Any C&R action?

[striper143]

I've heard some rumors about some good catch and release striper fishing around Wind Mill Point. Anybody here the same? I've made the commute done to Lynnhaven and out to Cape Charles twice but due to the number of boats and the wind it was not very enjoyable. The weather is insanely good so I would love to try the points at the mouth of the Rapp. Hope everyone is well.

[joe sportsman]

Did some C&R last thursday around 36a - plenty of fish and bait around. Caught a few trolling and lost a big fish. Only fished for a couple hours. I would think with this warmer than normal water that there are fish all the way up to the potomac.

[CarterCrew]

Mike (my husband) was cruising back from CBBT to Solomons last Wednesday and got into a really nice school under birds just a bit outside Windmill Pt. Fish in the mid 20's to mid 30's with one at 38 and one at 43. he fished them for about an hour and a half.

[jwas1]

Amazing to hear of schools this far north in February. One word of support (pun intended). If you catch any large fish for release, try not to take it out of the water. If you do, handle it with wet hands and please hold it horizontally (the support part) not vertically if you feel the need to take photos. This will give the fish a better chance of surviving. Refer to CarterCrew photos to see how to do it.

[CarterCrew]

Good advice jwas1. I think he released most of them at the side of the boat.

[WhitestoneCharlie]

The fish are usually in the Windmill Pt area this time of year. The greatest concentration of gulls and gannets I have seen on the bay occured a few years ago between Windmill Pt and Dividing Creek in February. Although I have not been out, it is not surprising that big fish are being caught and released now in this area.

[Mike-JacksonCreek]

Its worth fishing from the lower Potomac all the way to Smith Pt, Reedville, Windmill Pt and in the Rapp. Commercial guys with gill nets are getting quite a bit and prices are down to $2 a lb commercially (from $3.75 in Dec). This means the market is flooded with fisg right now. Hook and line season in Va opened 1 Feb and the Potomac hook and line season opens tomorrow.

I caught a few at Smith Pt weekend before last, couldn't fish this weekend due to wind.

[rlcharters]

Mike, Did you, or anybody you know, go out Sat. morning? I would imagine that was the only time this weekend to go. I was wondering if the fish were now farther up the Bay or up the Potomac.

[creekster]

Commercial netters are getting big (I mean 3' and 4' length) rockfish now in the middle Rapp. That's earlier than I can remember them catching in the past. My question: do you think these fish would hit a lure for some C & R action? Or are they just intent on swimming upriver to spawn? I've never fished for them this early in the season but I think I'll start getting the boat ready now!
Creekster

[Salmo trutta]

Yes, they will hit a lure. Could be real good very early this year.