New to the site, Introduction and where to find minnows around BB?

[Cal]

Hey Everybody. Recently became a member . Nice community here.

I recently bought a tarpon 100 and have taken it out to Triadelphia reservoir and The Chesapeake twice, including my first trip to the BB. I went out around 530 pm yesterday out of "G dock" on the east side and got skunked. I couldn't see any schools of minnows to throw my castnet at, so I used my goto silver/red headed gotcha plug in between and around the pilings. I saw very little topwater activity, just a few splashes right at sundown.

Anyone have any tips on finding minnows in that area? Any other must haves as far as lures go? A gulp grub perhaps, some other jigs? Any other advice or tips?

I am going to try my luck again at BB tomorrow morning at 5 am and maybe I will get my first fish.

[ronaultmtd]

I personally have never fished the BB- long drive from southern MD- but most of the MKF guys jig the pilings with jigs tipped with soft plastic BKD's- chartruese flected with metal flakes is popular as is white- many use "hot rodded" BKDs to jig- that is the plastic has been dipped in scents that change the color of the tip so that it is yellow or red- 4 or 6 inch is the choice here-

[surfdog]

welcpme cal, schools of peanut bunker are all over they must have moved out of the area you were in. peanut bunker dont live long in a minnow bucket so only take what you need for an hour and get some more.

[daddyg]

Welcome.[rouaultmtd] hit it on the head 1/2oz to 1-1/2oz jig head depending on tide and wind you have to get it down fast somtime. I use bass assassins and BKDs [bass candy delights] you can get them at Anglers. I'll be at the BB early on the 4th. Good Luck

[Cal]

So thanks to everyone who viewed my thread and thanks to those who replied.

I went out this morning to BB out of G dock by Hemmingways and was on the water by 6:15.am I stopped by Anglers as suggested and picked up the 6 inch Bkd chartreuese glitter and a pack of jig heads. I made a mistake and got 3/8 ounce jig heads which weren't holding bottom well. A very nice fellow came up to me in white "center console" and asked if I was a member here. He very kindly gifted me 2 heaver jig heads! Thanks to you!

I still got skunked, not even a bite. However I learned a ton, the current was much stronger today and the waves were taller and the wind was faster too. Timing the drift is challenging.
Also the Peanut bunker (or any minnows) were absent today as well.



I want to try again soon, anyone have any pointers on technique or anything to help put me on fish? Thanks ! - Cal

[J.A. Veil]

I went out this morning to BB out of G dock by Hemmingways and was on the water by 6:15.am I stopped by Anglers as suggested and picked up the 6 inch Bkd chartreuese glitter and a pack of jig heads. I made a mistake and got 3/8 ounce jig heads which weren't holding bottom well. A very nice fellow came up to me in white "center console" and asked if I was a member here. He very kindly gifted me 2 heaver jig heads! Thanks to you!

I still got skunked, not even a bite. However I learned a ton, the current was much stronger today and the waves were taller and the wind was faster too. Timing the drift is challenging.
Also the Peanut bunker (or any minnows) were absent today as well.


I want to try again soon, anyone have any pointers on technique or anything to help put me on fish? Thanks ! - Cal

Hi Cal -

I am the guy who provided the jigheads. It was a tough bite on the eastern side pilings this morning. I worked them from about 10:15 to 11:00. The outgoing tide was really ripping making it quite hard to reach bottom. Your 3/8-oz jigheads were not getting you down far enough. I used 1-oz jigheads and had the luxury of a bow mounted trolling motor on my center console Scout. I am still learning how to use the trolling motor but did find that I could hold position pretty well. I did not see many fish on the fishfinder. I ended up jigging up a fat 16" striper, but that was it for the bridge.

I originally launched at Sandy Point and worked my way south to Hacketts, Tollys, and Thomas Point light. The entire way there I could see lots of fish breaking. These were not the large schools of boiling breakers that we like to see. Rather there were frequent individual fish breaking the surface here and there over many acres. I tried casting to several groups of them using a 4" white twister tail and 3/8-oz jighead (normally my most successful lure for breakers). These fish were not interested in white lures whether cast and retrieved or slowly trolled. After 20 minutes of scratching my head, I swapped out one of the two white twister tails for a chartreuse -- Bingo! the fish started biting. I added a smoke colored twister tail on the second rod and trolled around the Hacketts area picking up a few fish. Later I changed over to a small pink Gulp squid on one of the rods. The fish liked pink too. I jigged a few of the better schools with a 6" BKD and caught only a few 12" fish.

For the size gear you had, you would have fared better on the Western side today. You can learn something from each trip out. You would definitely benefit from a fishfinder.

[Shady]

Besides all the good tips above, don't overlook the shallow water pilings on the east side of the bay bridge. 3/8 oz jigheads are usually good enough for the shallow pilings. I've saved many skunks in the shallow pilings at the BB. Even if the Striper arent there, you can usually find nice perch.

[Cal]

Welcome.[rouaultmtd] hit it on the head 1/2oz to 1-1/2oz jig head depending on tide and wind you have to get it down fast somtime. I use bass assassins and BKDs [bass candy delights] you can get them at Anglers. I'll be at the BB early on the 4th. Good Luck

I am going to try my luck tomorrow too. I will be on the east side of the BB in an orange tarpon 100. I hope to see you and pick your brain a bit! - Cal

[Cal]

No Skunk for Cal today! Went ou to the BB, east side. Met "loose Change". Showed me the technique for jigging the pilings correctly. Saw him catch several stripers, including a nice keeper. He also unhooked the cownose ray for me, which completely bent the jighead hook and was pulling me all around the bay, quite fun! Some guys on a boat took a short video of the catch. and very kindly sent it to me. I uploaded it to youtube.

When I arrived at the launch area, G dock by hemmingways, I decided I would see how rusty I was with the ol castnet. Boy was I. I saw some fish swimming in a bait ball being chased by what looked like blues or stripers. However On one throw I caught this 2 foot, very scratched, beat up and bloodied catfish!!( maybe a blue?) In salt water??? I took a picture of it. Smh.

I wanted to say what an amazing guy " loose change" Rich was to me. SO generous with the knowledge, even hooked me up with a couple of the color Bkd he was catching fish with. Thank you so much.

I also met "Grilled" on my way out. Very cool.

btw " the Crabshack by hemmingways has the most delicious crabcake sandwich.

Peace! - Cal