BB 21 August

[FRED driver]

Last week I looked at the tide tables and weather and knew right away I had to be on the water Tuesday evening. One of the biggest incoming swings starting at around 330 pm, flooding at 930 pm, with a low air temp and zero wind. Arrived a bit early do I did some perch fishing before the tide got moving and picked up around 35 or so between 9 and 12 inches.

My pops showed up right as the current picked up and we started striper fishing. 1st cast yielded a 22 incher and it never slowed down after that. Worked the shallower pilings for a spell but decided to try the square-shaped 4-piered monsters in 70 ft of water where the current gets truly roaring. Every cast caught one for about an hour, with most between 15 and 22 inches. Probably got 10 or 11 over 18 inches with several more that broke the line. fishing was so hot I didn't bother wasting time with pictures. As usual, the bite slowed as soon as the current slowed and by that time it was pitch black anyway.

All caught jigging 3/8 and 1/2 oz white heads with shad colored super flukes. All told, probably caught 55 or 60 including a few small blues, a random croaker, and all the perch.

As this is probably my 8th trip this year to the bridge, I have a fairly good idea of the pattern...must be a strong tide (better incoming), lower temps, and early morning or late evening with calmer winds. I don't use bait so I can't speak to its effectiveness but the flukes have been outstanding all year.

Ryan

[Hemingway]

Sounds like a fun time! Thanks for the intel on the tide patterns.

[Southerly]

wow! congrats on some good fishing and some good tips too. the weather's been so much easier to take lately.

[Reelaxin10]

Awesome report! I need a day like that out at the BB and with working a lot I'm getting anxious to use my yaks again! Did you notice any sores on the stripers? Last time I was at the bridge the 23" I caught had them all over.

[chex]

Very cool, and good job identifying the perfect moment to get out there. My BB fishing has pretty much sucked this summer

I was out there Sunday evening, and just as the current started going, a big storm came through, and I had to get out of there ASAP. Bummer.

[ictalurus]

That's excellent news. That was one of the best BB reports I've heard this summer. Congrats on the awesome trip.

[FRED driver]

Awesome report! I need a day like that out at the BB and with working a lot I'm getting anxious to use my yaks again! Did you notice any sores on the stripers? Last time I was at the bridge the 23" I caught had them all over.

Yes, unfortunately a few still have the sores, but the ones we caught in the bigger water were very healthy =)

[ronaultmtd]

With the tournament coming up in a couple of weeks, we need the BB heating up with nice size fish- Having a launch from camp wright is a bit of a run, but still do able- Sept 7-9 should give us some time to catch some spot for live lining to catch some of the bigger hogs- as long as the weather cooperates- but this time of the year is the peak of the hurricane season...

[Reelaxin10]

That's good to hear the fish in the deeper water were healthy.

[Shady]

Wow! Awesome report! I'm very surprised you are using such light jigheads out in the deepest water. Are you keeping in in the top of the water column?

[HJS]

Dang... I'm truly impressed!!! Most guys, including me, go fishing whenever we can regardless of the tides. But you have proven how import tide and current can be. Hitting the best tides at the best times can spell the difference between a skunking and a banner day like you had. Reports like yours kinda makes me want to launch my canoe at SPSP (with trolling motor) to see if I can score a big day too at the BB like you just did. But the better part of safety-first tells me that the BB is no place for my canoe, and I whimp-out. I've fished the BB several time from a big boat and know from experience how good it can be. As the water starts to cools the fishing at the BB will only get better and better... but do pay attention to tides in order to catch fish and attention to wind to stay safe.

[ronaultmtd]

Tides, water temps and salinity play a big part...but most of all is bait fish- without schools of peanut bunker, menhaden, shad, killifish, spot, etc. they will not be there...fast moving water puts predators at an advantage to ambush the bait...

[FRED driver]

Wow! Awesome report! I'm very surprised you are using such light jigheads out in the deepest water. Are you keeping in in the top of the water column?

Ryan,
Yes, the fish are holding no deeper than 20 ft even in deep water (at least from my experience at the BB this yr). I stopped by again last night but misread the tide table and went during slack tide. Still managed about 30 or so but the size not as abundant until a few at 18 inches at dusk when the current started to move again.

[FRED driver]

Dang... I'm truly impressed!!! Most guys, including me, go fishing whenever we can regardless of the tides. But you have proven how import tide and current can be. Hitting the best tides at the best times can spell the difference between a skunking and a banner day like you had. Reports like yours kinda makes me want to launch my canoe at SPSP (with trolling motor) to see if I can score a big day too at the BB like you just did. But the better part of safety-first tells me that the BB is no place for my canoe, and I whimp-out. I've fished the BB several time from a big boat and know from experience how good it can be. As the water starts to cools the fishing at the BB will only get better and better... but do pay attention to tides in order to catch fish and attention to wind to stay safe.

HJS,

Yeah, i def would avoid taking a canoe out unless you stay very close to shore. And i have to drive quite a way to get to the bridge so I only go when the conditions are ideal =)

By the way, if you go to the BB, NOAA has some great products that show live current trends. The closest tide station to use is Matapeake and that area is about 2 hours ahead of the BB...