Carr's Wharf

[Jim McFalls]

Has anyone launched recently from Carr's Wharf and had any luck in those waters? I'm thinking about heading out there tomorrow.

As always, thanks.

[bunnielab]

I have launched there a few times and caught a few perch and a pickerel. It is a really shallow river with a ton of natural shoreline, so it seems like it should be full of fish, but I never really see it mentioned much.

Carr's is a reasonable launch, but I prefer the Smithsonian across the river. I think they want like a $5 donation or something like that, but it puts you right by the more natural part of the river and you don't have to cross the power boat channel coming and going.

[Jim McFalls]

Thanks! I might try that!

[rob-kayak]

Carr's Warf was my maiden Voyage to the Chesapeake. So I have fond memories. No trailers, but you'll probably see some. The "Stein" pub up on the corner has a bunch of new menu items, and not just a Braut and Sauerkraut place... they are working hard on this.

I haven't really been there much lately, but when the croakers are in I've caught a bunch. It's a cool place, lots of nook and crannies, and island to explore up river. Moving out towards the bay, look at your nautical charts and look where there are wrecks, and try and work those. That's where I've had my best luck.

[YakCapn]

Carrs Wharf was my first launch too a while back. I headed straight out to the open Bay without checking wind forecast or understanding impacts of wind on my kayak which has a trolling motor attached on side. It was a crazy adventure. I nearly tipped just trying to turn around with the white cap waves in the Bay. I thought the Bay was like an ocean and I'd never go back! Learned a lot since then. Carrs Wharf is now one of my favorite launches because it's easy to park very close to water and launch from the ramp. And it's one of the closer access points to the Bay for me coming from Virginia. I've never caught much in Rhode River until I get more to the mouth of the river and Bay, but I'm only targeting stripers. Are there croaker in there at certain times of the year? Spot fish too? When is the best time to target them, June to Sept?

[Jim McFalls]

I suppose I should have said, "has anyone launched recently." My wife and I kayak there frequently, especially back in Whitemarsh Creek. I started kayak fishing back in October and one of the first places I launched was Carr's Wharf. Caught 2 rockfish that day, one in the river and one back in the creek. I also caught a few pickerel in the creek in January and February. I pretty much exclusively target rockfish so I can't speak about spot or perch. Last Wednesday, I launched at the wharf and trolled to the mouth of the river - nothing. I then paddled north in the bay just off Beverly Triton Beach and caught one there. It was a long paddle back to the wharf, into a strengthening wind!

[YakCapn]

Paddling back!? Heck it's a long back time wise with a trolling motor from Beverley Triton beach. I do go over there from Carrs Wharf though, I just have to account for the time there and back because it's a long haul. I don't like launching from sand beaches so I don't launch directly from Beverly Triton beach too often. It's kind of a pain with all the heavy trolling gear. Kind of wished I'd gotten a hobie with the foot pedals just so it would be easier and quicker to launch than with all the gear I have.

I haven't been out much this spring because of my new baby in February, but I'm guessing the next time I launch it will be from Carrs Wharf.

[Jim McFalls]

Congrats on the new bambino/a!! Yeah, it's a long paddle but worth it. I was out on the Magothy River Thursday for about 4 hours of paddling. Caught a ton of small rockfish. No Hobie in my immediate future for 2 reasons:
1) The closer I get to 60, the less likely I'll be to get excited about hoisting a 90 lb kayak on top of my Corolla and
2) Paddle kayaks/canoes have work well for Polynesians and Inuits (hunting whales and seals) for 15,000 years so it's good enough for me!

Cheers!

[rob-kayak]

When is the best time to target them, June to Sept

.... when the water warms up... for sure mid summer. It seems that the further south on the bay the size gets much better. Monitor reports like Pier and Surf forum and some others when you hear people catching them. You might try looking at Rose Have Memorial Park, just north of Chesapeake Beach. I don't think it would be too much further from Arlington. Do a google "earth" view... there is not a paved boat launch... but it might be tolerable for you. I've caught a bunch of croaker on the Severn.. There is a launch at Back Creek which is a mile or two west (towards the mouth of the Severn) from Jonas. On Edgwood Road, just past Bert Jabins Yacht Yard on the left. It is called a dingy launch. There is a hard path and semi-floating ramp. About a 100 yard walk from parking to the launch on a gravely path. While I sure wish I had a trolling motor at times, you might consider leaving it in the truck if it is limiting you from exploring more options for launches.