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Random Quote: I've upped my standards...............so up yours
going out of sandy point to chase the stripers. this is my first boat and first trip out. i was planning on trolling some umbrella rigs from 6am till about 10 to see what happens, then if thats not working i was going to try some bloodworms on some circle hooks on a bottom rig by the bridge. any advice is appreciatted!
My advice to you, and I'm not trying do be a smarta$$, is wait till Monday! There will be soooo many boats out there Sat & Sun. you'll damn near be able to walk across the bay and not get your feet wet. Trust me. But if you have no choice, schedulewise, go for it but try to head south at least to the Choptank. You'll do much better down there. The biggest problem w/ Opening Weekend is that everyone is trolling North to South, because they don't have a choice, and the BEST way to troll the bay for Rockfish is east to west, or vice versa. I'll never fish Opening Weekend again.
I've always done better more north on opening weekend. Everyone is going to flock to Bloody and Thomas point. The last 3 years, whether on my boat or a friends', we had our limit staying within a mile of the bay bridge. There are some good contours on the east side of the main channel. I like to take all the inline weights out of my spread and stay inbetween 35 and 65 feet of water. The conditions vary every year - so there is no sure thing. Just be safe and have fun!
Here are some suggestions:In the spring, up high (line wts from 0 to 8 oz), way back (125 to 200 ft), go slow (3 mph).
Use stinger hooks. That's a second hook with large eye that slips over the point of the first hook and is also embedded in the plastic shad. Put the stinger in the shad first, near the tail, then the lure hook from the nose down thru and out thru the stinger eye. Both tips emerge on top of shad.
Use large bucktail or parachute lures, 4 or 6 oz with #10 hooks, large plastic shad, on the umbrella or rigged in tandem.
Bring in and check the lures every 30 minutes. Bay is dirty now and a fouled lure catches nothing.
Set drag tight so hook is set by the strike. Don't jerk the rod. Let fish take it for minute or so, then pull it in.
__________________ DBurbage
Skipper of Skyuka of Deale,MD
Parker 2530 DVEC
I am planning on it early Saturday but with the forecast of 25 out of the NE....just can't say it'll be worth it in the Mid - Bay area. I have enjoyed some fun with them already anyway so maybe I can wait till Sunday...
i plan on being at sandy point ramp around 6am. how crowded do you all think it will be? i heard from the weather that it will be a pretty calm day, did anyone hear different?
Solomons, Solomons, Solomons. Friend pre-fished yesterday, and caught 17 (16 keeper sized) in 3 hrs. trolling umbrellas high in the water column. Also, water looks stinky from the Choptank northward, and last year when it also was discolored up north, trollers did poorly above the bridge. Have also heard of some in the Deale area and pound nets in West River are full of them. RE the herring--if you can get fresh stuff, and put it on the bottom, being in the area of discolored water does not seem to be such a killer. Last year opening day we fished fresh menhaden on bottom well north of the bridge, and while the trollers struck out, we caught 3 by 8:30am. Good luck!
I will be out for a short morning troll from 6-9am in the BB sector despite the area not having good water. i have family obligations during the day but I will be glad just to be on the boat.
As of right now the wind is blowing like he!![small craft are posted ].The last time I fished on opening weekend I had to pull my spread just to be able to turn around.I won`t do that again.I will probably fish every day next week.As dirty as the water is I`m going to haul down to Solomons to get to some clean water.
I am going up the Choptank for a break in cruse. Not fishing this weekend to crowded and the amount of junk in the water. It is just not worth taking a chance of hitting something in the bay. Have heard that there are logs, trees, oil tanks, etc.
Sir, if this is your first tip out on your first boat, I suggest that you forego the fishing for another day and spend some time learning your boat, how it handles and reacts and things like that. I know the urge is tough to overcome, but the knowledge of your boat is far more important.. just my .02..
Whatever you do, Good luck!
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
striper fishing-chesapeake bay this weekend 
