striper ferenzy again off Chesapeake Beach (Oct 20, 2018)

[ComeOnFish]

Launch:
"Rod N Reel" marina in Chesapeake Beach. There are 4 boat ramps and a aluminum kayak launch platform at Marina West (Behind Water Park). Charter boats are at Marina East
$5 for kayak, $10 for boat (deposit box is outside of the office building you enter Marina West Parking Lot). It's honor system still

I didn't see birds in the morning. But I found baitfish loaded in front of Radar tower in 25-28' of water. There were few birds. But the birds weren’t actively chasing the baitfish. I thought that there weren’t stripers pushing the bait fish to the surface.
I didn't see birds in other places I could reach. I thought the place is the best spot for the day because eventually stripers would find the massive schools of bait fish.
The baitfish stayed there at the same area for hours. Stripers came in two hours. Then the frenzy started

Fishing Log:

Thanks
Joe

[rob-kayak]

thanks for the report and the info on the launch.

[whenican]

Nice vid, Joe!

[yakscientist]

Great video and report, and it's really nice seeing you actively posting to the forum again! Did you get any cobia this year?

[CHOC]

Your vids are awesome. Send some of those fish further north.

[fraghater]

No offense but whats with all of the cover and goggles, are you allergic to the sun? That's got to tough as a kayaker!!

[ComeOnFish]

No offense but whats with all of the cover and goggles, are you allergic to the sun? That's got to tough as a kayaker!!

My mom, one of my sisters, and some nieces are allergic to the the sun very bad. I am not. But it was my wife's order because of several people we know had skin cancer in the face. No cover up, no fishing, no purchase of fishing tackles, no truck, no future boat (when I can't kayak any more), no new kayaks. Actually it was a very good deal I made with her. She can't mention anything regarding my fishing expenses. For example, she sees 5 GoPro cameras (being charged). GoPro is one of fishing tackle, she was told.

Once used to covering up, it's not that bad in the hot sun for few months. Between Nov-April, I wear a wool hood anyway.

Joe

[ComeOnFish]

Great video and report, and it's really nice seeing you actively posting to the forum again! Did you get any cobia this year?

I think I caught about 10 cobia @19-38" no keeper. All caught at Buckroe beach in June - August. I learned that I could catch cobia (small) even in August at Buckroe Beach.

FYI,
I fished for Tarpon in entire July and August in ESVA when the weather is good - meaning no lightening predicted and mild wind. When T-storms were predicted, I fished Buckroe Beach for cobia. I was super-busy in July-October at work. So I had no time for editing videos. Even though I fished at least 1.5 times a week, there weren't enough catching scenes for fishing video anyway. I mentioned briefly on VA forum that kayak-fishing for tarpon in ESVA is not recommended. It's is already hard (no catching) for boaters who had been trying to catch tarpon for years. But a kayaker, it's way too much. It's about 7-9 miles one way to the possible target area. One way took 2.5 - 4.5 hours depending on the wind and current. I got stranded few times during low tides in the beginning of the reconnaissance. I also got lost twice. But now I can predict the current directions of some channels before fishing. I am not sure I will go to ESVA again next year for tarpon. It was too much because I also drive 4.5 hours one way to the ESVA launch sites. BTW, none will tell where he caught tarpon. Everything is a secret there.

Joe

[mchottie]

Everything is a secret there.

I think ESVA hold several secrets... Tarpon, Bull Reds, Spanish, etc... Lots of secrets no one will share (sometimes with good reason)

[LivinTheDream]

Watched the video and tried to imitate Joe yesterday. Launched at sunrise and fished until about 1:30 in the same area. The marina is a good find. I like the kayak launch, the hose right there to rinse off, and that they have a fish cleaning station though sadly I didn't need it. The water was rougher than I expected for the light winds, but I guess since they were from the NE, there was plenty of water to pass across and get the water rolling. By about 10:30, the water quieted down nicely and it was a beautiful day from there out.

I didn't try Joe's fancy rigging, I have enough trouble trying to handle a double let alone triples like he had. I was using Opening Night Zman Grass Kickerz on 3/8 to 1 oz jig heads. I didn't get anything on the 1 oz, so settled into 3/8 to 3/4.

There was baitfish all over the place like Joe described. Birds were everywhere too, picking of the baitfish here and there, but I never found a much of a correlation between birds and rockfish like you would expect.

I did manage about 20 rockfish, mostly between 15 and 18 inches and I did fave a few doubles too. I had one keeper at 21 inches, but let him slip away wow fumbling with gear. The fish were mostly in around 25 feet of water. I tried 30 to 32 feet of water for a good while, but wasn't finding them.

This was just might second trip with my new Hobie Compass and first peddle driven kayak ever. I hope I will be able to do stairs again without pain soon. I knew I would be sore, but so hard to stop when the fishing really just turned on between 11:00 and 1:00.

[ComeOnFish]

Sorry for the fumble.
Yes, I like the marina a lot for the amenities and it's not crowded at all. I prefer between NW and SW wind there. That place holds baitfish consistently, but I think it will be tougher in November. I am going to try one more time. This time I will use bigger lures also for the bigger stripers.

Thanks for the report
Joe