Having trouble finding stripers on the Bay the past few years? Well, you’re not alone. The days of fishing the same old spots the same old ways are gone my friend. While the spring trophy season is still very productive and predictable, once the Ocean run fish depart it’s a whole new ball game. The Chesapeake Bay is changing and the rate of change has accelerated in the past few years. The Upper Bay has been most notably affected but we’re also seeing sings in the lower portions as well. Water quality really comes into play once water temps reach the low seventies and above and this is dictating where the fish hold big time. Anglers who understand that water quality is much like structure are taking advantage of the knowledge, changing their tactics, and enjoying success. As an experienced guide I’ve been able to adjust and locate fish fairly consistently. Now, you know what the definition of experience is right? It’s the name we give to our mistakes so I’m confident in my experience…

To find keeper grade and above stripers consistently once water temps rise into the 70’s, look for three attributes: water quality, food, and structure. Figure out how the fish are relating to these factors, develop a pattern to fish as much of it as you can and you’ve got good fishing. One of these attributes may hold fish, two will definitely, and if you find a spot with all three please give me a call, you’re my new best pal.

When we speak of water quality I’m referring to temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO). I truly believe that this has become the ultimate factor from late spring into fall. You can have awesome structure full of bait but if the water quality is poor – no stripers. Little fish may be around but the larger ones will not tolerate bad water. Water quality causes stripers to move both horizontally and vertically throughout the Bay. They may completely leave an area or simply move up and down in the water column to find more comfortable conditions. Oxygen levels are measured by DO meters which are very costly. As we fishing guides are not among the wealthy citizenry we make do with our sonar units. Simply cruise an area and pay close attention to the depth you see the most life at. This will usually be very evident, you’ll see bait, small dots, arches, etc and all will be hovering within a 10 to 12 foot wide zone. Sometimes this is near the bottom, sometimes in the middle of the column, and frequently near the surface. The warmer the water the more defined the zone will be.

During warm water periods depth becomes its own pattern. If I’m cruising in 23 feet and seeing lots of life on my sonar unit at say 12-16 ft, I will seek out structure that tops out in that zone. A hump that rises to within 10 feet of the surface would be a good choice. If I find fish on one of these I’ll try to repeat it via a “milk run” of such spots. Basically I’m trying to develop a pattern if I can. This tactic can give you a Bay full of spots instead of just a few. Current is also a key to finding areas with good DO levels. Typically the more current you have the higher the levels of DO.

The food component is the easiest to adjust to. During the warm months stripers eat a large variety of different critters. Remember this, those critters live in different parts of the water column. Menhaden and silver sides are plankton feeders and live near the surface. Plankton blooms are best during times of bright sunlight so this is when these guys are most active. Spot, perch, mud crabs, and oyster worms all live near the bottom. A great pattern if you have a hard bottom area with good water quality down there, a poor choice if not. Again, your sonar unit will show you where the life is and where the predators are. Dialing in the food source then allows you to figure out where to fish in the water column. I recall a perfect example of this one early fall day near Bloody Point. My clients were bailing stripers by dropping jigs down to the bottom in 35 feet of water and then reeling and twitching them back up through the entire column. The stripers were chasing silver sides 15 to 20 feet down and every time the jig passed through that zone fish on. Another internet-type guide cruised up next to us and worked a similar jig for an hour without a bite. He changed jigs once, twice, three times and disgusted, he motored off muttering to himself. The difference was he worked his jigs tight to the bottom the whole time but the fish weren’t there. It’s far easier to catch if you fish where the fish are. 

Structure plays a role but it’s not as important as many think. Remember the George Bush thing during his election campaign – it’s the economy stupid? Well with structure it’s about the bait. You can have the prettiest hump or rock pile in the world but if there’s no bait, there’s no fish. Stripers are always where the groceries are and don’t ever forget that. The reason that structure holds fish is that the bait gathers there. Whether it’s for the current break, a hiding place, or to meet chick-bait I don’t know or care. I just know if the bait is there and the water quality is decent the stripers will show up. So, structure without bait is worthless.

In the next article we’ll talk about finding and fishing different kinds of structure.              

	Hippie Joe - August 5, 2008 Good article. One nitpick from a former BS denizen of course, it was clinton whose campaign said it's the economy stupid, not W.
	reeltor - August 1, 2008 Thanks for sharing Capt.
	hippie - July 22, 2008 An excellent article, please keep them coming. Thank you, Bob
	Agrady208 - July 21, 2008 Brandon, thanks for the tips and supporting thoughts. Charlie On the "Ms Cait"
	Roger T - July 10, 2008 Nice read!

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