How Crazy Does It Get?

[nhunter344]

So striped bass trophy season is getting ready to kick off this weekend and as a 'new to the whole bay fishing thing' person I was just curious as to how crazy it gets out on the bay this time of year. How long does it take for the crowds to die down?

To be honest, I'm less concerned about weather/tides than I am about mr. overthelimit fisherman mowing me down with a pair of 300hp outboards or mr. moremoneythansense cigar boat guy blowing by me.

[J. Rentch]

Stay out of the bay, fish the rivers to be safe

[yakscientist]

Its def worse in the northern bay around the bay bridge and out in front of the magothy river. Like john said earlier, sticking to tribs is your best bet. Make sure you've got visibility on your side too, I.e. bright clothing, paddle, etc.

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[Mark]

One of the things I like about kayak fishing is that it allows me to go places where big boats cannot go or choose not to go because boat owners often assume stripers are not in smaller waters. Fortunately, we have plenty of places to fish where we do not have to compete with motor boats. I especially like watch big fishing rigs pass me (under 6 MPH, of course) on their way out of the creeks when I have located fish close to where they were moored.

[bignose]

Ditto what the others have said.
I work as a part time first mate on a charter boat and I despise "opening day.' (BTW, I feel the same way about opening day on Trout streams too). Fishing in a crowd is not my idea of a good time. There are far better ways to socialize.

Relatively jammed conditions, and even though the Bay is more than 4 miles wide, there is no logic to the movement of many of the boats.

Guys trolling randomly, and many towing planer boards, creating a 100 foot wide "boat" with a swath of lures trailing behind. If the boat doesn't run you down, you still have a chance of being caught up in a mass of towed lures!

Combine this with no uniform traffic pattern, captains refusing to yield, and all sort of intoxicated yahoos who are of limited competency as a boater..........

Suffice it to say that I won't work on the boat on opening day anymore. (I hate trolling with the heavy gear, too). It means giving up a couple of hundred dollars in earnings and tips, but, y'know, there are more important things that are a lot less stressful.

If the weather is nice as predicted, it's even worse.

My suggestion is to find someplace shallow and a bit hard to access..........I'm probably gonna fish some local ponds that day.

[Yak Fish]

One of the guys on here got swiped with a planer board and took out his rods while he was fishing around the bay bridge.

[whenican]

Too many yazoos out there trying to wipe out the species. Too many drunks & too many ignoring safe boating laws.
Amongst the crowd, however, are some great sportsmen.

[ronaultmtd]

So striped bass trophy season is getting ready to kick off this weekend and as a 'new to the whole bay fishing thing' person I was just curious as to how crazy it gets out on the bay this time of year. How long does it take for the crowds to die down?

To be honest, I'm less concerned about weather/tides than I am about mr. overthelimit fisherman mowing me down with a pair of 300hp outboards or mr. moremoneythansense cigar boat guy blowing by me.

I fished Wednesday late afternoon/evening and caught/released 17...last half hour before dark the top water bite was epic...because you could not hold a gun on me and make me go opening day...and I will only fish during the week for the next month...weekends are a zoo...like your fears, I have been in the close proximity of fast movers that like to see us kayakers surfing their wakes...little power boats aren't so bad, but 30 footers push a lot of water at full throttle...and 30 boats all pulling 100 feet of planers don't leave much room for us...

[Big Mike]

I'll be in freshwater tomorrow. Wide open on the lakes as everyone hits the bay.

[nhunter344]

I'll be in freshwater tomorrow. Wide open on the lakes as everyone hits the bay.

After reading everyone's replies, I think I'll be doing the same.

[ronaultmtd]

I live on the Rt. 5 By-pass around Waldorf...been a steady stream of boats on trailers headed south this morning...sitting at the kitten table drinking a cup of coffee looking out our bay window at them going by- and most have rigged up rods visible...

[elborikua]

Healthy 26 incher. Not a boat/kayak in sight. Picture perfect. Everyone went out to the bay. I went to St Mary's river.
Hooked another 4 (16-20 inchers)

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[ronaultmtd]

Nice fish- sheltered waters are the place to be...and congratulations for fishing on opening day-

[elborikua]

Got my measurement and let it go. I was pumped.

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[elborikua]

Nice fish- sheltered waters are the place to be...and congratulations for fishing on opening day-

Thank you sir.

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