Night Fishing Near Ft. Armistead Area

[APIRIGYI]

Hi Guys,

I joined snagged line a month ago and have enjoyed reading up on all the local Chesapeake knowledge since I am new to Maryland and the Bay.

I have been out a bunch of times and I've had great success with perch and Rockfish, but nothing in the plus size range.....yet, I hope to change this ASAP. I was wondering if anyone knows any good places for a night/dusk launch other than SPSP. I live in Glen Burnie and Fort Armistead is the closest option but from what I have seen and read, probably not the most ideal for a night launch. There's a ton of bait and shallow rocky points that would probably produce at night but I don't think its worth the risk.

Any thoughts on easy to launch/safe places near Glen Burnie area?

Thanks guys!

Alex

[Fishinfool]

I tried launching around 10 pm on a Sunday on a private launch near Round Bay in the Severn a couple seasons ago. I believe it was around a full moon on a mostly clear nite.

Maybe it's my sixty something year old eyes, but I never felt comfortable in the low light situation. I could barely see where the lure dropped in the water on a cast. Then I took my sunglasses off (just kidding).

I would generally avoid kayak fishing at night, unless you are VERY familiar with the bottom where you plan to try it, AND have a buddy within earshot. Even then, everything looks different at night.

On second thought, even with a buddy in familiar waters so many things could go wrong. All you need to do is hit some rocks unexpectedly, capsize, and head your head in a rock, making it a life or death rescue situation for a buddy.

[APIRIGYI]

Thanks for the advice..... what can I say I like to live dangerously haha.

I agree I need to familiarize myself with the areas during the day and use the navionics to check depths, etc.... more importantly avoid areas littered with crab lines!

At night I would stay inland and avoid the high current areas. I've gotten myself into a few scary situations in daylight.... I don't need anymore close calls that's for sure.

I appreciate the words of caution.

[Mark]

I tried launching around 10 pm on a Sunday on a private launch near Round Bay in the Severn a couple seasons ago. I believe it was around a full moon on a mostly clear nite.

Maybe it's my sixty something year old eyes, but I never felt comfortable in the low light situation. I could barely see where the lure dropped in the water on a cast. Then I took my sunglasses off (just kidding).

I would generally avoid kayak fishing at night, unless you are VERY familiar with the bottom where you plan to try it, AND have a buddy within earshot. Even then, everything looks different at night.

On second thought, even with a buddy in familiar waters so many things could go wrong. All you need to do is hit some rocks unexpectedly, capsize, and head your head in a rock, making it a life or death rescue situation for a buddy.

This boat hit a barrier to the Key Bridge in the dark at 3:00 a.m. last Monday. The boat then continued on to hit Fort Caroll. Two people died.

boat_crash_bd1443d4397b3a49b9559f6ddf6d00a7.nbcnews-ux-600-700.jpg

The bridge barrier and the fort won the battle with the boat.

Fort Armistead is between those two structures. A kayak would not do as well as the bridge and fort in a nighttime encounter with a boat. If the operator did not see the bridge barrier he surely wouldn't have seen a kayak in the darkness.

Fishinfool's points belie his onscreen name. There's nothing foolish about his advice!

[APIRIGYI]

I did see that. That's a very unfortunate event for people to lose their lives like that.

Maybe I'll keep it to early dawn and bring it by dusk to play it safe until I become more familiar with the waters around here.

[J.A. Veil]

In addition to the on-water risks at night, consider the onshore risks of using a launching location and leaving a parked vehicle. I have limited familiarity with Ft Armistead but suggest that you investigate the safety aspects of being there at night.