Hurricanes/tropical storms

[zeebyrd]

Since we’ve got some nasty weather on the way I am curious about how it affects Bay fishing.

How do these storms affect the fish? Do they move to other locations in the waters - deeper water?

How long does it take after the storm has passed in order for the fish to move back to their former locations if they do move due to a storm?

Any other info will be greatly appreciated. I can never learn enough and am very interested in what you have experienced in the past.

Thanks!


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[Big Mike]

Fortunately storms of this magnitude are not frequent, so the level of info on how the fish respond is limited. I anticipate that once the barometric pressure stabilizes and goes up that the fish will return to normal patterns. Perhaps some species more sensitive to salinity might move mid bay but if they’re in the bay they can all tolerate some level of salinity drop. I’m hoping to get out Thursday and plan on fishing normal lures and spots.

[ronaultmtd]

Just got our third or fourth tornado warning on IPhone since 3 AM...nothing like waking up in the middle of the night to screeching phone alerts. We need some weather to stir things up a bit, but not a doggone hurricane! Hoping to Be able to fish Thursday so we shall see what if any impact this storm has had...

[Squirrel rash]

I plan to get out to the BB this weekend. Hopefully the water clears up by then.

[J.A. Veil]

I plan to get out to the BB this weekend. Hopefully the water clears up by then.

I recall going out from Sandy Point a few days after one of the large tropical storms/hurricanes 10 -15 years ago. I would not use my fiberglass center console boat for fear of running into something and damaging the hull. I paddled my polypropylene kayak out to the western shore rock pile just to look around. The water in the main bay near the bay bridge was horribly muddy with a large amount of floating debris in the water. It was not fishable, and I did bump into some trees and pieces of lumber.

It is not only the rain that falls locally that affects bay water quality. The Susquehanna River drains portions of NY and much of PA, as well as some areas in MD and DE. If today's storm drops a large amount of rain within the Susquehanna watershed, the bay water quality and fishing opportunities may be compromised for weeks, as it was during the storm I mentioned above. The smaller tidal rivers on both sides of the bay and freshwater streams and ponds should clear up sooner after a large storm.

[Mark]

Here's an interesting article on the topic:

https://www.livescience.com/60354-ho...rine-life.html

Folks I've known who have visited the Bahamas for bonefish or FL for specks have said the fish recovered quickly from hurricanes -- within days. The above article cites that fast swimming fish can both sense the coming storm and head to deeper water in time to save themselves. I believe most of the fish we target would be considered fast swimming fish. Given our recent heat wave, stripers were scarce in the shallows anyway. Let's hope they're hovering in deeper water at the moment while the surface of the Bay is churning. They'll be OK.

[Squirrel rash]

I have been watching the radar track up through PA. I may go take a look see Friday morning at sandy point before work. Maybe paddle my sit in out a little ways and see.

[zeebyrd]

Mark - thank you for sharing that article. Very interesting and informative.

I hadn’t been out in the Bay area in a few years. I had some really good fresh water spots that are now either crowded or overfished.

I am going to start back in the Bay as soon as this clears up. I was going to go out yesterday but decided to do a lot of work at home which included a new battery for my generator. (I hope I don’t need it.)

I just sold my 10’ Pescador Pro in a matter of minutes in Facebook Marketplace. I just have my 12’ Vibe Yellowfin so I am ready for larger waters.

BTW if anyone has spare equipment laying around now is a good time to sell. People are having a hard time finding kayaks and related equipment. I had over 20 people interested in my kayak. I sold it at a fair price without being asked for a few dollars off.


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[ski357]

Went out this evening, from my parents'. St. Inigoes Creek proper
Water was very stained, did not observe very much debris. Fished from 1630 until sunset. Three rock: 15, 17, 18, & a CNR. Landed the CNR to get my lure back. Success in that regard. Pre-storm catches over the weekend, included puppy drum, spot, rock, and perch. Will try and write a post detailing this if I can get some time.IMG_20200804_193746_613.jpg

[ronaultmtd]

Figure every tide change improves the water quality...give it a week and things should be near normal...

[Slackdaddy]

That is every fishing spot in MD over the last 6 months, DNR must be flush with cash from lic sales

I hadn’t been out in the Bay area in a few years. I had some really good fresh water spots that are now either crowded or overfished.
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[Big Mike]

Fished outgoing tide at St Jerome’s this morning. One giant toilet bowl flush of dirty fresh water flowing into the bay. Not a sea nettle in sight and zero predators. I had to go 1/2 mile into the tide in the bay to find more normal water, still couldn’t find fish. Saw plenty of bait around so give it a few days and hopefully back to normal. More boomers today won’t help the situation.

[J.A. Veil]

Mike - Sorry that your local waters were so heavily affected by the storm. I have fished in my local waters (Weems Creek) on the past two mornings. In that sheltered tidal environment, the water was stained like coffee with cream, but the fish were still biting. The water looked better today, and the fishing was faster than on Wed (just 15 mins to catch my Severn Slam - striper, perch, pickerel). The day after the storm, the water levels were mixed up and did not correspond to the tide charts. This morning they were better.

I suspect that the Susquehanna River drainage (the headwaters of the Chesapeake) received a lot of rain during the storm, which suggests that the upper Bay and portions of the mid Bay will become muddy and debris laden in the next few days. Hopefully those impacts on fishing will be short lived.