Is my boat big enough for bay bridge tunnel rockfishing? - The Hull Truth

bridgeman · 10-30-2007, 05:35 PM

I have an 18 starcraft center console that I fish lake erie with when the winds aren't howling, I have never fish the bay and would like to try my hand at fishing saltwater for stripers but don't want to get into trouble, four or five footers are about my pucker point. I've fished many times in saltwater but on charters but offshore for tuna, wahoo etc. never caught a rockfish, anybody fish with a comparable sized boat? What wind directions and/or velocities should I avoid when planning at trip down there, it will be a 6-7 hour drive and I'd prefer not to stand at the ramp and watch whitecaps.

DrJim · 10-30-2007, 06:55 PM

That is too small. I like to more optimistic but that is the reality. Mid-summer cobia fishing, maybe on a nice, day but fall/winter striper fishing is asking a bit much

rockboat78 · 10-30-2007, 08:09 PM

I have been fishing in those waters on vaction several times..... I have never been when it was calm water... It has always been ruff. I would suggest for you to get something bigger... On the other hand, I seen people in a 16 foot Jon boat... Judgment is like an Opinion, everyone has different ideas... Good Luck.

jschmidt63 · 10-30-2007, 08:14 PM

well I would argue a 18 boat is okay for the BBT if you check the NOAA forecast, pick your days and put in close, like at Lynnhaven for island 1 to 3 or Kiptopeke if you fish the upper end. But whatever the weather is I wouldnt put in at say Messick Pnt or Willouby and go from there. I have put in my 17' whaler at Lynnhaven several times including winter and had no problems, but I am very careful about picking days. You will see many 18' class boats out there when the weather is good. When the weather is bad however, stay in the rivers.

Edit to add. I look at NOAA forcast for several days of 5 knt wind with swells 2' or less and pick a middle day. A north wind is a warning sign, swell picks up down bay.

And as always, good pdfs, proper clothes, vhf radio, charts, enough fuel, maintained motor, etc.

Good luck.

John

Mud Runner · 10-30-2007, 08:30 PM

Your boat is OK for the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel. If you look for days with a westerly component, you can fish 10-15 up to the first island. If the direction changes you can fish the Hampton Roads bridge tunnel or the James River bridge depending on the wind. They are close to each other soit's not a long trip. The ramps at the two latter places are alsoFREE. If you fish the CBBT at night, you can fish close to the beach with top water lures and really have a blast. We've had nights where we've caught and releases over 80fish in three hours. Look over some charts to become familiar with the areas. When my nephew came up fromN.C.and couldn't get out at CBBT, he ripped them atthe James River. Always use good judgement on weather. Good luck.

B-Faithful · 10-30-2007, 10:00 PM

Here are some photos a guide posted online last year. It can get rough quick or lay down quick. If the wind is bucking the tide...... Look out! (I have had waves coming over my high bow)

thubert57 · 10-31-2007, 06:10 AM

Like Mud Runner said, there are several fishable places in the lower bay depending on the wind direction. I agree that most anything under 15 kt you can find a place to fish.

I will repeat, a North or Northeast wind will be more difficult.

FLYROCK · 10-31-2007, 07:27 AM

You can certainly fish in that size boat if you stay aware of the weather as mentioned above, but I like to be in a boat that is in the 20' and up range. Mainly because I don't like getting beat up anymore. When I was younger it didn't bother me as much, but now I want to be more comfortable.

bridgeman · 10-31-2007, 05:37 PM

Thanks for your opinions, I'll settle for a few more years of fishing erie and the occasional offshore charter until I get my daughters thru college . Got my heart set on a regulator or a seacraft then.

B-Faithful · 10-31-2007, 07:02 PM

Best thing to do is hire a guide for a day or so. You will learn the area and how to fish it. Plus with what you save on fuel towing the boat down there, it could be put towards a guide.

redneck7 · 10-31-2007, 11:19 PM

I typed a nice long story comparing what B-Faithful's pictures look like to what I experienced one day out there last summer...but I deleted it and I'll condense it down to this:

I'm 21, and do real dumb things in terms of taking risks...but I learned my lesson out in the bay...and I wouldn't go out there in an 18ft boat unless I were fishing the first island out of Lynnhaven or the high rise or maybe the 4th island or the Anglo African from somewhere up on the Eastern Shore.

Best of luck.

Jzero · 11-07-2007, 07:39 AM

I'm thinking that Mr faithful is being a little dramatic. Any body of water of any significant size can get rough in a 30 knot wind. Generally you can fish anywhere on the bay in wind
that doesn't exceed 10 knots, which is most of the summer. Much of the time during the summer the water is flat as a pancake with 0 wind, I know cause I'm a sailor too.
The spot those pictures were taken at by the bay bridge tunnel is a shallow bar where a incoming tide pushed by the wind stacks up and makes tremendous waves in a stiff breeze. Look at the rest of the photo album and you will see pictures of the same water in better conditions.

run out · 11-14-2007, 05:44 AM

Boat is big eneough in rite condition as they been saying. I always check with a web site called national
data bouy center, click on southeast US then ches; bay area then cbbv2 and it gives you real time bay
winds and prediticions for the next 5 days. Went out last nite between 430 and 700 and slayed the
dinks, it was flat enough i could of pulled a skier behind me on the way home.
PS don't forget your virginia fishing permit.

Down Time 226 · 12-29-2007, 04:30 AM

18 foot is plenty. The boat will take a lot more than you can. Check out the fishing out of Eastern Shore ports like Kiptopeake or Cape Charles. You won't have to go as far for fish if the wind whips up. Like the posters said above, a northern wind (especially northeast) makes it tough in a smaller boat, south west is best