FishTalk Magazine November 2022

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32 40

Features

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Future Perfect

The phrase “take a kid fishing” may seem a bit cliché to some, but the future of fishing starts with today’s youth — so let’s hear from them.

By Charlie Sutphin

34

Late Fall at PLO

As the water chills off late in the fall, Point Lookout becomes a prime destination. By Lenny Rudow

36

Delaware Ocean Structure Part II: East of Indian River

Flounder, sea bass, triggerfish, and more can be found at the wrecks and reef sites off the Delaware coast. By Wayne Young

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He Said, She Said

There’s more than one way to skin a catfish.

By Lenny Rudow

40

November Is the New October Look for these late season bites to provide action that beats historical norms. By Staff

42

Kingfish for Beginners

These tasty panfish are a common catch along the coast. By Staff

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Options for Fall Trout

Between fall stockings and wild populations, there are plenty of ways to catch trout in the fall.

By Jim Gronaw

John Billings scored this fall football last year fishing off of Chesapeake Beach.

612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD 21403 (410) 216-9309 FishTalkMag.com

ANGLER IN CHIEF

Lenny Rudow, lenny@fishtalkmag.com

PUBLISHER

Mary Iliff Ewenson, mary@fishtalkmag.com

A SSOCIATE 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. Roderick, beatrice@fishtalkmag.com

ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER Zach Ditmars, zach@fishtalkmag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRODUCTION A SSISTANT Royal Snyder, royal@fishtalkmag.com

TACTICIAN Craig Ligibel

COASTAL CORRESPONDENT John Unkart

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alan Battista, Jim Gronaw, Chuck Harrison, Capt. Monty Hawkins, Eric Packard, David Rudow, Mollie Rudow, Wayne Young

DISTRIBUTION

Martin and Betty Casey, Gregory G. Greenwell Sr., Dave Harlock, Ron and Colleen Ogden, John and Chrissy Wathen

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 beatrice@fishtalkmag.com.

© 2022 Rudow’s FishTalk LLC

Rudow’s

Notes from the Cockpit

By Lenny Rudow

How Close is too Close?

Recently I was standing on the deck of a good friend’s center console, chasing birds with a half dozen or so other boats. One school dove but another popped up, and as my friend moved us closer to the fracas I had a moment of internal cringe as we came bit too close to one of the other boats for my comfort. Someone on that boat shot us an unhappy glance, and my buddy looked over at me and said, “I didn’t get too close to him, did I?”

A discussion ensued.

I know this friend quite well and have spent a lot of time on and off the water with him — he’s a quality guy and there is zero doubt in my mind that he would never knowingly upset an other angler. In fact, he’s about as nonconfrontational as a human being can be. And in my experience, 99 percent of the time that two anglers do get con frontational, it’s the result of one person not realizing they are doing something that could upset someone else. And, the someone else they’re interacting with probably has too short a fuse.

The next time you’re tempted to raise your voice to another angler, stop and ask yourself: is there any possibil ity the behavior I’m interpreting as belligerent is really just a mistake? Is it possible that the person I’m getting angry at doesn’t even realize they’re doing something I might consider to be belligerent? If the answer is yes, there is a possibility, then chances are that’s exactly what’s going on.

So back to the original question: just how close is too close? It’s a judgement call. Every situation is different and everyone has a different answer. The rule that I personally try to live by is that if I can cast close enough to tangle with another angler, I may be a little close for comfort. If a boat or a person is within my own casting distance, I’m too close. But there are plenty of exceptions. Fish ing along the crowded banks of a publicaccess river, for example, it’s not uncom mon to be elbow-to-elbow at some times in some places. When multiple boats are chasing pods of breaking fish everyone expects to get a bit closer than usual since the pods come and go; no one “owns” them, and you may roll up on a boat that rolled up on you moments ago. The “close enough to tangle” rule goes out the win dow, and single casting distance becomes more the norm.

# In certain angling situations boats are expected to get closer than in some others; judgement plays a big role in how close is too close.

Naturally, there are many other sce narios and situations where the conditions dictate different behavior. When 200 boats descend on Tolchester, most people would agree that you can’t expect everyone to drop anchor 100 yards apart. But when a boat is anchored up over a wreck 50 feet long with no one else in sight, most of us would also agree that it’s obnoxious to roll up on them and try to anchor on the same wreck.

Again, it all boils down to judgement. And again, it’s exceedingly rare for an angler to intentionally do what they would themselves interpret as bad form. So the next time you’re tempted to give someone a piece of your mind, remember: you don’t necessarily know what’s in theirs.

Send your fish photos, questions, and comments to lenny@fishtalkmag.com

Planer Problem

Dear FishTalk,

Relative newbie here, I’ve only been fishing the Bay by boat for four years, and I really love all your information and videos, they have been a great help. I trolled a bit for Spanish macs and blues this summer with planers but have been losing a ton of fish before they hit the boat. The planers pop off and as we reel in, they skip and sometimes trigger, resulting in the fish bouncing around and causing slack in the line. More than half the time this results in a lost fish. Any point ers on how to reduce this?

- Paul W., via email Dear Paul, Yep — it happens. That’s certainly one of the down sides to trolling with planers. It will help if you pull back on the throttles and slow the boat down to idle while bringing them in, but the flip side to doing so is that once you pull the throttles back the chances of a multiple hookup drop accordingly. When I’m in a red-hot bite I don’t slow down, but when it’s a slow pick I always pull back to idle to try to focus on get ting that specific fish into the boat. Also, to prevent the planers from re-tripping be sure to keep your rod tip up high and be cautious about pumping the rod. Doing so may allow slack to get into the line (while dropping the tip and cranking down), which can cause it to dig in again.

Politics, Politics

Send your fish photos, questions, and comments to lenny@fishtalkmag.com

Dear FishTalk, Ireviewed your thoughts on the state of decline of the fisheries and the political overlay. It went way over my head. The way I see it: Policy is a double edge sword. There is the top of the blade and the bottom of the blade. What I did notice is the advertisement on the facing page, and on page 82 in the September PropTalk, for electronics systems. The rise in the use of electronic devices amounts to basically shooting fish in a barrel. The Chesapeake has become a carnival. The art of fishing has become the art of certainty. “Step right up and land your child a pink teddy bear!”

It seems that targeting politicians and the voting population addresses only half the blade. Sure, there is the turf war between commercial and private catch limits. This topic is always just below the surface. And so are the fish... what’s left of them. If anyone gets edgy reading my thoughts, please don’t. There is nothing worse than an edgy blade handed down before the next battle begins. But the promotion of technology is a serious game-changer upon the balance of the resource. The art of battle means nothing if the art is removed.

I’m not sure if I’m top casting, mid-column trolling, or bouncing the bottom. However, I can say this: I can find the wreck without GPS.

-David N., via email

Dear David,

On some levels we agree with you, while recognizing that tech is something we all use in our own ways to advance our goals and/or better our lives. You can make the same argument about advancements in boats, fishing tackle, etc... So, where does one draw the line? We don’t know. One thing we can say for sure, however, is that as long as the water quality in the Bay is such that large swaths of it can’t support life, all of these arguments become somewhat academic — fish stocks can’t recover regardless of how many fish we do, or do not, catch.

Fis H News

By Lenny Rudow

Next Project: James Island

The Corps of Engineers and Maryland DOT have announced a partnership agreement to target James Island as the next restora tion project to dispose of dredge material. With the Poplar Island expansion completed last winter, the facility’s dredge containment areas are expected to be completely full within the next decade. Dike construc tion is expected to be complete at James by 2030, creating 100 million cubic yards of dredge capacity over 2072 acres shortly before Poplar is completely filled. That’s expected to allow the Corps to keep the channels to the port of Baltimore open until 2067. A much smaller project is also in the works at Barren Island, restoring 72 acres that will be ready to accept dredge material as soon as 2024.

Angling Absurdities

Several incidents involving aquatic antics made headlines this summer, starting with a pair of men caught by the Maryland DNR while spear fishing—yes, spear fishing—in Gunpowder Falls. After DNR officers observed the men shining a flashlight into the water and then shooting a spear gun, they approached and upon searching them found a striped bass, two smallmouth bass, a catfish, a creek chub, and six crayfish. The incident would have topped our Crazy Chart, but the Delaware Natural Resources police have it beat: early this September they responded to reports of a water rescue in progress on the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park to discover a 48-year-old Newark man had driven his car down the beach and right into the ocean. Yes, he was charged with DUI (among other things).

Bay Hypoxia Gets a Break

Data from midsummer shows that in both Maryland and Virginia portions of the Chesapeake, hypoxic (dead zone) water volume was far below average in late June and early July, and although it crept up in late July, remained near the historical mean. Hypoxic volume was down to 0.66 cubic miles and restricted mostly to Maryland waters in early July (as compared to an average of 1.63 cubic miles), before expanding south into Virginia and hitting 1.74 cubic miles later in the month. A combination of low freshwater flow and reduced nutrient runoff is credited with the reduced hypoxic volume.

Power to the Pamunkey

Ramp Repairs

Anglers heading for the Eastern Shore millponds will want to know that as of November 1 the Urieville boat ramp and parking lot will be closed for dredging around the ramp area. A sign posted at the site says the ramp and lot are expected to reopen by February 15, 2023.

Virginia has a new state record in the archery department. This summer bowfishing angler Jason Emmel was prowl ing the waters of the Pamunkey River when he hit the bullseye on a three-foot, six-inch blue catfish. Tipping the scales at 66 pounds, five ounces, the fish beat the old archery record set just last year in the Occoquan by four pounds plus an ounce. We note that last year a bow record for gar (23 pounds) was also set in the Pamunkey—this river is on a hot streak.

# Dredge containment at Poplar Island has createda fantastic hotspot for Middle Bay anglers, andit looks like James Island will be next.

Tournamen T n ews

Cure for Your Fishing Itch

November 5 the Fish For a Cure com petitors will hit the water. This year the format is catch-photo-release for stripers, along with Slam, Perch, and Invasive Species divisions. Remember, this fishing competition is all about raising funds for the Cancer Survivorship Program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer In stitute, and these funds have a direct and significant impact on cancer patients and their care. There simply is no better reason on the face of the planet to go fishing! Team FishTalk/ PropTalk will compete in the event and if you’re thinking about joining in, we’d like to point out that that the cap tain’s swag buckets are awesome, the Portable Party Pack is full of mouth-watering food, and winning this tournament earns you some serious bragging rights not to mention cool prizes. More importantly, we hope you’ll visit fishforacure. org and make a Captain’s Challenge fundraiser donation for Team FishTalk/PropTalk—or any team, for that matter.

CCA Winter Pickerel Championship Is ON

November 1 marks the start of the annual CCA Winter Pickerel Championship, which runs clear through February. This four-month com petition included a whopping 72 anglers last year, with 437 fish logged via the catch-photo-release iAngler app. Chase Savage took top honors with an amazing 82-inch stringer for his top three entries as well as winning largest fish with a 27.5-incher, and FishTalk’s own Eric Packard scored second place for a 79.95-inch stringer, plus first place in the kayak division with a 26.75-inch pickerel. Herb Floyd scored third place, just a half an inch behind Packard. The tournament also has prizes for youth, lady, and fly divisions, plus longest crappie and longest perch. Visit ccamd.org to get in on the fun.

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Bassmasters Wrap-up

The 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open brought a whopping 179 boats to the northern waters of the Chesapeake this summer, and JT Thompkins took first place with a three-day total of 39 pounds, 12 ounces. Fishing was described as “challenging,” with abnormally high tides and a massive area of competition, but after locating grass beds in two to nine feet, Thompkins found a chatter bait and a wacky worm did the trick. The win earned him $42,267 and a ticket to compete in the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, TN, next March. The event drew competitors to the Bay from all across the nation, and these ambi tious anglers ran as far as 90 miles from the launch in their search for the winning fish. The Bassmasters haven’t fished Bay waters since 2015, and the organization described the stag ing grounds of North East, MD, as “a small beautiful town, with lots of areas to explore between the take-offs and weigh-ins.”

# A total of 179 boats competed in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open on the upper Chesapeake Bay. Photo courtesy of Woody Jackson

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.

Locked In Tight

Warm Feelings

You say you hate having frigid fingers? We know that won’t stop you from fishing, so you’ll want to know about the Uni gear Rechargeable Hand Warmer. After years of shaking the handwarmer packets and waiting for warmth that never comes, or fumbling with fuel-filled hand warmers (the fuel does NOT smell good when you spill it all over yourself), we discovered the battery-powered Unigear. Click the button and before you can count to five you’ll feel this little gem emanate up to 130-degrees of pocket-warming heat. We used one through the entire 2021/2022 winter fishing season and found it beats old-school hand warmers hands-down. Using it is a bit confusing the first few times since it displays temperature in Celsius and the two buttons aren’t marked, but it lasts all day if you turn it off between warmings and provides a seri ous jolt of more or less instant heat right when you need it. Price: $24.99. Visit unigearshop.com for more information.

Live imaging fishfinders are cool, but if you sit in SpotLock, you can’t change the view — until now. Hummin bird has introduced the TargetLock accessory, a mount and transducer shaft that is affixed to your bowmount trolling motor but can move independently from it. That means you can “steer” a MEGA Live trans ducer beam, either via a foot pedal, integrated fishfinder, or handheld remote control, regardless of where the trolling motor is pointed. It can be used both while Spot-Locked and while on the move, and at the press of a button you can lock the transducer in on structure and the system will maintain the view even as the boat moves. Note that at the 2022 ICAST show, TargetLock won the Best New Electronics award. Price: $1499.99 to $2999.99 depending on the necessary trolling motor adaptor kit. To learn more visit humminbird.com

Check out our video of the TargetLock system at the FishTalk YouTube channel.

Visual Adaptation

How many times have we seen fishing tackle compa nies roll out a new line of sunglasses, only to discover they’re cheap and crappy? We don’t have enough fingers and toes to make that calculation, but for once we’ve been pleasantly surprised. Fin-Nor sent us a pair of North Drops from their new line of sunglasses and we’ve been so impressed, they’ve taken over as the primary pair. Unlike the usual mass-produced junk, the lenses sit in Italian frames with spring hinges, adjustable nose pads, and temple pads. Seven-layer lenses in both polycarb and glass are available in a multitude of colors, and have oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings as well as PVA polarization. And yes, they do block 100 percent UVA/UVB rays. The comfort factor can differ with different people, of course, but on our heads these things fit like a glove and the optics they deliver is top-of-the-heap. Price: $159 to $279. Visit fin-nor.com for more information.

Stella-tacular

If you only fish with utterly stellar gear, Shimano builds the Stella just for you. This top-shelf line was updated this year with the FK series (which won Best New Freshwa ter Reel at the ICAST show), ranging from 1000 to 5000 sizes, for two- to 14-pound mono and 10- to 50-pound braid. These are amazingly light reels (the heaviest is a mere 9.2 ounces) which can put out seven to 24 pounds at maxi mum drag. Improvements over previous Stellas start with longevity; gear tooth design has evolved to spread the load over a wider surface area, and the main shaft is now supported by a low-friction bushing as opposed to the older pinion gear. The spool lip has also been redesigned to provide longer casts while reducing backlash and wind knots via a lower angle on the surface, and the slower-oscillation spool creates less line overlap to reduce friction on the cast. Price: $749.99 to $799.99. Visit fish.shimano.com to learn more.

Shore, Man!

Ab-Normal

If you want to scale a fish you can use the back of a knife, a spoon, or you could get a Big Norm. Now, we don’t like to make fun of products that could actually prove useful (yes we do), but Norm asked for it by printing this on the package: “Scales disappear like magic!” and “Improves flavor!” Oh Norm, please... Setting the overly optimistic marketing gab aside, we’ll point out the Big Norm gets an impres sive 4.8 stars on Amazon. And while some companies do juice the ratings with self-serving reviews, we doubt Big Norm has that many friends (748, and only 11 haters). Plus, Big Norm lives in the U.S. of A. And only costs $10?!? We’re clicking “Buy Now” right now!!! Visit Big Norm on Amazon.com

Under Armour has two new items of interest for anglers that go hand in hand: the Shoreman Jacket and Shoreman Bibs. These Gore-Tex gar ments are waterproof and windproof, yet still breathe. They’re salt-resistant to prevent fading after use in the brine and the two-layer bonded fabrics have a smooth outside but a soft inte rior. The jacket features storm cuffs, an adjustable hood, three zippered pockets (two hand pockets plus one on the chest), and a D-ring for an engine cutoff switch attachment point. Bib highlights include 21-inch leg zips, three dual-entry cargo pockets, a reinforced plier pocket with D-ring attachment point, and adjustable suspenders. Price: $250 (jacket)/$260 (bibs). Visit underarmour.com for more information.

Sensenbrenner

Plummer

Soft Power

Furuno has announced a new software update for NavNet TZtouch3 which brings CHIRP side-scanning to the table. Sending the side-finding pings off to either side through a range of frequencies all at once, Furuno says range has been boosted to a rather eyeopening 750 feet to either side. The CHIRP Side-Scan transducer blasts out 150 watts per side and is available in both through-hull and transom mount versions. Cool Fun Fact: Furuno tested the system in the Chesapeake. You’ll see shots from right here on the Bay in their

video and in the published overview of CHIRP Side-Scan there are sample screen shots of Kent Narrows. And

yes — you can see every piling in the marina. Price: TBD at press time. Visit furunousa.com

with Lenny

Tune in on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 6 p.m. for a new episode of LIVE with Lenny!

Presented by

New episodes air on the first Thursday of the month on our Facebook page (facebook.com/fishtalkmag) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/fishtalkmagazine).

F

MORE g EAR RE v IEWS , v ISIT : FISHTALKMAG . COM /

Most crabbers put away their gear long before Thanksgiving, but truth be told there’s often good crabbing to enjoy right through the month in the middle and lower Bay. You’ll need to adjust your tactics a hair but if you bundle up and get some chicken necks, you’ll be in for a meal that no turkey can ever hope to compare with.

• The toughest part of November crabbing is securing a bait supply. Most tackle shops stop ordering chicken necks in October as demand tapers off and run out at some point during or before November. So plan ahead, and stock the freezer asap. If you end up desperate to find necks, you can always resort to the grocery store. They don’t all have them all the time but if you hit three or four stores you’ll eventually find some necks.

• Look to find the crabs deep. Consider 10 feet the minimum, and often you’ll need to work 12 to 15 feet to find them. If you run a trot line that’s set up for shallow water and has relatively short anchor lines you may need to lengthen them, or risk dragging the anchor a bit every time you pick up the line.

• If you’re using snap traps, the method is status quo. But if you’re running a trot line this deep you may suffer from numerous drop-offs, and at times will notice your baits are being chewed up even though you’re not seeing any crabs when those baits reach the surface. In this case you’ll need to slow down and possibly shift into neutral every so often to reduce speed to a crawl, so they don’t drop off.

# Don’t give up on crabbing just yet—you can usually still get ‘em in November!

Lots of tactics work when pickerel are the target, but one few people employ is plugging. That’s too bad, because there are times and places when casting or trolling

a plug like a stickbait or a suspending jerkbait can work magic. When the fish are holding in four to six feet of water above remnant weedbed or stumps, consider giving this tactic a shot.

# Plugs can sometimes fool the pickerel into biting when other lures or even live bait fall short.

1. Choose a lure in the three- to five-inch range; lipped plugs and lipless will work, but slow sinkers or naturally buoyant ones seem to usually work best.

2. Cast out, work the plug to depth, and give a slow retrieve punctu ated with a twitch of the rod tip followed by a two-second pause, followed by a twitch or two, then resuming the retrieve.

3. Fan-cast an area and don’t worry too much about focusing on visible structure. When you’re working over old weedbeds and/ or stump fields, the pickerel are likely to be scattered all around. Constant prospecting usually leads to more strikes than beating one specific area to death.

Remember, 90 percent of the anglers out there release the pickerel they catch. Unless you’re one of the other 10 percent, in this scenario it’s more important than ever to switch your plug’s treble hooks out for singles.

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November

Oct 26 - Nov 2

team fishtalk/Proptalk f4ac fundraiser

Silent auction on Facebook to benefit Fish For a Cure. All proceeds support the cancer survivorship programs at AAMC. To make a donation to our team, please visit fishtalkmag.com/f4ac2022

1 - Feb 28, 2023

cca maryland Pickerel championship Target chain pickerel all winter long in this catch, photo, release tournament to compete for great prizes including Panfish, Kayak, Fly, and Youth divisions. Learn more at ccamd.org

2

cbmm fall speaker series Shaping a Landscape: The Archaeology & History of People in the Chesapeake. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Van Lennep Auditorium at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. $8 per person. Register at cbmm.org

2 fsff monthly meeting 7 to 9 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fisher’s Clubhouse (behind Ford Hall) at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center in Davidsonville, MD. Speaker: Jim Delle Bovi’s “Inshore Kayak Fishing the Delmarva Peninsula.” Please contact Ryan Harvey at rybeer@gmail.com with any questions

2kent island fishermen monthly meeting 7:30 pm at American Legion 278. Contact: Bert, (302) 399-5408. Speaker: CJ Canby of the FV Miss Paula. He is a local crabber who will be speaking to us about the crabbing season for local watermen and some myths that we didn’t know about.

4-5

Urbanna oyster festival Hospitality tents throughout Urbanna, VA, wine and beer tastings, oyster tastings, discounts at local businesses, shucking contest, and more.

5

16th annual fish for a cure tournament

Register your crew for the F4AC tournament, Paul C. Dettor Captain’s Challenge, and Weigh-in party to be held at South Annapolis Yacht Centre. This tournament supports the Cancer Survivorship program at Luminis Health

Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (LH AAMC) Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. Register at fishforacure. org

5 fsff monthly fly tying 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse (behind Ford Hall) at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center in Davidsonville, MD. Join us as one of our members instructs us on how to tie a couple of fly patterns and demonstrates proper tying techniques. Patterns to be determined. All materials will be provided. Please bring your vise and tying tools if you have them. Please contact Ryan Harvey at rybeer@gmail.com with any questions.

5 madness on the marshyhope

Join us for a family friendly fishing tournament and festival in Federalsburg with music, food trucks and educational presentations from DNR while the anglers fish.

5 the mariners’ Park fall festival 1 to 5 p.m. at the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA. Food trucks, beer and cider tastings, pumpkin decorating, kids activities, and more. Entrance to the festival is $2 per person. Children 3 and under are free. Tickets for tastings of craft beer and cider are $35 for Members, and $40 for nonmembers.

9

frederick saltwater anglers club monthly meeting

Frederick Saltwater Anglers meet monthly at 7 p.m. at the Frederick Elks Club, the second Wednesday of every month. Food starts at 6 p.m. and we have speakers, vendors, and raffles with 50/50s. Call Rob at (301) 606-0392 for more information.

11-13 51st Waterfowl festival

Featuring a wildlife and nature art show; craft brews, wines, and delicacies of the Chesapeake; kid’s fishing derby; retriever demonstrations; birds of prey; buy, sell, swap and artifacts exhibit; world waterfowl calling championships, and more! Tickets $20 for all three days.

17 cbmm fall speaker series

Our Common Table with Chef John Shields. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Van Lennep auditorium at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. $20 per person. Register at cbmm.org

19 fsff monthly hands-on session

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Free State Fly Fishers Clubhouse (behind Ford Hall) at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center in Davidsonville, MD. Duber Winters and Joe Bruce will teach club members how to tie a handful of ‘you really need to know’ fly fishing knots. This is a club sponsored event, free to FSFF members and all visitors. Please contact Ryan Harvey at rybeer@gmail.com with any questions.

Do you have an upcoming event? send the details to: kaylie@proptalk.com

19-20 eastern shore sea glass and coastal arts festival: holiday edition

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Tickets include admission on both days. Artisans and craftspeople will exhibit and sell coastal and sea-glass related jewelry, home décor, art, and more. Live music. Food and beverages for sale.

24-27 black friday mega sale

Weekend long sales event at Anglers Sport Center in Annapolis, MD

25 blue friday

We boaters are outdoorsy people, so on the Friday after Thanksgiving, let’s take a waterfront walk with family, friends, and a dog, maybe bring along a trash bag, and enjoy the crisp air and wildlife. If you shop after your walk, give your business to local boating shops. Share your outing using #bluefriday.

26 middle river Parade of lighted boats

Cheer on the nearly 100 boats that participate in this annual tradition along the parade route. Middle River, MD. Stay tuned for more details.

26 Pasadena lighted boat Parade In Pasadena, MD. Details TBD.

27 – Jan 1, 2023

retro christmas at Piney Point lighthouse museum

Enjoy tours in a family friendly retro holiday exhibit inside the museum and keeper›s quarters. At the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in Piney Point, MD.

December

1 – Jan 1, 2023

st. clement’s island museum christmas Doll and train exhibit

Enjoy a holiday exhibit of antique and collectible dolls, classic trains, and other retro toys in this festive holiday display inside the St. Clement›s Island Museum in Colton›s Point, MD.

3

the District’s holiday boat Parade

30th Anniversary of the District’s Holiday Boat Parade. Celebrate the holidays with this iconic Washington, DC event that features over sixty beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. 6 to 9 p.m. at District Pier at The Wharf in DC.

9-11 christmas in st. michaels

3

alexandria holiday boat Parade of lights Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Dockside festivities start at 2 p.m. at the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Dozens of brightly lit boats will cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline. Enjoy dockside festivities in Waterfront Park including a pop-up beer garden, food, activities, and more.

3 Yorktown lighted boat Parade

Pre-parade festivities start at 6 p.m. and include caroling around a beach bonfire, a musical performance by the Fifes & Drums of York Town, and complimentary hot cider. The boats will finish out the evening, as they make their way down the river in a dazzling show of lights that starts at 7 p.m. Yorktown, VA.

3 baltimore Parade of lighted boats Baltimore, MD. Stay tuned for details.

7 kent island fishermen monthly meeting 7:30 pm at American Legion 278. Contact: Bert, (302) 399-5408.

For links to the websites for these events and more, visit proptalk.com/calendar

This year’s events include a lighted boat parade and festive Talbot Street Parade, a home tour, breakfast with Santa, holiday music and meals, a Santa dash, marketplace and sweet shop, and a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour. Raises funds for local beneficiaries. Lighted Boat Parade December 10 at 6 p.m. around St. Michaels Harbor.

10 eastport Yacht club light’s Parade

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the parade! 6 to 8 p.m. in Annapolis Harbor. Learn more at eastportyc.org/ lights-parade

10 solomons christmas Walk Solomons gazebo Christmas tree will be lit at 5 p.m. Santa parade with Solomons Volunteer Rescue Fire Dept. at 5 p.m. Competition for best decorated homes and businesses. Solomons Lighted Boat Parade organized by Solomons Island Yachting Center at 6 p.m. Arrives at Patuxent Riverwalk at 7:15 p.m. Prizes for best decorated boat. (For information on participation please call (667) 256-6272 or email fcsiyc@gmail.com).

14 frederick saltwater anglers club monthly meeting

Frederick Saltwater Anglers meet monthly at 7 p.m. at the Frederick Elks Club, the second Wednesday of every month. Food starts at 6 p.m. and we have speakers, vendors, and raffles with 50/50s. Call Rob at (301) 606-0392 for more information.

# Don’t miss the 51st Easton Waterfowl Festival November 11-13.

# Scott tied into this monster red while cobia fishing near the targets. Oops and aw shucks.

# Andrew of 40East Fishing wasn’t about to be distracted from fishing by any minor event like a power plant implosion — goodbye C.P. Crane, hello snakehead nuggets!

# Bob and his son Ian enjoyed some awesome rockfish action at the Stone Rock this summer.

# Emily and Andrew had a fun day fishing on the Bay with their dad.

# John and crew got into ‘em thick, for some epic Chesapeake Bay fishing this summer.

# Dax was catching ‘em up at Thomas Point.

# Scott and Brad Robinson took their boat offshore for the first time, and scored a pair of yellowfin plus mahi chunking at Masseys.

# Aby enjoyed some action in the shallows of the Choptank, catching rock up to 24.5. WTg, Aby!

# Mike, george, and kurt had an awesome day at the canyons.

# Leah and the Bowling crew tugged against Chesapeake Bay BIg BOyS!

Authorized d e A ler. Certified t e C hni C i A ns.

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# Chris fought 30 minutes to bring this 10’4” tiger shark in to the beach, snap this pic, then release it unharmed.

Scotty found the

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presented by

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# Lexi was fishing aboard the Big Worm, when she reeled in the big white perch.

Authorized d e A ler. Certified t e C hni C i A ns.

# The Mangums enjoyed a successful day at the Bay Bridge, with Biff Charters.

# Johnny caught this mammoth crappie in Queens Lake.

# Seven-year-old Les caught this feisty striper in the Miles.

# Evan caught a 42inch sandbar shark while fishing from the beach in Topsail.

# Zachary—Ak A Captain Fish—had a great day on the Bay,

# Chunking did the trick at Massey’s, for Mark!

# Doug found the mackerel just south of Poplar this summer.

Reader Photos presented by

# Courtney was fishing in the heels & Reels, minding her own business cranking in a fish, when you-know-who decided he wanted a snack. Even missing some major chunks, it hit 45.5 pounds on the scale.

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# Tyler caught this channel cat pier-side at the US Coast guard yard in Curtis Bay.

# Andy got into the cobia off Cape Charles this summer.

# grayson Tillery went out fishing with his pops on a charter and caught his first striper.

# Melissa and Captain Dan caught this golden tilefish in the Norfolk.

# kendall Bratton with her first rockfish, caught while fishing with pop pop on the Chesapeake Bay.

# Delinore caught this uber-rare albino catfish in hampton – nifty!

# Denny tied into some beautiful sheepshead at the Concrete Ships this summer.

# Malinda caught this monster mack, which stretched the tape to 27 inches, out of Deltaville.

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# Christopher tied into this monster muskie in the New River, and on topwater no less.

Reader Photos presented by

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# The howe family had a rockin’ cool day of trolling on the Bay, starting with Julian’s chunks Spanish mackerel and wrapping up with Jesse’s monster drum.

# Max Rudow proves that counter to popular opinion, there actually are some fish living in the state of Utah.(But it’s c-cc-cold in those mountains in September!!)

# Chase holds up a stack of blues encountered in the Potomac late this summer.

# Tom reeled up a 26-inch mackerel, just south of Poplar.

Hot New Fishboats

By Lenny Rudow

Bayliner T22CC: Taking the Trophy

When Bayliner reintro duced their Trophy lineup we first focused on the T20CC, then jumped to the larger end of the model line by covering the T24CC. Each of these boats has its own advantages and you can check out our reviews of them at FishTalkMag.com. But thus far we’ve skipped over the mid-sized T22CC — an oversight we’ll resolve right now.

The T22CC is, like both its larger and smaller siblings, designed as much for family fun as it is for serious angling. It has creature-comforts like a head in the console, an optional fresh water shower, flip-up aft seating, and a bow cockpit that Bayliner expands in volume by bringing the boat’s full beam far forward. It’s also available with all the goodies the kids will love, like an optional ski tow pylon and 120-watt Bluetooth stereo system with four Rockford Fosgate speakers. Note also that a “CX” version is available, which replaces the aft jump seats with a large flip-up transom bench seat arrange ment.

Another feature of the boat that’s likely to please the family is its hull design. It has 18-degrees of deadrise, which is a bit less V than some dedi cated fishing machines of this size. Yes, more deadrise does help split the waves, but remember that all other factors being equal, the steeper the V a boat has the more it’ll rock and roll. And a lack of stability is regularly fingered as a major complaint of boaters, especially among those relatively new to boat ing who haven’t had years on end to develop sea legs and iron stomachs. If you plan to charge forth through three-footers and fish no matter what the weather has in store and rocking and rolling in a beam sea doesn’t faze you one bit, by all means you’ll want that 24-degree deep-V underfoot. But

if you’ll be picking your weather and taking out kids, sticking with this sort of hull design is a good move since 18-degrees is plenty to smooth out a reasonable chop while also delivering great stability.

From the fishing point of view, the T22CC is a middle-of-the-road type of boat that allows you to try everything from trolling to light tackle casting, without being so specialized that it locks you into any one technique or another. Live-liners will appreciate the fact that there’s a livewell in the transom (under the bench seat in the CX version and between the jump seats in the CC) and a second one under the leaning post, so you can keep the spot and the eels in separate accommoda tions. Four flush mount rodholders are in the gunwales, the leaning post sports four rocket launchers, and if you opt for the T-top you get four additional rocket launchers. If you’re serious about your angling (and we know you are), you’ll want to add in a pair of factoryinstalled nine-inch Simrad MFDs. Note that many 22-footers can’t handle

Qu IC k F ACTS

Displacement:

(Max.):

HP:

Capacity:

twin screens of this size flush-mounted at the helm, a leg up that can give you a significant advantage when you’re searching for the hot bite.

Speaking of searching for that bite: the T22CC is available with a wide range of Mercury outboards, starting with a stock 150-hp FourStroke and ranging all the way up to a 300-hp FourStroke. Opting to double the power does boost the boat’s cost signifi cantly, but opting up to a 250 costs a lot less and will provide very similar per formance. Note that with max power the boat comes close to hitting 53 mph at top-end and can cruise at close to 40, which is a lot more speed

videos of the T22CX and the T20CC at youtube.com/fishtalkmagazine

Bayliner T22CC

CONTINUED

than the average family angler needs — truth be told, for most people 200 horses is plenty of juice for a boat of this size.

We need to point out that for a huge number of folks, the biggest attrac tion of the T22CC is going to be the price point. In a world of boat pricing gone mad, it’s not difficult to find 22-footers that break the $100K mark. And while nailing down boat pricing is always a moving target, even in loaded form this is going to be one of the most easily afforded boats of its size on the water. Plus, Bayliner includes a tandem axel galvanized trailer in the package, something that many manufacturers will list separately as a cost-adding option.

Will the Bayliner Trophy T22CC be the best boat for you? Hey, that’s your call to make. But we can say one thing for sure: if you want a versatile boat that allows you to experiment with a wide range of angling techniques, you want a boat that keeps the entire family happy, and you want a boat that maximizes LOA for the dollars spent, the T22CC is a must-see.

Area dealers: Riverside Marine, Essex, MD (410) 686-1500 or riversideboats.com

Grady-White Adventure 218: Adventure Time

If you like cuddy cabin boats your options have been thoroughly limited in recent years. Center consoles have come to rule the roost, and while we here at FishTalk love our CCs, we also love to see some options for anglers ISO a small cabin boat. Well people, Grady-White has come through. Cuddy cabin boats were always at the core of their offer ings, and while they haven’t come out with a new one in a while, there are countless Grady-White cuddy boats plying the waters from the C & D Canal to Cape Charles. But times, they are ‘a changing — for 2023, Grady-White introduces an all-new Adventure 218.

The Adventure 218 brings the styling of cuddies to the modern age, sure, but what we really want goes beyond superficial changes. And when we checked out this model at the US Powerboat show in Annapolis, we saw that Grady delivers far more than a face lift. The 218 has expanded acre age thanks to an 8’6” beam (the old Seafarer 228 and Adventure 208 were both 8’0”), and the side decks going

around the cabin eat up less space thanks to a gunwale that narrows at the step up. Plus, a new trick in the form of pivoting aft seatbacks allows you to turn the transom into a clutter-free fishing area with mini aft casting decks to either side of the motor well. Nifty. Other fishing

features include cockpit toe rails, four flush gunwale rodholders, cockpit coaming bolsters, a pair of insulated fishboxes (31.5 and 30 gallons), a raw water washdown, and an option for a livewell. Get the optional hard top, and four rodholders plus spreader lights are added to the mix.

# Twin MFD displays on a 22-footer? heck yes!

The cabin is pretty much as one would expect for a cuddy boat of this size. It has a V-berth with stowage underneath, a portable MSD, and horizontal rodracks for four rigs. You can get a deck pumpout for the head if you so desire. And the entry is pushed farther to port than on the 228 or 208, allowing for a larger helm area including plenty of room for flush-mounting electronics.

The new 218 Adventure runs on Grady-White’s SeaV2 variabledegree deadrise hull, which tapers back to 19-degrees at the transom, and is available with a 200- or 250hp Yamaha outboard. Max power gets you a top-end in the mid-40s and a cruise of around 30 mph, while downsizing cuts about five mph from top speed and cruise but nets you an

Quick Facts

LOA: 23’3”

Beam: 8’6”

Displacement: 3650 lbs. Draft (Min.): 1’4”

Transom deadrise: 19-degrees

Max HP: 250 Fuel Capacity: 100

The Elaqua: shocking Behavior!

Okaaaay…. Wait, wait, wait, wait. We know plenty of folks enjoy fishing from PWCs, and that’s cool and all, but now there’s a battery-powered PWC? Huh!? Enter: The Elaqua. While it’s not an angling-specific watercraft, it’s offered with optional rodholders and is designed to accom modate a Yeti cooler on a detachable base that mounts behind the seat. So clearly, these folks do have angling on

the mind. While that’s not a huge shock considering the popularity of fishing a la PWC, what’s really eye-opening here is that the Elaqua runs at speeds up to 55 mph on a 175-hp electric jet drive powered by a LiFePO4 battery. Range is a better-than-expected 81 miles. And the electro-human interface is a

eyebrow-raising 3.2 mpg at cruising speeds. Also take note of the 100-gal lon fuel capacity, which is particularly hefty compared to other boats in this size range. Cuddy boat fans, rejoice!

Area dealers: Tri-State Marine, Deale MD, (410) 867-1447 or tristatemarine.com

15.5-inch touchscreen which includes chartplotting and drone-interface capabilities. In the world of unusual fishing machines, this one could set a new bar. Added bonus: we even have a dealer here on the Bay, Tradewinds Marina. How crazy is that?! Visit tradewindsmarina.com or call (410) 335-7000 for more info.

For more fishboat reviews, visit: FishTalkMag.com/fishboat-reviews

# The aft seatbacks pivot out of the way for clutter-free fishing.

Future Perfect

The phrase “take a kid fishing” may seem a bit cliché to some, but the future of fishing starts with today’s youth — so let’s hear from them.

By Charlie Sutphin

Iam a lucky boy. I have a father who has shared with me his love for the outdoors. Even better, he has spent the time to explore nature and explain that there is a balance in ev erything, and that you should learn and respect wildlife and the environment. I have friends who aren’t as lucky. Some of them are as happy inside playing video games as I am wading up a muddy creek. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but maybe they just never had an adult in their life who knew the outdoors or were interested.

I also have friends whose parents or relatives have beautiful boats and go out on the Bay or ocean to catch fish. My dad sold his 28-foot boat a couple of years ago for different reasons (one being that my brothers and I are approach ing college in the next few years, so he said he has different financial priorities in life). But I really think the reason he sold his boat is because he had fallen out of love with fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. He grew up fishing the southern Bay waters of Deltaville and Tidewater which ultimately led him to being a fishing guide in the Florida Keys, but upon our return to Maryland in 2010, he realized that the Bay has changed… as well as the regulations.

So now we have rediscovered what has been here all along. I wanted to share my experiences of what I con sider world class fishing, all reachable by walking, biking, or car — all in the state of Maryland. In the last year as my dad and I visited over 20 to 25 differ ent fishing locations, the one constant is how very few other kids we see fishing. We occasionally see adults, but very few kids my age or younger. I wonder if they don’t have someone to help teach them? Or, if there is not enough being done

to broadcast what a great sport catch and release fishing really is? (Editor’s note: we’re working on that, Charlie!!) Or maybe the attention deficit of kids nowadays isn’t built for the patience that fishing often requires.

So, how do I locate new, off the beaten path fishing spots? There are several tools:

• The Fishbrain App – Many people post pictures with locations.

• Google Earth – I’ve found many small ponds and creeks all around my neighborhood that I had no idea existed.

• YouTube – People let other people know where they are fishing and what to use.

• FishTalk magazine and other periodicals – With the rise of snakehead fishing, there have been many great articles about where to go and what to use. These fish are still a mystery to me, and I think biologists would say the same. Here is a recent fishing report from a trip planned using the above tools. I saw a post on Fishbrain that someone caught a pickerel on the Gunpowder River near Loch Raven Reservoir. I

# The author with his pickerel.

went on Google Earth and saw that there’s a dam at Loch Raven, and the river coming down from there looked like it had rocks and faster moving waters which would be perfect for wad ing and casting spinners in the slower moving pools of water. Dad and I left around 7 a.m. from Pasadena, and after a yummy breakfast at Burger King, were at the Gunpowder looking for a good place to park and fish. Immediately we saw the dam and a little below was a perfect spot to wade into the water. We always wear beat-up tennis shoes to wade in, and I’m sure you can spend much more on nice wading shoes, but we are warriors (and cheap!) so in we go.

The rapids were not that strong and at the deepest spot, roughly two feet, easily manageable. I’m 15 years old but I really think someone eight years old could wade in this type of water comfortably. I always start out with spinners since they seem to be the most consistent lures and most every fish will hit them. Then as the day goes on I may switch to plastic worms, grubs, crankbaits, or other lures depending on the conditions or fish we are targeting. Early mornings, my dad is old-school, ALWAYS going topwater with his faithful Zara Spook. I’ve seen him catch some amazing fish on that lure, including barracuda in the Florida Keys.

There are a couple of “bucket list” fish I have. I have never caught a pickerel or a snakehead. I was anxious for a pickerel since I saw the report on Fishbrain a few days before, but was unsure if I was even in the right part of the Gunpowder. Well, time to start casting.

Word of advice? Bring a lot of lures. I have found river fishing to be unforgiv ing to your tackle box. Rocks, underwa ter branches, over-water branches, and just plain mysterious snags will make you practice your knot tying skills over and over. And also, never fall in love with a lure because you are sure to lose that one first.

About 10 minutes into fishing, Dad switched to a small white grub and cast right into the rapids. He bounced the grub a few times off the bottom and then hooked up a small rainbow trout. His first in Maryland, just a beautiful fish.

I opted for casting in a deeper, slower moving area just a bit downriver from there. After another 10 minutes of cast ing, something hit my spinner. I could see it roll on top of the water, and all I saw was green. As I brought it closer, my dad saw me fighting the fish and came to me to help. I couldn’t believe it — my first pickerel! Dad always says, have a plan when you fish and then throw it out the window. This was a rare time the plan worked.

After hyperventilating for a few minutes I went back to fishing, and by the time we quit at 11 a.m., had caught smallmouth bass, pickerel, rainbow

trout, bluegill, and a sucker fish. It was what I’d consider an epic day of fishing, in only three hours. We finished the morning with our new tradition of finding a small local place to have lunch, in this case McFaul’s Iron Horse Tavern. A perfect place to warm up wearing wet shoes and soggy pants, and the best chicken fingers I’ve had in a long time.

I hope to continue sharing fun ad ventures with my dad and hope this inspires other parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or family friends to take a kid fishing. And you don’t need to have a boat! #

# Dad got one, too!

Late Fall at PLO

As the water chills off late in the fall Point Lookout becomes a prime destination.

By Lenny Rudow

Every fall is different and it’s impossible to predict from one to the next where the hottest bite will be, but if you had to pick one location on the entire Chesapeake Bay as the most consistent year after year for late season rockfish, the Point Lookout area would be tough to argue with. Not that the fish are right up against the point itself; what we’re really talking about here is the broad swath of the lower Potomac River from PLO up to Piney Point on the Maryland side and Smith Point to Sandy Point on the Virginia side, extending out into the Bay itself maybe halfway out to the shipping channel. Fish gather in this zone in rather epic numbers most seasons, with many pushing up into the 30-plus inch range and some real trophy-sized fish usually popping up as well.

Prospecting PLO

Whether you’re launching at Point Lookout State Park, running out of the Yeocomico, or cruising down from upriver, the most effective way of pros pecting in this area generally consists of scanning the horizon with binoculars. As anyone who’s ever fished with me during bird season can attest, I’m a big proponent of using gyroscopicstabilization binocs with at least 12X magnification. With good eyes you might see a cluster of five to 10 birds from a half-mile to a mile, depend ing on conditions. With a pair of 7X marine binoculars you may be able to triple that range, but if it’s rough, you might not be able to so much as focus. With a pair of 12X gyro-binocs you can lock in on the birds at three to five miles or so in just about any condi tions, and with 14X gyros I’ve spotted them from seven miles out. I must

sound like a broken record on this topic, but it’s a fact: I think I find just as many fish with the gyro-binocs as I do with my fishfinder… maybe even more.

Regardless of how you do your looking, stay on the move until you locate fish. Cruise for a mile or two at a time between stopping and scanning, until you’ve covered the entire zone. The birds aren’t cooperating? Then it’s time to use that sounder. Look for the contours and bumps in the 30- to 45-foot range all throughout this zone, because when there’s zero action up top you’ll often be able to spot pods of fish holding down deep near bottom around these depth changes.

If you’re not familiar with these waters, it would be a good move to pull up NOAA’s new Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC) on their online viewer. The all-digital vector charts viewer went live about a year ago, and this is a government product that — brace yourselves, folks — actually works really, really well. You can zoom in, pan around, and see all the charted contours, humps, and channel edges, not just here but all up and down the entire Bay. You can check it out by typing nauticalcharts. noaa.gov into the browser bar, then under “Chart Viewers” click on “ENC Viewer” and zoom in from there.

When there’s no surface action and you’re looking for fish down deep, don’t get too sucked into staring at the meter nonstop. Unless you’re too busy catch ing fish, every 15 minutes or so force

yourself to look up and look around with those binoculars. The fish could decide to go into frenzy mode at any moment, and if the birds gather and start diving, you don’t want to miss it.

One additional note about the birds: give gulls (the larger birds with white or gray heads) priority over terns (the smaller birds with black heads). Any self-respecting rockfish over 20 inches is going to be churning water on bunker, not anchovies, and at this point in the fall many of the bunker are a bit large for the terns to handle. So, while all of the above will mix at times, as a

# you may have to bundle up for late fall fishing, but it’s well worth putting up with the chill!

general rule you’ll find bigger baits and bigger fish under gulls as opposed to terns. If there are 10 gulls clustered off to port and 25 terns to starboard, I’m turning my wheel left, not right. Gannets (larger still, with black wingtips) are the best fishindicators of all and get bonus points.

Bending the Rods

When the fish are in frenzy mode, truth be told you could probably cast a banana into the fray and hook up. But you’ll probably hook up a lot more if you tie on a leadhead dressed with a five- to seven-inch plastic. BKDs, Z-Mans, and similar offerings will all do the trick. White and chartreuse are normally top color picks, along with purple or other darks colors in low-light conditions. Adding on a skirt to help bulk up the profile is also a good move at this time of year.

If you want to target larger fish, use a head of at least an ounce and let it sink down beneath the breaking fish before beginning a snap-jig-style retrieve. Quite often the largest fish in the school will mill around lazily below the smaller ones, picking off bunker that got smashed but managed to wiggle loose, which then become

easy pickings. This is also a scenario where heavy metal can be very effective, since jigging spoons allow you to get down deep fast and stay there. If you’re releasing fish, however, remember to swap out any treble hooks for singles.

When the fish don’t come up top to make it easy and you have to hunt for them, you may want to switch to an ounceand-a-half jighead or opt for one of those

spoons. Jigs will commonly work best when they’re cast away from the boat, allowed to sink all the way down, then bounced back right along the bottom. Spoons tend to be more effective when jigged vertically.

Although this is a scene that’s ideal for jigging, trollers can certainly do well here too, particularly when the fish come up top. The usual tandems, umbrellas, and also lipped plugs like Stretch 15s or Yo-Zuris, will get smashed. When the fish hold deep, however, trollers are at a bit of a disadvantage. Add enough weight and you can get to ‘em, but as you pass up and down the contours be sure to ad just the lines constantly or you stand a good chance of snagging bottom.

Is heading for PLO in November and December a surefire thing? Aw, heck no — there’s no such thing as a surefire thing, in the world of fishing. But prowl the waters of the Chesapeake from Havre de Grace to Hampton for season after season, and we’d bet you’ll agree: for late fall rockfish action, PLO is just about the most consistent destination in all of Chesapeake country.

##

Jigs and skirts people, jigs and skirts.

During this leg of examining Delaware coastline structure, the focus is on a dozen offshore features shown by black circles on Chart 1 south of the Cape Henlopen – Five Fathom Bank. Wrecks and obstruc tions marked by grey circles and light blue circles are the subject of separate articles but are included here as a general area reference.

Just east of the precautionary area at Site 1 is the 44-foot least depth wreck of the J. R. Williams. Divers found scattered wreckage of this steel-hull barge during a 1993 hydrographic survey. The wreck age is in three main pieces at coordinates 38’45.177N x 74’54.398W. There are also indications that a tug sank at the same location in 1942 as the result of a marine casualty. Site 2, shown in detail on Chart 2, is the Delaware State Reef Guide drawing overlayed on a nautical chart. The guide’s grid drawing is not to scale. So, it was electronically stretched to align with the chart to show the approximate layout. Of 22 placements through 2016, only the first 12 are included in the guide drawing. Six vessel deployments were added to the illustration showing approximate locations.

Just outside the southeast corner of the reef site at Site 3 are two charted obstruc tions, one of which is a 54-foot least depth feature at coordinates 38’39.864N x 74’42.908W. The other is a 59-foot obstruction at coordinates 38’39.834N x 74’43.167W. No descriptive information is available for either.

Running due east brings us to Site 4, the final resting place of the 91-foot-deep USS Jacob Jones. This 314-foot-long, 31-footwide four-stack destroyer was torpedoed and sunk by U-578 in 1942. The bridge section and hull below were torn apart by an exploding torpedo which appeared to have caused a secondary explosion of the magazines. The bow was blasted off by the explosions. One or two more torpedoes hit

O CEAN S TRUCTURE Part i

By Wayne Young

further aft adding to the carnage. Some of the depth charges that were aboard exploded as the ship sank. The bridge is charted at coordinates 38’28.835N x 74’31.765W. The bow section is uncharted but in the general vicinity of coordinates 38’41.006N x 74’28.976W about a mile away. The ships namesake predecessor, also a Navy destroyer, was torpedoed and sunk in 1918. U-578 was attacked elsewhere and lost with all hands later in 1942.

For fishing, details at njscuba.net include underwater pictures taken in 2007 and an observation that the widely distrib uted wreck has deteriorated significantly leaving not much of interest to dive. But, there’s a lot there to fish. The wreck was imaged by “wreck detective” Ben Roberts, Eastern Search & Survey in 2020. One of his high-definition side-scan sonar images showing the main section of the wreck is included as part of Image 1. Be sure to visit the Eastern Search & Survey Facebook page for a link to his online wreck map and

for sonar images and descriptions of many wrecks off DelMarVa and the Chesapeake Bay Entrance.

Site 5 is the 59-foot wreck of the fishing vessel Ocean Quest in coordinates 38’38.765N x 74’47.985W. The vessel, lost in 1987, is over 60 feet long. A side-scan sonar image from NOS DR H10989 (2000) shows the vessel is broken up. About 4.2 nautical miles southeast of Fish Haven #11 at Site 6 is a 70-foot feature known locally as “Jennifer’s Wreck.” It’s an unidentified wooden 77-foot-deep wreck at coordinates 38’36.118N x 74’40.774W. The wreck is also known as the “Bingo” wreck according to aquaventuresonline.com. Divers say it is mostly large ribs and has deteriorated into a small wreck site.

East southeast is the so called “Gun boat” at Site 7. This is the 80-foot wreck of the USS Cherokee at coordinates 38’35.895N x 74’39.490W. A detailed account of the wreck is in Gary Gentile’s “Popular Dive Guide Series: Shipwrecks of

Flounder, sea bass, triggerfish, and more can be found at the wrecks and reef sites off the Delaware coast.

Chart 1: General location of offshore wrecks offshore of the northern two thirds of the Delaware – Cape Henlopen Traffic Separation Scheme.

Delaware Maryland” (2002). This 120-foot Navy tugboat foundered and sank during a winter gale. According to historical information reprinted in H. Richard Moale’s “Notebook on Shipwrecks: Maryland Delaware Coast” (2007), the skipper had objected to the transit due to the vessel’s un seaworthiness. Looks as if he was unfortunately correct. The tug is intact and upright.

East northeast of the USS Cherokee is “Wendy’s Wreck,” marked as Site 8 at coordi nates 38’36.000N x 74’36.400W. This is a large, unidentified wooden wreck that is distributed on the bottom. It’s a popular fishing and dive site.

At Site 9 is one of the better-known wreck sites, “Jake’s Wreck,” a 58-foot wreck at co ordinates 38’34.957N x 74’44.746W. This is unidentified and scattered wreckage, as shown on Image 2 by a side-scan sonar image taken from NOS DR H10989 (2000). The website aqua venturesonline.com reports that there is a large anchor and a pile of chain. At Site 10, there is the uncharted wreck of the schooner barge Marie C. Beazley. The wreckage is not on the edge of a low-relief mound where it is annotated in hy drographic surveys. The reason is that the wreck was displaced along the bottom onto the mound at 38’34.400N x 74’41.500W. Moale (2007) in cluded this wreck in his research, finding that the vessel with a cargo of coal struck a mine or mines in 1927, burned, and sank. If correct, this was an after-the-fact World War One U-Boat mining victim. U-Boats placed mines in these coastal waters during both World Wars. Although this is a small, deteriorated wooden wreck, try drifting across it and the little trench trailing off from it for flounder. There might even be some sea bass or tautog on the wreck.

Moving south to Site 11, there is a 59-foot obstruction but not enough showing to justify much prospecting effort. Just inside the edge of the traffic lane at Site 12 is a 79-foot wreck at coordinates 38’30.814N x 74’41.917W. Very ba sic charting details for the wreck can be accessed online but the files don’t tell us much about the structure. Although not a big wreck, reef fish such as sea bass sometimes relate to, and suspend over, small structure in a large school. So, as true with virtually all structure in the ocean, it’s worth a peek on the fishfinder when passing through the area – fish are where you find them! #

Catch Part II of Delaware Ocean Structure next month.

Image 1. Mosaic of “BAG” and side-scan sonar imaging that shows various offshore wrecks. Screenshots from NOAA Bathymetric Data Viewer (BDV) and National Ocean Survey (NOS) Descriptive Report (DR) H10989 (2000).

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.

Chart 2: Annotated, composite layout of Delaware Fish Haven 11 derived from Delaware Reef Program Guide with geographic adjustments.

he said, she said?

He Said, She Said

There’s more than one way to skin a catfish.

By Lenny Rudow

One of the beautiful things about fishing is that there’s rarely a right way or a wrong way to catch a fish, there’s just what works and what doesn’t. He may think nothing will beat trolling green plugs in 10 feet of water, and he might catch loads of fish. She might think nothing will beat slinging purple jigs in 20 feet of water, and she might catch loads of fish. So, who was doing things the “right” way? Whatever you personally might think, it’s tough to argue with a cooler full of fish.

That said, there are some epic angling arguments that take place time and again in different venues through out Chesapeake Country. While again cautioning that there are few hard

and fast rules in the fishing world, let’s take a look at some of the ragers and see who’s right, who’s wrong, and when there are exceptions to the few rules that do exist.

He said: When a fish misses a topwater strike, stop and pause.

She said: When a fish misses a topwa ter strike, don’t stop working the lure for even a second.

We say: What are the conditions like, and what sort of topwater lure is it? As a general rule of thumb fish don’t like it when a chunk of plastic sits there floating around looking dead, so in most cases she’s going to be right. This is especially true in calm conditions. But if it’s rough the lure will still have some motion even when you stop working

it, and in rough conditions the fish will have a tougher time reacquiring its target for a follow-up strike if you keep it quickly moving along the sur face. Now consider lure type. A large, noisy rattler will be easier for the fish to track, so even if the water’s riled up a bit you may be better served by keeping it moving. But if it’s a smaller finesse bait the fish might never find it again if it continues to “flee.”

He said: Popping cork rigs don’t work on rockfish.

She said: Popping cork rigs work great for rockfish.

We say: Popping cork rigs don’t work well on rockfish if you fish them the way they do down south, with a chugchug-pause. But if you keep that

# Rockfish, on a popping cork? Well, yes — if you work it like a striper likes it.

cork rig chugging along continuously stripers will smash the trailing lure (as long as they’re feeding at or near the surface).

He said: When rigging a plastic jig, run the hook through the front part of the plastic, only; then pop the hook out into the hook pocket so it sits in the slot between the plastic.

She said: When rigging a plastic jig, run the hook all the way through the thickest part of the plastic and ignore the hook pocket.

We say: Traditional theory is that the jig will have more freedom of motion if you run the hook into the hook pocket, but will stand up to wear and tear bet ter if you run it through the thick part.

So, when the bite’s tough go through the pocket and get the maximum mo tion, but if the bite’s hot rig ‘em the rugged way. Truth be told, however, we can’t tell much of a difference either way.

He said: Paddletail jigs get rigged with the tail facing down.

She said: Paddletail jigs get rigged with the tail facing up.

We say: We’ve seen paddletails with hook pockets going both ways, which would seem to indicate that the

manufacturers feel both ways work. Regardless, this is another case where we really don’t see one iota of difference in the results.

He said: The best way to hook fish using circle hooks is to put the rod in the holder and ignore it until a fish takes drag.

She said: The best way to hook a fish using a circle hook is to hold the rod, keeping the reel in free spool. Then slowly and gently apply increasing pressure until the fish is hooked.

We say: Wait a sec — what sort of fish are we catching?! When it comes to rockfish they’re both right; slowly increasing pressure is the best modus operandi, but in reality very few people have the patience and self-control to do so. As a result, 80 or 90 percent of the time people will catch more fish just leaving the rod in the holder. But tuna? Those fish move so fast that by the time you can react in any way they’ll be hooked, or not. Drum? Their mouths are sensitive enough that if you leave the rods in bouncing holders, there’s a fair chance they’ll spit the bait before hooking themselves. The way a fish

feeds and whether it swims away or stays put after eating has a big affect on the effectiveness of circle hooks, and every species is a bit different.

He said: When live-lining spot or bunker the right way to hook them is through the nose.

She said: When live-lining spot or bunker the right way to hook them is through the back.

We say: What’s the current doing, how deep are the fish, and are you using weight? Spot hooked through the nose tend to stay near the surface, while spot hooked through the tail generally attempt to swim down. But if you hook them through the tail and there’s a strong current, they won’t be able to keep up with it for long and soon they’ll sit dragged tail-first into the flow — not a very natural presentation.

Conditions, rigging, and the posi tion of the fish in the water column dictate the answer, for this one.

There are, of course, countless similar arguments that take place on a daily basis throughout Chesa peake Country. Who’s right, and who’s wrong? Neither. Both. Look in their coolers. #

# Does that paddle-tail face up, or face down? yes.

n ovember is the new October

Look for these late season bites to provide action that beats historical norms.

By Staff

Talk to any old-timer who’s fished the Mid-Atlantic area for his or her entire lifetime, and they can tell you that times have changed. Naturally, each individual season is different. But on the whole, the old patterns anglers used to live by have shifted dramatically. Fifty years ago, October provided peak fall action for a number of fisheries. But these days, November often seems like the new October.

We fisherfolks are always modulating our behavior to try and match up with the natural (or not-so-natural) pat terns our quarry falls into. Rather than trying to force Mother Nature to bend to our will — which generally leads to very disappointing fishing — we try to target the species that are plentiful at any given time, use the baits that fish are feeding on, and travel to the spots where fish have decided to congregate. As Halloween gives way to Thanksgiv ing this season, look for these three fall bites to provide solid action later in the season than they once did.

Coastal Flounder October has always been a peak month for flounder fishing in coastal bays, as flounder migrate out through the inlets and into the ocean. It still is prime time, but in recent years the fish have commonly made the move en mass a bit later, and early- to mid-November has also produced solid or even limit catches for some late-season anglers. There’s some variation from Delaware down to Virginia, with the best fishing tapering off a week or two earlier in northern areas, but these days it’s not unusual to see decent flounder catches in Virginia waters clear into December.

A key feature of the fall flounder bite is the migration of finger mullet, which are also pushing out of the bays and into the ocean. Flounder love eat ing ‘em, so using lures that match the hatch or baits of a similar size is a good move. Also note that when the flatfish do finally disappear from the inlets and channels leading to the open Atlantic, some can still be found on the wreck and reef sites off the coast. Again, the Virginia bite will extend a bit later than areas to the north.

Lower Bay Speckled Sea Trout

Decades ago one would have expected the specks to have vacated the Lower Bay by early or mid-November, and at the mouth of the Chesapeake anglers

# They may be called “summerflounder,” but don’t think for aminute that means they vacateour waters before late in the fall.

would already be looking to find them in the artificially warmed waters of the Hot Ditch. Today the Hot Ditch is no more, but the speckled trout bite regularly continues in fine fashion right through the month and beyond; there have been plenty stretching well into December in recent years. Areas to the north like the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds and west side hot zones like the Piankatank and Mobjack will see an earlier thinning of the catch as November progresses, but specks will likely remain a fair bet well into the month. Expect the HRBT, the lower Elizabeth River, and the ESVA creeks to then take over as the primary hotspots. One excep tion: specks generally stick around the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power

# When it comes to the peak fallstriper bite, it does indeed seemlike November is the new October.

Plant warm water discharge through the month, giving Middle Bay anglers a shot at them as well.

Trophy hunters will want to watch the reports and focus their efforts when the days of big number catches begin to taper off, as the peak numbers are com monly followed by a push of fewer but significantly larger fish — a trend that’s likely to develop as turkeys and stuffing are flying off the grocery store shelves.

Any of the usual speck-catching baits and lures will work for as long as this fishery holds out, but many anglers will opt to cast soft plastics in the four- to five-inch range (like Gulp!, Fin-S, or Bass Assassins) rigged on half-ounce or three-quarter-ounce jigheads. These are an attractive option since rockfish will often frequent the same areas during this same timeframe, and will strike the same offerings with abandon.

Upper/Middle Bay Rockfish

Anglers keyed in on fall rockfish ea gerly await the fall migration of peanut bunker out of the creeks, into the rivers, and then into the Bay. In modern times, they do commonly have to wait a little

bit longer than they did decades ago. Instead of beginning in September and stretching into October, it’s now more common for the migration to begin in October and stretch well into November. The net result? These days, it’s smart to look for the fish in and just outside of tributary mouths clear through Thanksgiving.

Most anglers will target these fish either by trolling five- to seven-inch offerings like tandem rigs and small umbrellas, or by slinging five- and six-inch jigs. Light tackle trolling with jigs, small tandems, or div ing plugs is also effective and is the favored tactic of many kayak anglers. Those who have a large cast net (an eight-footer is minimum for this duty) and the ambition to throw it will corral live peanut bunker and liveline them.

Often, though not always, birds will give away the fish’s location. When that’s not the case, look for them along the river’s channel edges and drop-offs where the river meets the Bay. While the fish’s specific locations will certainly vary from year

to year, hotspots one should expect to see include the lower Chester, the mouth of the Patapsco, Eastern Bay, the area off Triton Beach where the South and West rivers meet the Bay, and the mouth of the Choptank.

Are these the only fisheries in flux? Heck no. In the recent past we’ve seen the run of oceanic strip ers delayed until past Christmas, redfish catches in Poquoson and Lynnhaven during the middle of winter, and rare snakehead biting in mid-February (which definitely didn’t happen 50 years ago. Defi nitely). Meanwhile, yellow perch seem to run earlier and earlier, oddball species ranging from lady fish to pompano show up in more and more unexpected places, and the Chesapeake bull reds that used to be once-in-a-lifetime catches are now relatively common for those who focus on pursuing them. Our waters may have a lot of challenges, but they also hold incalculable promise. And that includes during the month of November. #

# After the big numbers of specks move through, expect to see some fine specimens being caught. Photo courtesy of kevin Thomas

Fishing for Kingfish for Beginners

By Staff

The kingfish is one of those spe cies that has an unfortunately long list of names: in Vir ginia they’re called roundhead, farther south in the Carolinas they’re sea mullet, yet farther down the coast many people call them king whiting, and in the Gulf some people call them minkfish. Don’t confuse these fish with king mackerel — also called kingfish by many anglers — which is a very differ ent species. But do put them on your must-catch list, because these fish can offer great action in the surf, add to the bottom fishing catch in many portions of the Bay, and as an added bonus, they taste great.

What Are Kingfish?

Kingfish can be identified by their body shape, which is nearly flat at the wide bottom and narrow at the top. Viewed from the front, they seem to have an almost triangular shape. They often have irregular bars running down their backs but these can be more or less prevalent depending on conditions and individual fish. Kingfish also have a big sail-shaped front dorsal and a lower, rounder back dorsal fin. There are two types that are found in the Mid-Atlantic zone, southern and northern kingfish, with the easiest differentiating factor being that the northern kingfish has a long filament on its front dorsal fin and the southern kingfish does not.

Despite what their name might imply, kingfish are a rela tively small species. A one-footer is a nice fish, and an 18-inch kingfish is a monster. They’re re lated to spot and croaker and on occasion may be confused with croaker. They also frequent our Mid-Atlantic waters in a similar timeframe, first showing up in May and usually disappearing by the end of November, though on occasion you may still get a few in the surf into early December.

Record Kingfish

Delaware’s four-pound record was set back in 1973. That thoroughly eclipses Maryland’s record fish of 2.5 pounds, which was caught from the beaches of Assateague in 1975. Vir ginia’s state record was set a bit more recently, by a two-pound, 13-ounce kingfish caught at Sandbridge in 2002.

Kingfish Regulations

Delaware, Maryland, and Virgin ia have open seasons year-round with no minimum size on this species. However, kingfish under eight or nine inches long simply don’t have much meat, so most anglers will throw them back.

Best Kingfish Baits

Kingfish are opportunistic and will eat just about anything, but bloodworms are very dif ficult to beat when you want to target kingfish. That said, some other baits that are often effective include:

Fishbites bloodworm flavor

Squid strips

Small sand fleas, and especially soft or recently molted sand fleas

Small crab bits

Shrimp

Clam bits

The most important thing to remember when baiting up for kingfish is that they have small mouths, even for their size. A sand flea as big around as a quar ter, or a squid strip three inches long, is simply too large of a bait for these fish. Instead, look for sand fleas the size of a dime or use squid strips an inch long at most.

Best Kingfish Lures

This will be a very short section, because it’s rare to catch a kingfish on a lure. Fishing with bait is how you’ll catch them 99 percent of the time.

These tasty panfish are a common catch along the coast.

# Aubrey reeled this beautof a roundhead up onthe beach in Damneck.

Techniques for Kingfish Fishing

Whether you’re fishing in the surf or in the Bay, bottom fishing with a top-and-bottom rig is the way to go for catching kingfish. The only real dif ference is that in the surf most anglers use rigs with small floats at the end of the hook shank (called a “doodlebug” rig). The floats keep your baits elevated a bit, which helps prevent crabs from stealing it.

In either case, again, when it comes to rigs the key is to think small. A number-six hook is not too small for a kingfish, and the range on most storebought kingfish rigs goes from number four to number eight.

If you’re surf fishing for kingfish another key item to keep in mind is that often, these fish will cruise along right behind the breakers. In fact, many anglers over-cast for them and would get more bites if they tried keeping the baits closer to shore every now and again. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, however, and sometimes they will be off the beach a little further. So, when taking their first cast of the day kingfish

# Small sand fleas are a good bait, but it’s important to keep your offerings diminutive when kingfish are on the menu.

sharpies will often make a long one, and let the baits sit for just a few minutes. Then, they’ll reel the rig halfway back in. A few minutes later they’ll reel it closer still, and so on, working the baits back towards the breakers until they figure out where the fish are. Note that as the tide changes, the loca tion of the fish can change, too.

If you’ve made a long cast and your line suddenly goes slack, start reeling as fast as possible — that’s a surefire sign a kingfish has grabbed your bait and is heading back in towards the breakers. If this happens more than once, take it as a sign that you’re over-casting the fish.

When you’re bottom fishing in the Bay, there’s really no “trick” to catch ing more kingfish. They’ll commonly be mixed in with other panfish like spot and croaker and more often than not are caught by anglers targeting those other species.

Finding Kingfish Hotspots

As we mentioned, in the Bay these fish will be mixed in at standard-issue bottom fishing spots. The farther down the Bay you are the better the chances of encountering them, and although some are caught in Mary land’s portion of the Chesapeake, kingfish thin out the further north you go and aren’t caught very often above the Tangier Sound.

In the surf, standard beach struc ture rules apply. Anywhere you find a break in the outer bar, a slough, or other anomaly is a good bet. Check out our Surf Fishing Guide at Fish TalkMag.com, to get some in-depth pointers on the finer points of “read ing the beach” when you’re casting in the suds. #

Looking to see Team FishTalk in action? Subscribe to ourchannel!YouTube

# This kingfish fell for a stripof Fishbites bloodworm fished on a “doodlebug”rig. Photo by John Unkart

Options for Fall Trout

The fall season is upon us and there are way too many things to do: stuff like soccer games, football, yard work, and hunting. In the midst of it all, there are many fishing options with saltwa ter stripers, bass blitzes, and panfish galore. However, in recent years I have taken advantage of fall trout stocking and capitalized on both stream and still-water environs to enjoy the fruits of hatchery-reared rainbow, brown, and golden trout. With fall stockings un derway in many of our regional waters there are numerous ways to catch them. Here are some of my favorite tactics.

Throwing Hardware

Many freshly stocked trout will pounce on a variety of small spoons. We always like the classic Kast Masters, Swed ish Pimples, and Super Dupers, that run from 1/12th to as large as 1/4 of an ounce. Many trout fans have their own favorite colors. But sticking with standard gold, silver, bronze, or copper hues will cover most of the bases, most of the time. The Super Duper lineup of light weight spoons has a full array of color patterns including rainbow and two-toned patterns. Some days color will make a difference, so it pays to have a selection if the fish are discriminating.

Spinners such as the classic Mepps Aglias, Rooster Tails, and Panther Martin brands have been “go to” hardware for stocked trout for decades. Blade sizes from #0 to #2 are preferred and these small, rotating lures should be attached with a small snap swivel to minimize line twist and kinking in monofilament. Some anglers utilize lighter diameter braids to attain greater casting distance with increased strike indication.

(Editor’s note: don’t forget that

FishTalk supporter Dangle Lures makes a line of weighted spinners that are designed to maximize casting distance. We’ve tried ‘em and these things absolutely do out-cast any other spinners we’ve ever used, so if maximum casting distance is a concern we’d recommend trying a Dangle). Often, the use of a fluorocarbon leader at six-pound test can boost strikes from keen-eyed trout in clear water conditions.

Float ‘N Jigs

I found out quite by accident that the standard “float and fly” tactic that is so popular for panfish can be a dynamite tool for fall trout as well. The excep tion is that jig sizes and floats should be downsized for most situations. This is essentially the spin fisherman’s answer to the fly angler’s indicator nymph, suspending a hair jig to trout that are feeding on any number of insects, stone flies, or aquatics during the late fall/early winter period.

Trout jigs tend to be larger than most flies yet are still considered tiny by spin fishermen. We have had great success with 1/64th and 1/80th ounce hair jigs with mostly dark patterns of black, brown, and olive taking the majority of the fish. Recently, I have experimented with bead-head creations on #10 and #12 hooks that shine for panfish. Remember, these micro-jigs generically represent any number of food items on the fish’s menu and often exact duplication of a particular insect is not necessary. I tie most of mine from jigs I purchase from Chuck & Deb’s on the internet. Give them a Google.

One thing we like to do is bend down the barbs of the jig hook which aids in hook penetration on the set. Additionally, it makes unhook ing the trout much easier and if by some chance you get a hook in your hand, well, it makes it easier unhooking you, too.

Between fall stockings and wild populations, there are plenty of ways to catch trout in the fall.

Float styles can vary but keep them small. I like the Plasti-Lite oval float of 3/4 inch diameter. The Comal weighed floats at 1.25 inches are also a good choice. Some anglers use the classic Adjust-A-Bubble, fill it with water, and make long casts to insect-feeding trout in lakes and ponds where distance is needed for success.

Tipping jigs with bait is optional, and often not needed. However, items like mealworms, wax worms, Gulp! products or salmon eggs can be used as an enticement if the trout are finicky.

Powered up

One of the largest selling local fish ing items each year is the huge variety of Berkley Power Bait trout baits that come in a jar in practically every color and shade of the rainbow. Some are in the form of small, marshmallow-style nuggets, but most are a gummy paste that can be formed into a small ball that you bury your hook into. Among the hatchery trout crowd, they are the mainstay.

Most Power Baits float, so you can put a couple split shots 16 inches up the line and they will hover just above the bot tom where many trout roam. Hook sizes should be #10 or #12 and baits should cover the entire hook. The only drawback is that the fish almost always swallow the hook, so when you are done catching your limit you need to stop. Catch and release

areas traditionally do not permit any form of bait, live or commercially made, so always check the local regulations for each water you fish.

Trout fishing will remain an option right up until the snow flies. Check the Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia trout stocking schedules and go for the gold… trout, that is! #

Handling Your Catch

throughout portions of the mid-atlantic some clubs and agencies will sometimes stock large breeder or trophy-class trout. if you are a catch and release angler, as many trout anglers are, then you must take care in handling large, aggressive trout that can possibly expire due to a long struggle on light gear. even though these fish exceeding 20- or even 24-inches are big and strong they are quite vulnerable to delayed mortality. to up your catch and release game use these tips:

• Use a net to land your fish and keep it in the water as much as you can while unhooking your trophy.

• Use barbless hooks and the smallest sizes you can get away with. heavier gauge hooks enable you to tame big fish and still maintain a tight line. make unhooking chores quick and safe with the barbless gig.

• avoid excessive playing of large fish. i know, it’s fun and sometimes even called for when a giant shows up. but the longer you play a fish the more difficult it is for recovery with lactic acid buildup, especially during late fall warm spells.

• take photos quickly and minimize the time of your photo session, to limit the time the fish is out of the water. Preserve both the memory and the fish.

• share the joy. if you are blessed to be on some exceptional fish, then take a friend or a child and let them experience a great memory with a beautiful, quality trout, native or stocked, and keep the late fall trout tradition alive.

# Just about the whole gronaw clan was in on this fine rainbow!

Birdnado

By Eric Packard

It’s early in the morning and I’m heading out for a morning topwater bite. My kayak glides across the surface of the water, and there is a light fog rising off the creek parting as I pass through it. I’ve rigged one of my rods with a Heddon Spook, another with a half-ounce jig with a four-inch white paddletail. Today I’m hunting striped bass on a local Chesapeake Bay tributary.

I can hear the fish off in the distance breaking the surface of the water and birds squawking and div ing. I head to the commotion, rod in hand. As the fog clears I can see the fish and birds. I take a cast, keeping my bait low and as close to the water as possible so that I don’t accidently snag one of the seagulls. My lure hits the water and immediately blows up — I’m hooked.

Fishing under birds is one of my favorite ways to fish. And though fishing birds while kayak fishing can be difficult, it’s not impossible. You need to find birds to fish under first, and then get to the spot in time before the bite stops. This is difficult enough on a powerboat let alone on a kayak. So I’ll say right from the start, when I fish below birds from a kayak it is almost always an unexpected opportunity. Here are some tips that should help you enjoy the same kind of luck.

• I don’t take binoculars on the kayak. If I can’t see birds without the assis tance of binoculars, they are probably too far off in the distance to reach before the bite is likely to stop.

• The best opportunities come when you fish the mouths of feeder creeks and rivers, or along the shoreline of the Bay. The exception is fishing big water like the lower Potomac where you can run across birds several miles up the river.

• Keep an eye out for birds on the move. They are opportunists, and if one bird is feeding, others will fly in that direction and join in the feeding frenzy. I always look for feeding birds in the direction the other birds are heading.

• Small birds such as terns feed on smaller bait fish like anchovies, while pelicans and seagulls will feed on peanut bunker and larger baitfish. So you will most likely find smaller fish like schoolie striped bass, bluefish, and mackerel under smaller birds. Under the bigger birds you will find fish like larger striped bass and red drum feeding.

• Unlike powerboats that can turn off a bite by doing things like powering through the birds and shifting gears, kayakers have more of a stealthy ap proach which makes it easy to keep

any noise to a minimum. You can be less concerned about position ing for a drift over the fish, and can simply approach the action and start casting into the feeding frenzy without worrying about spooking them.

• Once I am hooked up I will play and release the fish as quickly as possible. If you play around too much taking that extra photo the school of fish will likely move on and you’ll have to chase them down.

• If the bite turns off, don’t despair. The birds will probably be sit ting on the water. Use them as a marker to find the fish. Cast your bait and let it settle to the bottom, keeping note of the depth, and then work it back to the kayak.

• There have been times when I have been closer than a quarter mile from a feeding frenzy, but the action keeps turning off or the birds keep moving to differ ent spots. Don’t bother with these fast-moving schools, they’ll wear you out.

Hopefully the next time you see birds feeding you will get the opportunity to make a few casts under them and catch a fish or two. Remember, a cast not taken is a fish not caught.

M ID -A

Fis H i N g F OR e CA s T

Coastal

Considering the early flurry of swordfish action at the canyons last month, there could be a solid shot at getting daytime bites this November. The biggest chal lenge, of course, will be finding an acceptable weather-window. On the inshore grounds sea bass and flounder should continue providing good action through most or all of the month. And in the surf we’d expect some of the summer panfish to begin thinning out in northern areas, while the Virginia beaches will likely still be seeing kingfish (roundhead), blues, and more through the month.

Freshwater

On the freshwater scene November may be the most under-rated month of the year. Look back in past reports and you’ll see talk of action in the rivers, reservoirs, and tribs, including red-hot bites on every thing from rainbow trout to rock bass. As the weather gets slightly tougher to deal with many anglers hang up their gear, but for most or all of this month the water temps will remain such that freshwater fish will be chewing to the max as they hope to fatten up for winter. Don’t let opportunity pass you by, people, grab a jacket and get out there!

Editor’s Note: 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.

Way North

Just what the activity level is in this neck of the woods will depend quite a bit on the weather, and hopefully water quality in the northern reaches of the Bay won’t be quite as sketchy as they were at times last No vember. If clarity is decent expect to find a striper bite at the dam pool and potentially on the flats. If the waters get riled, we can always fall back on old faithful — catfish — which should continue to feed more or less regardless of what the weather brings.

u pper Bay

If past is any prediction, November will bring with it plenty of bird play in the Upper Bay but most of the fish up top will be small ones. Remember to fish deep around the schools to find keeper-sized rockfish, or try eeling to locate larger striped specimens. Also remember that the white perch will transition to deeper haunts through the course of this month. As that happens shift your efforts away from the shorelines, creeks, and coves, and begin searching drop-offs with 10-plus feet of water, shell bottom, or deep struc ture like the Bridge pilings and rockpiles.

Middle Bay

Summer species may have departed, but this month we can hope for some of the best rockfish action of the year. Look for the fish to shift from trib mouths to open waters as the peanut bunker push towards deeper water, and by the end of the month if the temperatures dip it’ll be time to start searching deep along the channel edges. Perch should be moving to deeper water this month, as well.

Gathered over the past month by Dillon Waters

# Our intrepid Reports Editor Dillon Waters is on the job constantly gathering intel to help us all catch more, bigger fish.

# Last year’s Thanksgiving fishing was some of the best of the season when it came to finding chunky rockfish — and there’s no reason to believe this November will be any different.

# Allie enjoyed tugging on some tog last November, and through this month that action should only get better and better.

Lower Bay

Rockfish will surely be the main target throughout the Lower Bay, and should be in fine form as this month begins. Expect topwater action and bird play early on (think: plugs and jigs), possibly transitioning to a deep-water bite (think: tandems and weighted umbrellas) at some point this month depending on how quickly it gets cold. But don’t forget that specks and reds should also provide solid action for some or all of No vember. Last fall early November was good from the waters of the Northern Neck on down, and hopefully we’ll enjoy more of the same this year.

Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore

This will likely be a month of change in the Sounds and all along the ESVA, starting off with good speckled trout and red drum action that may taper off and possibly cease by November’s end as temps drop. On the bright side, as those species

abandon the shallows and head for deeper waters it’s common for rockfish to charge right in and fill the gap for a week or two before they go deep, as well. However those changes may progress, one thing is for sure: there should be excellent action in these waters all month long.

Way South and VA

Those ISO specks and reds will likely have a great November in this neck of the woods, as both species have provided solid ac tion right through the month in recent years. And remember, as speck numbers begin to thin out the biggest fish of the year are often caught. So, this is the time for trophy-hunting. Also note that tautog should crank up their volume at the CBBT and if we’re lucky at least early in the month some sheepshead will still be around, too. Same goes for floun der — get out there before the weather turns to get in a few last licks on the summerish species.

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Dangle

identification

the

Donald Lane

Charters,

and Headboats

ne 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.

RIB and provides comfort, speed and safety. 12v fridge, freshwater shower & amp; cockpit sink, extended platforms and extra storage lockers. A real sexy boat with a 350hp Suzuki! Inquire today and grab a deal on a fully warrantied vessel! $120,000 make an offer! Call Charles herbert for details and demo; 443.995.4800 or cherbert@annapolisyachtsales.com www.annapolisyachtsales.com

1998 Tiara Yachts 2900 Coronet Rare opportunity to purchase a One-Owner, lift kept, captain maintained with very low hours and top-notch maintenance. Contact grady Byus at 410.533.9879 or Grady@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

29’ Tiara ‘00 $47,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

37’ Boston Whaler ‘17 $350,000 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2010 Regulator 29FS yamaha 250’s, 418 hrs, Surveyed, Professionally Serviced, Furuno Electronics, Fusion Sound, Outriggers, Side Curtains, Full Winter Cover, 48 MPh. Fishing Machine. $149,900 Call 410.365.4695 or email rob@capeziocontractor.com

(Hot Pursuit) 30’ Pursuit 3000 ‘00 $726,500 Chris Curlett 305.481.1512 chris@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2000 Mainship 30 Pilot Many upgrades and in great shape. Soft top and full enclosure offer protection for year-round cruising with an efficient yanmar diesel. Contact Troy Waller at 804.885.4090 or Troy@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2013 Tiara Yachts 3100 Coronet highlights include: bow and stern thruster, radar, A/C, generator, cockpit grill and galley, and more! Contact grady Byus at 410.280.2038 or Grady@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Scotia) 38’ Wilbur ‘85 $29,500 Curtis Stokes 410.919.4900 curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2018 Tiara Sport 38LS Low hours on her triple yamaha 350’s, dealer maintained and well cared for by her sole owner. Contact Jack Mcguire at 410.280.2038 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2021 Tiara Yachts 39 Open Don’t miss this opportunity to buy a like-new Tiara 39 Open with Axalta painted hull, helm air, 42” swim platform, and more! Contact Bob Oberg at 410.320.3385 or Bob@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2022 Tiara Yachts C39 Coupe Purchased as a holdover (May 2022), this is your opportunity to own a likenew 39 Coupe. Contact grady Byus at 410.533.9879 or Grady@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

33’ Bertram ‘80 $45,000 David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2004 Cobalt 360 very clean, low hours, and very well maintained. Exciting to run and all maintenance is up to date. Contact Chris Beardsley at 804.885.4090 or Chris@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

fishtalkmag.com

(Game Hog) 40’ Robbins ‘99 $139,000

David Robinson 410.310.8855 david@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

2012 MJM 40Z “Lolly” is a rare find in today’s market stored on a covered life and gently used with regular care. Contact grady Byus at 410.280.2038 or Grady@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2013 MJM 40Z “Downeast” may very well be the best performance-oriented cruising boat ever designed with no expense spared in upkeep and maintenance. Contact David Malkin at 410.280.2038 or David@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

1988 Marine Trader Tradewinds Sd

My A great family trawler built for the live-aboard cruiser with abundant space inside and out. Contact Troy Waller at 804.885.4090 or Troy@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

2020 MJM 43 volvo IPS 600 engines, duoprop for easy joystick docking, large swim platform for relaxing, category-leading efficiency. Contact Jack Mcguire at 410.280.2038 or Jack@NorthPointYachtSales.com www.NorthPointYachtSales.com

(Sea Trader) 60’ Hatteras ‘05 $990,000 Lin Earley 757.672.2778 lin@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

RUDOW’S

it, he covers detailed tackle, tactics, and

for

rockfish while angling in the waters of

Chesapeake

and off the

Shopping for anew fishing boat?

a New Boat?

the BEST people to take

PortBook is the resource boaters use to find service providers they can trust.

EAstErn shorE

MARKETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS

To advertise in the Brokerage and Classified sections, contact beatrice@fishtalkmag.com

HELP WANTED

Are you on a search for a full-time sales position that requires you to get out and enjoy the water, where all your co-workers are super cool, and where flip-flops and shorts are considered business casual? SpinSheet, PropTalk, FishTalk, Start Sailing Now, and PortBook magazines are in growth mode, and we are looking for that special advertising sales rep who understands the marine industry and knows 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. Send your resume, a description of your boating experience and interests, and a cover letter telling us why you’d be a great fit for our team today! info@spinsheet.com

P/T Delivery Driver Wanted for three-day-a-month magazine distribution route in Baltimore City. Compensation based upon quantity of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, reliable vehicle, and be able to lift up to 25 lbs. Contact Beatrice at 410.216.9309 or beatrice@spf-360.com

Yacht Sales - Curtis Stokes and Associates, Inc. is hiring new salespeople for our Chesapeake area operation. Candidates must be honest, ethical and have boating experience. This is a commission only position. Contact Curtis Stokes at 410.919.4900 or curtis@curtisstokes.net www.curtisstokes.net

SLIPS & S TORAGE

TACKLE SHOPS

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, www. alltackle.com

Anglers Sports Center 1456 Whitehall Road, Annapolis, MD 21409, 410.757.3442, www. anglerssportcenter.com

Dangle Lures Dangle Lures makes lures that are great for casting long distances and in deep water. Dangle Lures help anglers catch fish other lures can’t reach. www.danglelures.com

The Tackle Box 22035 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653, 301.863.8151

Advertising Sales Representative

We are looking for that special advertising sales rep who understands the marine industry and knows how to work and play hard.

P/T Delivery Driver

Three-day-a-month magazine distribution route in Baltimore city. Compensation based upon quantity of stops. Must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, reliable vehicle, and be able to lift up to 25 lbs.

For more info visit spinsheet.com/join-our-crew, call 410.216.9309 or email info@spf-360.com

For all the latest listings, visit fishtalkmag.com

Launch

SailTime announces the launch of Sea Style Yacht Partners, the first fractional yacht ownership program that offers multihull power and sailing yachts. The Annapolis, MD, based company is part of the Sea Style Acquisitions (SSA), a leader in fractional yachting for the past 20 years and is the innovator of well-known boat sharing programs such as SailTime, PowerTime, and Embark Scheduling Software.

Seas Style Yacht Partners offers a sensible path to yacht ownership by offering their clients the option to buy a 25 or 50 percent share in a fully crewed yacht or a large luxury catamaran, focusing on the market between 60 and 150 feet. “We recognize many potential yacht buyers are seeking a higher level of service and a turnkey yachting experience from the moment of purchase to the time they are underway in the most desirable boating destinations,” says Mathias Chouraki, president of Sea Style Yacht Partners and veteran yacht broker and licensed commercial captain. “Our company is capitalizing on the clear trend of the past decade that shows exponential growth in luxury shared goods, from private aviation to extravagant villas and yachts.” Operational costs are shared by each client based on percentage of ownership. Sea Style manages the accounts for the vessel and provides the owners with an easy-to-read monthly expense statement. Sea Style Yacht Partners handles all operations from crew management, insurance, and dockage to regular maintenance and repairs. Depending on the level of owner ship, owners are guaranteed a minimum of seven to 14 weeks a year. Owners plan their vacation well in advance or last-minute (48-hour notice) if no other owners are on board. Sea Style Yachts may be in lo cations from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean and East Coast USA (Florida, Hamptons, Rhode Island…). Yacht relocations are planned before each season with the input of the owners. seastyle.net

Electric Outboard

The French-based company TEMO, manufacturer of the first por table, electric-powered outboard motor TEMO.450 is entering the US market. The pioneering start-up has had great initial success in its domestic market. Only three years after the launch of the TEMO.450 engine, it has already delivered more than 3000 electric motors all over Europe and is now looking towards rapid international expansion by tackling the North American market. The Waterford, CT, headquar tered company Defender Industries has been appointed as the official US dealer and the TEMO.450 motor will be revealed at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. Defender Industries supplies a wide range of high-end marine products. Defender managing director Stephan Lance said he is delighted to welcome TEMO.450 to Defender’s portfolio. He said: “Since Defender began offering electric motors over 10 years ago, the demand for clean, safe, and efficient propulsion has grown significantly. The TEMO.450 brings a new power op tion for small tenders and boats to the table. One that is lightweight, stows easily, and is easy to operate.” Designed for dinghies, tenders, and small boats, the portable system includes a 450W motor, 110V charger, rowlock fitting kit, and security device. It weighs just under 11 pounds, has a propulsive power of 200W, and produces 12 kg of maximum thrust from its motor. defender.com/temo.jsp

New Business

Jim Dean announces the formation of his new business, Dean Yacht Company. Dean says, “I have been bringing a higher level of personalized service and management to the brokerage business for the past five years (and service industry for the past 16 years), and I am excited to now open my own busi ness where I can bring my expertise to my clients’ individual needs even more!” For more information, contact Dean at jim@deanyachtcompany.com or (410) 353-8888.

New Floating d ocks

Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing Marina in Chestertown, MD, has begun the installation of new state-of-the-art floating docks. The new docks will replace two fixed docks adjacent to the popular Jellyfish Joel’s Beach Bar and will feature 104 float ing slips that can accommodate yachts up to 60 feet in length. The marina’s new floating slips will also be able to accommodate wide multihulls. Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing has become a popular home port and service marina for large multihulls as a result of their wide, 75-ton Travelift, able to haul and launch vessels with beams up to 31 feet. Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing is a full-service marina with ABYC-certified technicians, 350 slips, fuel and pump-out services, The Landing Restaurant, 30-room inn with pool deck, fitness center, nine-hole executive golf course, and other amenities, and is a part of Safe Harbor Marinas, the largest network of marinas with over 130 locations nationwide. shmarinas.com/locations/safe-harborgreat-oak-landing

kaylie@fishtalkmag.com