reef permits and recorded positions of deployed materials. There are also several reefs which were put in the wrong spot. (See “Southern Maryland Mystery Reef” at FishTalkMag.com). Loran-C was a significant advance in navigation technology especially
for ocean navigation, where electronic signals had the least interference from atmospheric and terrestrial effects. The technology had an advertised repeatable accuracy better than a quarter nautical mile. Readings were continuously available for fixing positions, a far cry from dead reckoning and periodic visual or celestial fixes. There was, however, the potential for interpolation error when transferring Loran line readings to paper charts. I recall being taught during navigation class at the Coast Guard Academy that there were also anomalies with Loran readings where landmasses could interfere with the electronic signals. Regardless, Loran C was pretty darn good. It produced very consistent readings and a boat operator could return to precise locations by following previously taken Loran line readings, even if the position was offset from the actual geographical location by signal interference. Neverthe-
# Chart 1: Out of bounds artificial reef deposits. Screenshots from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer. Photo insert courtesy of John Foster.
less, the error factor means that positions of reef materials recorded with Loran-C could be a hundred or more yards away from their actual geographic coordinates.
GPS and electronic charts have changed the face of modern navigation, positioning, and of finding reefs. With GPS, side-scan, and down-looking sonar, a small boat can get within feet of bottom features that might have otherwise eluded discovery. And we’re discovering how far things are from where we thought they were.
With this background knowledge, it wasn’t shocking that field observations using electronics and review of available data revealed anomalies in reported reef structure positions at some reefs. Materials that straddle or are just outside of official reef boundaries include the Love Point, Tilghman Island, Tangier Sound, Little Cove Point, and Cedar Point Fish Havens, as well as Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s (VMRC) Bluefish Rock Reef. Some of the outof-bounds materials are substantial, as shown by Chart 1. NOAA in some cases also administratively expanded fish haven boundaries to include reef deposits found outside of permitted reef sites. But for some, namely the Love Point, Hollicutts Noose, Tilghman Island, and Tangier
Sound Fish Havens and Bluefish Rock Reef, the boundaries haven’t been adjusted.
All of the aforementioned reefs except for Bluefish Rock Reef were established
during the period when Loran C was used. Why a small quantity of material is outside Bluefish Rock Reef is unknown, but the reef deposit is adjacent to the boundary. Onscene conditions could easily have shifted deployment vessel positions just enough to produce this result, as happened during a deployment at Tilghman Island Fish Haven during my watch as reef program manager. Loran C accuracy may also have contributed to a placement mishap whereby an Upper Bay reef deposit was put in the wrong place. Based on anecdotal information, we know now that demolition material from old bridges, about 4,000 cubic yards, was
# Chart 3: Top – Northern Neck Reef. Top right –annotated screenshot from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer. Photo insert from VMRC artificial reef webpage. Top left – Multibeam sonar of nested pipes. Screenshot from NOS DR H12041 (2009). Bottom – Approximate layout of Anglers Reef derived from VMRC artificial reef webpage.
# Chart 2: Fish haven “as-built” location compared to permitted coordinates. Offset attributed to Loran C navigational error factor.
planned for placement in the Tolchester Fish Haven in 1988. The deployment vessel dropped a barge load of material alongside the buoy Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had placed marking the center of the fish haven. The material was assumed to be well inside the reef site boundary, but the buoy was later found to be off station. Why is unknown. The position was within the Loran-C maximum margin of error, or maybe the buoy was snagged by a passing commercial vessel or by winter ice and dragged. Regardless, reliance on the accuracy of a buoy position resulted in material placement about 400 yards east southeast of the fish haven center point and out of bounds. The DNR notified NOAA, which added the fish haven to its database in 1989 and to subsequent nautical charts.
VMRC’s trapezoidal shaped Northern Neck and Anglers Reefs are well offset from the permitted geo-
graphic position (Chart 2), so much so that all of the deposited reef material is outside of the permitted boundary. In fact, two overlapping reefs are charted for each. Upon finding boundary discrepancies through hydrographic surveys, NOAA charted the geographically correct reef boundaries as well as the “as-built” reef boundaries.
The Virginia State Reef system is well developed and well-documented. VMRC reef webpages include grid diagrams for each fish haven showing the type and location of reef materials. With this attention to detail and having consulted with the former VMRC reef manager regarding reef development, we know the two major boundary discrepancies resulted from the navigation technology error factor.
Located on the east side of the shipping channel, Northern Neck Reef (left inserts, Chart 3) is a popular fishing destination for boats out of the Little Wicomico and Great Wicomico
Rivers. All four reef deposit areas at Northern Neck Reef are within the administratively added western trapezoid. The southwestern deposit consists of tetrahedrons that are partially covered with sediment. An area with reef balls just to the northeast fared better with less sedimentation. The smaller reef deposits northeast of the reef balls consist of nested concrete pipes and in past years have been a good place to float cut bait to the reef in a chum line for schoolies.
The most recent hydrographic survey at this writing for where Anglers Reef is located occurred during 1957, before the reef was established. So, the sounding data doesn’t show bottom masses that could be correlated with the VMRC reef grid for this site. As with Northern Neck Reef, all of the deposited reef material is outside of the permitted reef boundary but within the administratively drawn western trapezoid. Good fishing!
As well as being a regular contributor to FishTalk, Wayne Young is the author of multiple books detailing wrecks and fishing reefs in the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and beyond. All are available at Amazon.com, and you can find his Facebook page at “Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs.”
Tune in Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 6 p.m. for a new episode!
Presented by
episodes air on the first Thursday of the month on our Facebook page (facebook.com/fishtalkmag) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/fishtalkmagazine).
episodes at
FIVE MUST-HAVE SALTWATER LURES
for Beginners
By Staff
Make sure these top picks are in your tacklebox before you head for the Bay, tributary, or seashore.
Last month we took a stab at IDing five must-have fishing lures for freshwater beginners, and since we live here in Bay country it’s only natural that we follow that up by picking a top five for stalking the salt. Sure, opinions will differ as to which lures are best. But if you’re filling up your first tacklebox we think you’d be nuts to go without these epic goodies.
A Selection of Jigheads and the Plastics to Match
The stock and trade lure for rockfish, specks, redfish, and more, the simple leadhead and plastic tail probably account for more lurecaught fish caught in the Bay than any other offering. You’ll need a selection of heads from a quarter-ounce up to at least one ounce (there will be times when a strong current or breezy conditions warrant using larger), along with a variety of tails. A few of the finer points about each:
Heads: Don’t stress over color too much, but remember that most anglers agree that contrast between the head and tail is a good thing. Those with aggressive keepers work best when you slide on regular plastics, but when using the bite-proof variety a head with no keeper is far easier to rig up; use a drop of Gorilla Glue to secure the front of the tail to the back of the head. And get plenty of each size, because you will snag and lose these things—don’t get frustrated, that’s simply part of the game. G-Eyes are the Cadillacs of the jighead world, while heads like Got-Chas and Sea Strikers provide a lower-cost alternative (with lower quality paint, hooks, eyes, and keepers).
Tails: Feel free to stress over the color, because in this case it matters. White, pearl, and chartreuse and the big three. Pink and/ or Electric Chicken (pink and chartreuse together) are must haves and will beat out the big three some days, especially for specks. Purple or black should be in the box, too, for very low light conditions. Paddletails like the Killer Jigs Swimbaits, Bass Assassin Sea Shad, and NLBN work great but don’t be afraid to try others because truth be told, there are few paddletail plastics on the market that don’t provide an enticing wiggle. When toothy critters are around bite-proof versions like Z-Mans are in order. Paddletails are usually the best pick for beginners since they provide their own action, but once you get used to imparting some wiggle of your own with the rod tip, fluke-style tails or straight tails like the classic BKD will sometimes out-catch them. Four- and five-inch tails are a happy medium, but three-inchers are often better for finesse fishing in the shallows and you can go all the way up to 10-inchers when fish over 30” are the target.
Take your pick between the two (and there are a number of extremely similar topwater baits that are similarly productive), because both work great when there’s a topwater bite. They cast well, can be skipped under docks, and create a super-sweet walk-the-dog zigzag. Remind yourself that these lures do have their limitations; they won’t catch fish in much over a few feet of water unless a surface frenzy is taking place, and they aren’t a great pick for sunny afternoons. But when cast near structure at daybreak and dusk these lures generate adrenaline-pumping blow-ups that will keep you coming back for more. We do have one beef with them: they come rigged with treble hooks. Conscientious anglers will grab their split-ring pliers and swap ‘em out for inline single hooks to minimize the damage done to fish outside of the slot. A VMC 1/0 or 2/0 Inline will come close to matching the weight so the lure’s performance won’t suffer, and you’ll feel better about yourself when you slide that 18” rockfish back into the water unharmed.
Bill Lewis Lures Chrome/Blue Rat-L-Trap
When it comes to probing midwater depths for species ranging from stripers to bluefish and everything in-between, the Rat-L-Trap is tough to beat. It’s effective when cast and retrieved and is particularly well loved for slow-trolling. The eighth-ounce Tiny Trap is a great offering for white perch, but on the Bay the half-ounce version (a three-incher) will prove most versatile. As great as the RatL-Trap is we have the same beef as with the other plugs we’ve mentioned thus far: they come rigged with trebles, so swapping the hooks out is in order.
G-Eye Jigs Bay Rain Minnow
No saltwater angler’s tacklebox would be complete without some jigging spoons, and while there’s a wide range to choose from we give an edge to the Rain Minnow thanks to its compact, fast-sinking body and glittery flashabou teaser. These are great for vertical jigging, tying into tandem rigs, and ripping through a frenzy for Spanish mackerel or blues. They also work great as a bait delivery system when you’re dropping down to deep structure. One downside: they’re only available in half- and one-ounce models, so when going uber-deep on windy days you may need to use a different brand that offers two-ouncers.
Bloody Point Baits Chomper Head Parachute
No self-respecting troller on the hunt for rockfish would pull a spread of lures without at least a few of these in the mix, generally in two different forms: tied in tandem rigs, or pulled as the hook bait behind an umbrella rig. In either case they should be dressed with six-inch plastic shad for slot fish and summer trolling, or with nine-inch shad in winter or early spring when you’re hoping to catch and release a trophy. In fact, these and similar parachute-style lures dressed with plastic shad work so well that many anglers will pull nothing but a mix of tandems and umbrellas when they’re targeting rockfish in specific.
You say that tacklebox is overflowing? Well, when you hit the tackle shop to pick up these goodies you’re bound to find another lure or three or five that are too enticing to pass up, so you know what that means: it’s time for a bigger tackle box.
For more articles on how to learn to fish, visit fishtalkmag.com/tag/fishing-beginners
FATAL ATTRACTION Make sure your lure is doing this, not that.
By Lenny Rudow
The FishTalk fishing reports say there’s an epic bite going off in this very spot, you bought the exact same lure everyone raves about, and the conditions look ideal. But… you’ve caught bupkis. Could it be you’re missing some element that’s critical for success? Could the fish be off their feed for some inexplicable reason? Or, are you just cursed?!
Any or all could be true. But there’s also a good possibility that you’ve missed a critical detail affecting the way your lure or bait is presented. A detail that makes the difference between success and an empty cooler. The next time you find yourself fishless and flummoxed, make sure none of these five common foibles are the reason why.
1. Something Is Spinning
Excluding spinner blades that are meant to rotate around a lure or from the end of a swivel, a spinning lure or bait is a common curse. Ballyhoo that spin will never get attacked by a pelagic. Wobbling spoons that spin instead of wobbling will go untouched and create epic line twist tangles to boot. Same goes for cut baits that spin in the current. And jigs that spin as they fall usually won’t get intercepted as they head for the bottom. As a general rule of thumb lures and baits should swim and wiggle enticingly, not spin around in dizzying circles.
2. Something Is Dragging Instead of Swimming
Take a surgical hose eel out of the package, attach it to your trolling line, and send it over the side, and most of the time it’ll drag through the water in an entirely unlifelike manner. You need to put the hook through the eye, twist it into a figure-eight, and give a tug to put a bend in that hose so it swims instead of dragging. Similarly, if you rig a ballyhoo but fail to pop the row of scales along its back and limber it up, or if you over-brine it, it’ll have all the appeal of a stick. Live critters don’t drag, they swim— and your offerings need to swim, too.
#
There are times when everything seems right, but nothing seems to work.
# What’s in a lure’s name? Just getting a “Clark spoon” won’t necessarily put you down the right path, because their jigging spoons (top) and trolling spoons (bottom) are two entirely different types of lures.
3. Paddles Aren’t Paddling or Spinners Aren’t Spinning
All plastic paddletails are not created equally, and while some flip back and forth with vigor on a slow, steady retrieve, some do not. Whenever there’s a question in your mind pull one through the water next to the boat, and see if there’s a minimum speed it needs to travel or if twitches and jerks are necessary to get that tail in motion. Likewise, some spinners require a certain rate of speed to speed to start spinning. In some other cases a tiny bit of weed or algae can prevent that blade from doing its thing. If you don’t feel the “whump-whump-whump” of the rotating blade in your rod tip you need to figure out why that blade isn’t active and resolve the situation.
4. Brand Gets Mistaken for Model
This is something we see time and again, sometimes even among some fairly experienced anglers. When someone says X, Y, or Z is the hot bait, you need to make sure you have the exact type and model, not just the brand, or you might be chasing fish down a blind alley. The Clark Spoon is a great example: the “Original Clarkspoon” (lower above) is a wobbling spoon that’s too light to cast effectively in most scenarios, but provides great action on the troll. The “Clarkspoon Stick Jig” (upper above) is a jigging spoon that’s great for casting or vertical jigging, but looks blasé at best when trolled. Mix the two up, and you’ll be scratching your head wondering why everyone said the fish were hitting “Clark spoons.”
5. Set and Forget
Anytime a lure or bait remains in the water for an extended period of time it needs to be visually checked. Otherwise, you might reel up your offering hours later and find it covered in weeds, dragging a piece of snagged trash, or hanging in a mess of tangled leader. The more likely you’ll be collecting garbage (such as when you’re trolling through a weedy area or jigging over structure covered in sea squirts), the more often that lure or bait needs checking.
BONUS FOIBLE
Each and every time you free a snag, check the hook point and leader before taking another cast. Points can get bent or dulled and if you don’t pick up on it you might get strike after strike without hooking up. Leaders can get chafed and if you don’t notice you’ll break off when you finally do hook up. Make checking both a part of your post-snag process.
You say you keep all of the above in mind all of the time, yet still have trouble bringing home dinner? Well, maybe those dang fish just weren’t biting. Or, maybe you are cursed. Or, maybe one of a million other things isn’t right. Welcome to fishing, folks—the possibilities are endless.
Spotlight on the Susquehanna
The Susquehanna River is the Bay’s biggest tributary, and these five lower river hotspots might convince you it’s also the best.
By Staff
With 18 million gallons of water flowing through its mouth every minute, the Susquehanna River is often described as “mighty.” But for we anglers, it might better be described as “mighty good”—for fishing, that is. In its entirely freshwater zone the Susquehanna offers up excellent action on smallmouth bass, walleye, and catfish. And where it meets the Bay the river swarms with rockfish, perch, and these days snakeheads as well. Providing about half of the freshwater flow into the Chesapeake, at its mouth the famed Susquehanna Flats has at times generated a fishery nothing short of world-famous.
This is a B-I-G river, and in truth there are thousands of hotspots along the 440-
plus miles of its banks. Spoiler alert: we aren’t going to get to all of them. In fact, we aren’t even going to be able to scratch the surface, even though we’ll stick to just the lower river. But for an angler living in the Mid-Atlantic region these top five Susquehanna hotspots belong on your bucket list.
1. Peachbottom
Just over the MD/PA line the Peach Bottom area is still technically part of Conowingo Reservoir, but it’s certainly part of the Susquehanna too. Historically it drew attention in the winter months due to the warm water discharge at the atomic powerplant on the western shore. The real standout fishery here, how-
ever, is the fall bite for smallmouth and walleye (though flathead catfish can also be found in good numbers here), which should be getting ready to fire up soon.
Deep water pushes close up to the western shoreline south of the power plant and there’s even deeper water on the eastern shoreline from around the state line up to the point a mile north, and rocky shorelines plunge off into deep ledges. The key here isn’t finding deep water so much as it is finding the dramatic transition. Try bouncing a jig, blade-bait, spoon, or a similar lure that sinks relatively quickly down these edges and look for areas where underwater boulders cause visible eddies. Tip: smallmouth love brownish three-inch tube
# Smallmouth bass are a prime target for Susquehanna anglers.
jigs, and walleye love three-inch twister tails. But bring plenty of both, because getting snagged in that rocky bottom you’re bouncing along is quite common.
2. The Dam Pool
The Conowingo dam demarcates the tidal line for the Susquehanna, and here you’ll find mostly freshwater species along with some saltier surprises like rockfish. Smallmouth bass, walleye, flathead catfish, and during the runs shad and perch are all top targets. But this is an area subject to great variation depending on upriver rainfall and the opening of the dam’s floodgates. Sometimes the flow is too high, sometimes it’s too low, and we anglers will be happiest when it’s just right.
For the rockfish, anglers line the banks and cast jigs and plugs with the longest rods possible, often surf rods, to get far out into the pool. More riverine species like smallmouth and walleye are usually targeted by finding boulders and rocky holes which provide a break in the current, where you can offer up a paddle or twister tail jig, or a crankbait. If flatheads are in your sights nothing beats fishing a live bluegill, however, this is a catfish species that often strikes at lures as well.
3. Rt. 95 Bridge
About six miles downriver from the dam you’ll find the Rt. 95 bridge, the first of four bridges that tower over the river before its junction with the Bay. The deep waters below that busy highway offer some of the best fishing for blue catfish that you’ll find anywhere. Not just in the Bay tribs, but anywhere period. The blue showed up here in mass numbers a decade or so ago, and while you aren’t likely to find fish pushing up to the 100-pound mark—yet—there are swarms of 20- to 30-inchers, plenty of 20-pound fish, and more than a few pushing into the 30- to 40-pound range. Fishing for these catfish is about as straightforward as it gets. Simply tie on a fishfinder or float rig with a 6/0 to 10/0 circle hook, bait it up with cut fish, and send it down to the bottom. Most of the time any cut fish will work but gizzard shad are considered the gold standard. If bait is in short supply chicken livers and chicken breast soaked in cherry KoolAid can work wonders, too
1
2
5 4 3
4.Havre De Grace to Perryville
This lower section of the river has good catfish fishing most of the year and you can find all the usual suspects along the banks, but the reason this spot is a true standout is its winter perch fishing. Prior to the spring spawn hordes of yellow perch pack into the deep waters, creating one of the most reliable winter fisheries on the Bay. And some of these perch are magnificent—just last February the state record for yellow perch, which had stood since 1979, was broken when Thomas Dembeck, Jr. reeled in a 2.3-pound, 16-incher.
These fish can be targeted with a simple top-and-bottom rig baited with minnow and fished down deep. Many sharpies, however, scale down their tackle and fish tandem rigs with darts or small jigs tipped with live minnow.
5. The Susquehanna Flats
Although the Flats haven’t recently created the buzz of yesteryear, when rockfish populations were booming
and the Flats offered an angler’s very best opportunity to tie into the fish of a lifetime on light tackle or fly gear, this remains a prime destination for multiple fisheries. Depending on seasonality and closures, for much of the year it still proves awesome for anglers ISO rockfish both slot-sized and well beyond. Fishing for largemouth bass and snakeheads ranges from good to excellent through the warmer months of the year.
Fish topwater and other lures that stay near the water’s surface over the Flats’ weedbeds and around the weed’s edges. Look for clean water and on windy days search out upwind areas that are less churned. When the water is discolored or after a cold snap, probe the deeper channels around the flats with jigs and other lures that get a bit deeper. But before making a journey here keep tabs on the weather upriver, because heavy rains to the north and west can cause floodgate openings that turn the waters muddy.
Put a Plug in it
THE THRILL IS IN THE STRIKE
By Chuck Prahl
There was a time many years ago when surface plugging for rockfish was unheard of. Bob Pond, whom I knew well, introduced the Atom plug back in the 1960s. It soon became a favorite way of fishing for Maryland anglers that continues today. I was one of those early anglers that cast an Atom. These days I mainly cast shad bodies and bucktails because surface plugging requires more
energy than I am willing to expend, but I know well the reason for its popularity and still keep a few plugs handy for ideal situations.
I ran into that perfect situation recently while fishing a grass bed in the lower Choptank River. It was a calm overcast evening. Paddletails were catching but often became fouled in the grass, ruining the cast. I attached a popular plug designed for a walk-
the-dog retrieve. The first cast sailed far out over the field of grass. During the retrieve I thought I detected a swirl and then BAM, a solid hookup. I was thrilled—it’s not the fight that makes plugging so exceptional, it’s the strike. It is a noisy explosive hit that throws water and often reveals the whole fish. It’s nature, showing its most violent side. After landing that fish, the next cast drew an instant strike. This time, # When a fish like this explodes on a topwater plug… W-O-W!
however, the fish missed the plug and came back again and again, blasting the lure high into the air and then missing again. This continued all the way to the boat as everyone aboard watched in awe. Finally, right at the boat with the fish splashing water right in my face, I hooked up. The line screamed through the rod guides, but the striper soon succumbed to the net. Those few seconds will be long remembered as one of my best moments in plugging history.
There are two types of surface plugs. Chuggers are fished with a hard sweeping action that throws water and makes a loud pop to attract fish from great distances. A plug used for walking the dog (which can be called walkers, spook plugs, or floating stickbaits) is more often effective in calmer waters. It seems to attract rockfish even though its action is far less boisterous. This style of plug works best with a back-and-forth cadence applied by holding the rod tip high using a short pull and stop rod action that pulls the plug sideways and then back in the other direction so it zigzags along the surface.
Most surface plugs come from the manufacturer with treble hooks mounted fore and aft. Avid pluggers are replacing them with inline-eye single hooks, which probably hook a few less fish, but injury to the fish and the angler are reduced. Like I have said, the strike is the important part of surface plugging. I admit landing fish is also important, but most anglers are willing to sacrifice a few fish in the interest of saving some. Besides, almost all my personal injuries involving hooks have been with treble hooks on plugs. I once was impaled by a treble while trying to extract it while the fish was in the net. The fish made a flip and suddenly, the hook was in the net, in my finger, and hooked to my pants… I could not even stand up. (This was what I call a cluster you-know-what). Somehow, I freed myself from the net, cut the hook out of my pants with my free hand, and removed the fish which was shaking its head violently, driving
the treble through my finger. I reached my slip with the plug still hanging from my hand—another plugging experience I will never forget.
There are days when you know stripers are present but will not hit a plug, and there are other days when they seem to enjoy chasing but never fully committing themselves. There are so many other wonderful ways to catch rockfish,
so be prepared to change tactics when the fishing demands it. Shallow water anglers tend to fish shallow even when the bite is mostly in deep water. A complete angler will jig, throw bucktails or paddletails, and surface plugs as well. You may be committed to one type of fishing but it’s smart to know when to change and know how to skillfully apply new tactics and the tackle required.
Beginner anglers: check out “How to Fish Topwater Lures for Beginners” at FishTalkMag.com.
Experienced anglers: check out “Kinetic Potential: Hone Your Topwater Fishing Skills,” also at the website.
# The author with a rockfish caught on topwater.
LEADER for Beginners
By Ian Rubin
Sometimes the difference between a bite and a break-off is just a few feet of invisible insurance.
Leader is a critical part of your setup: if you use too light of a line you might lose a fish and if you go too heavy you may get less bites. There are a lot of factors that go into selecting a leader, such as how good the target fish’s eyesight is, the water clarity, the type of fishing you are doing, and proximity to structure.
Leader Basics
First, let’s discuss what a leader even is and why you should use it. Your setup has multiple components: the rod, reel, mainline, leader, and bait. The leader helps disguise your mainline, acting as a barrier between it and the bait so that the fish see as little as possible. Some fish have good eyesight and can be extremely lineshy, and using a leader helps trick the fish by making your presentation look more natural. Aside from giving you a stealthy edge, leader has many other important benefits such as abrasion resistance around structure, shock absorption, and the ability to use a lighter mainline.
Braid has a lot of great pros, mainly the thinner diameter and lack of stretch or memory, but it’s also very poor at resisting abrasion. Monofilament has thicker diameter and more stretch and memory, but it’s also better at resisting abrasion. By using monofilament leader (often in the form of fluorocarbon, which is the type of monofilament with the least visibility underwater) in combination with your mainline you are able to harness the pros of both. That abrasion resistance is a must if you’re fishing around heavy cover
such as bridge pilings, docks, oyster beds, or rocks, and your leader can take much more of a beating than straight braid would. The next big plus
is shock absorbency; since braid has very little stretch it can be a little too easy to pull or even bend out your hook when a fish shakes its head
For more article on how to learn to fish, visit fishtalkmag.com/tag/fishing-beginners
# That leader is a critical connection between you and the fish.
Leader for Beginners
or jumps. Using a leader lessens the chance of this, especially when using thin hooks. Another big plus of using leader is the ability to use a lighter mainline and fit more line on your spool. If you set your drag properly you can handle very big fish on super light gear.
All Knotted Up
For attaching your leader to your mainline there are tons of different knot options. For lighter lines the Alberto knot, Albright Knot, or Uni knot are great options. (TIP: Always use a little saliva to lubricate your knots before synching them down tight). For heavier leaders over 60 or 80 pounds the FG knot or PR Bobbin are hard to beat due to the impressive breaking strength. (TIP: Use a lighter to melt and “mushroom” the tag end of the leader material on heavy lines over 80 pounds, and a few drops of liquid super glue to lock your wraps in place once you synch the knot down). A good rule of thumb to determine how long to make your leader length is
to make it a little longer than the biggest fish you think you might catch. For instance, if targeting trophy stripers or drum, a 40” to 50” leader line will prevent the fish’s scales or gill plate from slicing through your braid. However, try to avoid having your leader long enough that it runs through the top guide every time you cast because this can wear down your knot.
Size Matters
When it comes to selecting what pound test leader to go with, it’s important to consider the factors mentioned earlier including species eyesight, water clarity, and proximity to the structure you are fishing. As a general rule the lighter (and thinner) the leader is, the more likely fish are to strike. If you are marking fish or seeing fish not committing, you can try downsizing to a lighter leader to improve your chances of fooling the fish. Here are some basic recommendations for what size leader to go with for some common species:
Catfish: 40- to 80-pound test, depending on where you are fishing and if you are targeting channel cats or big blue catfish and flatheads.
Common Bay species including schoolie striped bass, flounder, speckled trout, and slot redfish: 20- to 30-pound test, going on the light side in open water or heavier if you’re fishing around oysters or docks.
Common Bay species with very sharp teeth, like bluefish and Spanish mackerel: 30-pound test, but if you are getting bitten off consider switching over to a light wire leader.
Largemouth bass: Eight- to 15-pound test.
Perch and spot: Six- to 12-pound test.
Pickerel: 12- to 20-pound test.
Snakehead: 20- to 25-pound test (however, when fishing in thick grass, vegetation, or with thick gauge hooks, remember that casting straight braid with no leader can be beneficial to slice through the vegetation and aid in a strong hookset).
Trophy stripers: 30- to 50-pound test.
Very large Bay species like cobia or bull redfish: 40- to 60-pound test, going on the light side in open water or heavier if you’re fishing around oysters or pilings.
Whether you’re finesse fishing for perch or targeting bull reds on heavy tackle, choosing the right leader is critical. And always remember, if fish are following but not committing, downsizing your leader is one of the best adjustments you can make on the fly—just don’t downsize too much, or those bites will quickly become break-offs. #
CHESAPEAKE AND MID-ATLANTIC
FISHING FORECAST
Gathered from our reports by Dillon Waters
We all know printed fishing reports are generalized, and weeks have passed before the report gets into your hands. For timely, up-to-date reports, visit our website FishTalkMag.com. Current reports will be published every Friday by noon — just in time for your weekend fishing adventures. In the meantime, here’s our monthly prognostication.
Coastal
As summer enters its final phase billfish anglers will be getting ready for an early fall push and with a little luck, those whites will give us a few double-digit days before the month of September is out. Back inshore, meanwhile, everyone from surf anglers to inlet junkies will be finding easier fishing conditions as the summer crowds thin out. The sheepshead bite has been a highlight during this month for the past few years, so hopefully tossing fleas and crab up near the rocks and pilings will prove productive.
Freshwater
Has it begun to cool off yet? Many fish will still be in the summer doldrums at the beginning of this month, but after a few cool nights expect the action to heat up for bass, crappie, snakeheads, and more. Just cross your fingers we don’t get a water-muddying hurricane passing through, because that can shut things down in a heartbeat.
Way North
As long as no big storm systems rile the waters this is usually a great time to hit the dam pool and lower Susquehanna, where blue cats will be in abundance, smallmouth will be feeding hard, and slot rockfish may well also be in attendance. Also remember that in recent years the Flats and the Northeast have provided excellent late summer snakehead action.
# Here’s a blast from Septembers past, when Zach showed Tim how it’s done.
Upper Bay
Count on the first few chilly evenings to spike the striper action, and let’s hope we get a few before we get too far into September. If past is prologue, the mouth of the Patapsco, the mouth of the Chester, and the Rock Hall area should all be good bets. Hopefully the perch bite will accelerate as summer wears away, too.
Middle Bay
Considering how the Middle Bay bite has been thus far this year it’s tough to say what September will bring, but there should still be croaker around and we can usually count on the presence of bull reds and maybe even a few cobia to spice things up between casts to rockfish. Keep your eyes peeled for birds, because this is the time of year when blues, rock, and maybe Spanish mackerel will begin mixing things up and busting on top.
Lower Bay
Get in your shots at cobia before the clock runs out, but also remember that we get a few more days to give it a try this year as the season has been extended to September 20. With a little luck maybe last year’s run of scary-big chopper blues will rematerialize, and remember that the bite for slot reds in the shallows of the Lower Bay was also excellent last September.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore
Anglers in this zone are undoubtedly waiting for the peak of the heat to pass so specks and reds return to the shallows of the Sound’s islands and creeks. Expect those fish to remain in slightly deeper water until we get a few cool nights, but you can still get ‘em if you probe structure in 10’ or 15’ of water. Meanwhile, there’s a good shot of finding big bull reds and maybe some cobia as well out in the open water.
Way South
The slightly longer cobia season will keep anglers busy a little later into the month, but after the 20th it’ll be catch and release action, only. That can make it a tough call: do you crank on cobia, or set your sights on the monster bull redfish that will almost certainly be swarming the CBBT at this point in time? Oh, and you can count on the specks and slot reds to pick up the pace a bit once the heat of summer begins cooling off, too.
Current reports will be published on our website every Friday by noon, just in time for your weekend fishing adventures.
FishTalk’s weekly fishing reports are presented by:
# Our intrepid Reports Editor Dillon Waters, in release mode.
Paddler’s Edge
Hey, Put Your Stuff Away
By Eric Packard
You just got out on the water and thought that you were ready to take that first cast, but you forgot to change your bait before you launched. Now, where did you put that box of plastics? Where did you stow those quarter ounce jig heads? Where are the snips? Finding and reaching for your gear can pose problems if it’s not properly stowed away on your kayak.
Today’s fishing kayaks are built with various locations for storage. There are hatches, tiedowns, and spaces to place your tackle storage boxes and tools. You should utilize them to fit your specific needs. It’s all about maximizing your storage and having easy access to your tackle while out on the water. Proper planning and a dedication to placing each item in its proper location every time, so you can recall where it is and reach it easily when you need it, is key to success.
I have a place for each item that I might need during the day. Pliers, scissors, and lip grips are stored in a tool pouch to my right; the baits that I picked for the day are in waterproof stowaway utility boxes stored in a drawer under my seat and a storage space on starboard gunnel; the port side gunnel storage space holds all my plastics. A storage crate, located behind my seat and strapped to the kayak, holds a battery for the electronics, leader material, a first aid kit and other items. To find more about crate storage systems visit FishTalkMag.com and read “The Great Crate Debate.”
Your tools can also be stored in a rail-mounted toolholder for easy access, so they aren’t scattered on the floor of your boat where they may get kicked over the gunnel and down into Davy Jones locker. For your wallet, fishing licenses, permits, and paperwork, get a waterproof
Totally Tethered
Don’t forget that you can utilize retractable lanyards for many of your lighter tools, like snips and hemostats. Clip these to your life jacket and you’ll never have to fumble around looking for them again.
polycarbonate storage box you can put in the crate. Secure it with a lanyard for an extra level of protection. It’s also good to carry a dry bag for a small survival kit, with things like matches, a space blanket, and a mirror. Items like this which you don’t need to access on a regular basis can be stored in a hatch, along with must-haves you want to keep onboard like rain gear. These will be tougher to get to, but you shouldn’t need to take them out very often. Most of the items going into a hatch compartment should also be placed in a waterproof storage bag for additional protection.
What I have discovered through the years is that it’s best to keep your storage solutions as simple as possible. Take only what you need for the day and keep all your items in the same location on each and every outing. This removes doubt and saves time finding a tool or a bait when you need it asap. If I need an item, always know where to reach for it without hesitation—so I can take that next cast without hesitation.
# Each tacklebox and tool has a dedicated spot.
Charters, Guides, and Headboats
One of the most difficult ways to learn how to fish the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean is trial and error. Then there’s the boat issue; we don’t all have one. Luckily, the Bay is full of knowledgeable guides and charter captains ready to show you the ropes. Below you will find a directory of professional guides, charter boats, and head boats to get you started on your quest for the perfect fish. Whether you like to fly fish, troll, or bottom fish, there’s likely a local expert who can lend a hand.
2007 Yamaha SX210 Great family boat! Dual Yamaha 110Hp 1052CC engines w/ jet drives, and much more! $21,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com
New 2024 Sportsman Open 212 F150XC Yamaha Outboard, INCLUDES Venture Aluminum Trailer, Explorer Blue w/ White Bottom, Polar White Upholstery, White Powder Coating, Platinum Package is now Standard, Premium Dual Chair Leaning Post w/ Flip-Up Bolsters and Armrests, Standard SeaKeeper Ride System, Standard Garmin GPSMap 1243xsv MFD 12”, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20570
2025 Bayliner T22SC Mercury 200HP XL 4S Non-DTS Warm Fusion White Outboard, (Trailer Available), Bimini Package (Stainless Steel Upgrade, SB Windshield Wiper, Bimini Top w/Boot, Pop Up Cleats, Dual Battery Switch & Tray), Comfort Package (Portable Head, Transom Shower, Cockpit Table, Bow Block Off w/Bow Filler Cushion), Tech Package (Rockford Fosgate Stereo, Interior and Exterior Lighting, Vessel View Mobile), Ski Tow Pylon, and more! $94,730 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21067
2006 Parker 2320 Sport Cabin In great condition and well-maintained. New batteries. Has Garmin navigation and sonar. Yamaha 225. Lift kept. $42,500 Call 410.980.9487 or chriszarba@yahoo.com For more photos, visit: www.tinyurl.com/2006Parker
2017 TideWater 230 XLF Yamaha F250 Vmax (253 Hours), 300hr Service was completed 2 years ago and a 100hr Service was completed this spring. Aluminum Tandem Axle Trailer, Garmin GPSMap, Standard Horizon Eclipse VHF, Gull Wings, Sprayshield, Dual Battery and Switch, Underwater Lights, White Bottom Paint, Trim Tabs, Outriggers, JVC Stereo KD-MR1BT, Missing 2 Cushions in Bow and 1 in the Transom, and more! $64,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21230
To advertise in the Brokerage and Classified sections, contact beatrice@fishtalkmag.com
2024 Steiger Craft 23 Miami Yamaha F250 Digital Controls (108 Hours), Warranty until 7/20/29, Venture Trailer, Garmin 1243xsv, 2nd Garmin 1243xsv (Exterior of Cockpit), Garmin Fantom Radar, Garmin GT56 Side Scan, Sionyx, Horizon VHF, Bracket, Wiring, and Setup for future Trolling motor and Humminbird Transducer, Humminbird Solix 10” Screen with 2 dedicated transducers, Sea Dek Flooring, Drop Canvas, Helm Tackle Cabinet, Battery Charger, Cabin Hatch, Cockpit Bolsters, Hose Trays, Portside Pedestal, Raw Water Washdown, Rocket Launcher, 2 Additional Rod Holders, Spot Light, Spreader Lights, Windlass, Windshield Wiper. $124,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com, #21256
2018 Yamaha 242 Limited S Super clean single owner boat sold by us! 300 Hours and ready to go! $56,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com
2019 Key West Boats 244CC Yamaha F300UCA Outboard (473 Hours), Load Rite Aluminum Trailer, Garmin 7616 GPS, Uniden VHF Radio, Hardtop, Dual Battery, Portable Head, Raw Water Washdown, Windlass, Trim Tabs, Bottom Paint, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21162
2025 Bayliner T25 Explorer 225 V6 Digital Throttle and Shift, Smartcraft w/ Hydraulic Steering Outboard, (trailer available), Solid White Hull and Bottom, USA Premium Package (Bimini w/ Complete Enclosed Canvas, Enclosed Head w/Sea Toilet, Extended Swim Platforms, Hardtop Spreader Light, Shorepower, Trim Tabs, Port & Starboard Wipers w/Washer, Cockpit Table, Bow Thruster, Fusion Stereo w/6 Speakers, Cockpit L-Lounge, Cockpit Sun Lounge), Cabin Comfort Package, and more! $139,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats. com, www.riversideboats.com #20921
New 2024 Sportsman Masters 267OE XF450 Yamaha OutboardWhite, INCLUDES Venture aluminum trailer, Ice Blue w/ White Bottom, Polar White Upholstery, White Powder Coat, Half-Tower w/ Second Station, Second Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv 12”, On-Board Battery Charging System (2-Bank), ShipsDek Custom Flooring, and more! $179,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20563
2015 Grady-White 330 Express Loaded Express ready to fish offshore or cruise the Chesapeake! Low Hours. $299,99 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com
1990 Sportfish 42’ Twin 3208 cats. 8kw Onan, teak cockpit, transom door, pulpit, centerline queen in owner's cabin, double berth guest cabin, head w/ walk in shower, galley up, custom all-teak interior, hard top on flybridge. $49,000 Potomac River. 704.425.4108
MARKETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS
Help Us Get Our Magazines into Local Hands – SPF
Seeking Baltimore Distribution Driver! SpinSheet, PropTalk, and FishTalk (SPF) are seeking a reliable part-time delivery driver for our Baltimore route. Flexible schedule – one to three days per month. Twenty or so stops per publication with room to grow the route, which equals more pay! Pickup is in Annapolis. Applicants must have valid driver’s license, a dependable vehicle, and the ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Email info@spf-360.com to learn more.
Seeking Part-Time Delivery Driver – Upper Shore
Route Reliable driver needed for Maryland magazine deliveries, 3-6 days/month. Route covers Centreville, Chestertown, Rock Hall, Georgetown, Cecilton, Chesapeake City, Elkton, North East, and surrounding towns. Magazines are picked up in Annapolis. Compensation is based on the number of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, a dependable vehicle, and ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Email info@spf-360.com for more information.
HELP WANTED
The Annapolis Boat Show is Hiring Come work at the event of the year in Annapolis! Flexible schedules and job descriptions from August to October. Can you smile and greet vendors? Can you lift, bend and carry? Can you welcome patrons and answer their questions? Enjoy hourly wages, free entry to the shows, free food and a completion bonus. For additional information and to apply, please visit www. annapolisboatshows.com/job-opportunities or www. annapolisboatshows.com
Advertising Sales Representative Are you on a search for the ultimate full-time gig that pays you well, requires you to get out and enjoy the water, where all of your co-workers are super cool, and where flip-flops and shorts are considered business casual? We are in growth mode, and we are looking for that special advertising sales rep who understands how to work and play hard. If you think you will excel in creating sales and marketing solutions for advertisers then we would love to chat with you. Contact mary@spf-360.com today!
MARINE SERVICES
TACKLE SHOPS
Alltackle.com 2062 Somerville Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410.571.1111, and 12826 Ocean Gateway #9548, Ocean City, MD 21842, 410.213.2840, alltackle.com
Anglers Sport Center 1456 Whitehall Road, Annapolis, MD 21409, 410.757.3442, anglerssportcenter.com
Seattle Yachts Annapolis announces that Matt Weimer has joined its team. Matt is a Certified Professional Yacht Broker and a seasoned marine professional with over 30 years of experience spanning nearly every corner of the boating industry—from delivery captain and private yacht skipper to sailing instructor, commercial marine sales, and deck utility on tugboats. Since 2019, he has been a full-time yacht broker, combining hands-on expertise with deep market knowledge to help clients confidently buy and sell both power and sail vessels. A native of Annapolis, Matt grew up sailing the Chesapeake Bay. His boating resume includes offshore miles across the US, Caribbean, and Europe, and he continues to stay closely connected to the water and the lifestyle that surrounds it. What sets Matt apart is his commitment to customer satisfaction and lasting relationships. He is known for being responsive 24/7 and is most proud of the referrals he receives from satisfied clients—a testament to the trust he builds with every transaction. Seattle Yachts is excited to welcome Matt to the team! The company also shares an upcoming event, the Fall Boat Show Preview Open House, September 19-20. Team members will be on site to walk customers through in-stock Nimbus Powerboats, including the T9, C9, W11, C11, and 305 Coupe. The hours for the event are Friday 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seattle Yachts Annapolis at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard. There will be a Chalk Talk with Chris Humphries on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Topic: Adding Starlink, Solar, Lithium Batteries, and Generators: General information, Comparisons, and Installation—Which is right for you? There will be a Nimbus dockside reception beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday. seattleyachts.com
This bit of news is not our typical announcement, but it comes from our long-time supporter BOE Marine. Jim Maier, the CEO of BOE Marine, shares that his son, Ben Maier, is now officially a NASCAR driver at only 16 years old. We know it’s not boating related, but this was too cool not to share! Ben made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Lime Rock Park for Young’s Motorsports earlier this summer. “I am so excited for this opportunity,” said Maier. “When working with the limited resources our family has, a kid like me is not supposed to be able to make it to NASCAR. I’m so thankful for Tyler Young and Young’s Motorsports for taking this chance on me. I’ll give them my best effort.” On Facebook Jim Maier said, “Been waiting to announce this one! I am so damn proud of this kid. Not even sure how we got here, but here we are. Got a NASCAR driver in the family. Go get 'em kid.” boemarine.com
New Product
Okuma Fishing Tackle is known for offering fly anglers an impressive blend of performance, value, and reliability. That commitment continues with the launch of the all-new Integrity Fly Reels—a refined series built for anglers seeking rugged performance in a reel that won’t compromise their budget. Designed to tackle everything from delicate mountain streams to hard-pulling inshore species, the Integrity Fly Reel pairs robust construction with a smooth, confidence-inspiring drag system. At the heart of the Integrity is Okuma’s ALC: Alumilite diecast aluminum frame, delivering outstanding strength and structural rigidity. Its large arbor spool increases backing capacity and enables faster line pickup—key for keeping up with fast-running fish and reducing line memory during long days on the water. Built with a multi-disk Carbonite drag system, the Integrity provides smooth, consistent pressure across the fight. A one-way roller bearing ensures reliable hooksets and drag engagement in one direction only, keeping control firmly in the angler’s hands. Whether you’re chasing trout, bass, or redfish, the Integrity Fly Reel delivers the features and durability to meet the moment. With easy left- or right-hand retrieve conversion and four versatile sizes—3/4, 4/5, 6/7, and 8/9—this reel adapts to a wide range of techniques and target species. The new Integrity Fly Reels are available now starting at $89.99 and include a one-year limited warranty. okumafishingusa.com
New Places To Pick Up FishTalk
Let’s give a warm welcome to these new FishTalk distribution stops!
• Annapolis Harbormaster (new location: 4 Dock Street, Suite 100) in Annapolis, MD