Monday, October 13, 2014

Chesapeake Bay Stripers Are Getting Ready To Rock



While the summer is winding down for many Chesapeake Bay vacationers, things are just heating up for fall fishing. October marks the time when striped bass, otherwise known in the Bay region as rockfish, start swimming home.

The migratory fish, most of which have been summering up north in the cool waters of New England, join the rest of the coastal stock in the Bay once temperatures start to drop. Packing on some extra pounds (some as much as 50), the rockfish pause to feed on smaller fish that migrate out for the winter. After their stopover, most head further south to winter homes off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.

Once in the Chesapeake, the rockfish prefer to munch on Menhaden, Spot and Croakers, closely following the forage fish along the 200-mile main stem of the Bay. Location of the group varies according to water temperature and salinity. A cool fall can signal a banner year for fishing in the Maryland portion of the middle and upper Bay, while a warm fall can make for more challenging conditions in the lower sections. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) keeps track of the fluctuations in water temperature and salinity through their Interpretive Buoy System, key to finding the fishing hotspots.

You can join the thousands of fishermen from around the country that will descend on the Bay October/November for several rockfish tournaments. Visit the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA) Fall Classic or book a charter through Miss Grace Charters and join the action.

To learn more about Rockfish go to http://www.striperspace.com/chesapeake.html

Posted by Carole Funger


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