Winter boating and fishing on the Chesapeake Bay brings with it distinct advantages and disadvantages to pleasure cruisers and anglers alike.
Unpredictable storms, shorter days and colder temperatures leave the Chesapeake's waterways vastly open to boaters of more serious varieties – largely vessels of a commercial shipping and fishing nature.
Beyond Mother Nature's notorious cold shoulder, the advantages of winter boating and fishing are bountiful. Reduced marina rates, slower-paced towns empty of tourists and the glowing lights of homes twinkling ashore make for exciting weekend trips to Chesapeake Bay destinations like Chesapeake City, Annapolis, Oxford, St. Micheals and of course, Rock Hall.
As for fishing, December is often one of the best months out of the year to catch large fish from the Bay's chilly waters. Striped bass, known locally as rockfish, tend to congregate in locations where rivers and tributaries enter the large estuary that is the Chesapeake. Jigging with heavy sinkers more often than not proves to be the best tactic – a fun and active method to keep anglers of all ages warm during winter days out on the water.
Hiring a fishing charter is also an option, as some captains continue to run their boats until the end of the year. Under current regulations, the Maryland striped bass season closes for various catch and release and no harvest periods beginning December 11 and lasts through the opening of the trophy season in spring.
Whatever your boating and fishing plans may be this season, if any, please take added caution during winter treks out on the Chesapeake Bay and its waterways.
Featured photo courtesy of Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun.
