Sandpiper Marine | 757-787-7783 21530 Taylor Rd, Accomac, VA 23301 sandpipermarine.net
Centerville Waterway Marina | 757.547.4498
100 N Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, VA centervillemarina.com
Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804-453-3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com
Friday’s Marine | 804-758-4131
(Malise Marine Sales & Service) 14879 GW Memorial Hwy, Saluda, VA facebook.com/fridaysmarine
Legasea Marine | 757-898-3000
821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com
ENGINEERING
THAT GOES FURTHER
SO YOU CAN GO FARTHER
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CONTACT
LOCAL YAMAHA DEALER
DELAWARE
DELAWARE
Cedar Creek Marina | 302.422.2040 100 Marina Lane, Milford, DE cedarcreekmarina .com
Cedar Creek Marina | 302.422.2040 100 Marina Lane, Milford, DE cedarcreekmarina.com
North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com
North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com
Campbell’s Boatyards - Jack’s Point | 410.226.5105 106 Richardson St, PO Box 410, Oxford, MD campbellsboatyards.com
106 Richardson St, PO Box 410, Oxford, MD campbellsboatyards.com
VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA
Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611 18477
Jett’s Marine, Inc. | 804.453.3611 18477 Northumberland Hwy, Reedville, VA jettsmarine.com
legaseamarine.com
Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com
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Buzz Baits for Beginners
Buzz baits are a top topwater offering. By Jim Gronaw 42
Delaware Bay, Rays Ditch to Roosevelt
There’s plenty of structure to probe where the Delaware River becomes Delaware Bay. By Wayne Young 45
Kickoff at Kiptopeke
Kiptopeke is more than kinda cool—it’s killer. By Lenny Rudow
48
Going B-I-G
Expand your spread’s appeal for a chance at epic. By Staff
50 The Others
When striped bass shut down whatcha gonna do? By Lenny Rudow
52
Ceviche Tostadas, Chesapeake Style
Go fishing or crabbing in the Bay and then take your palate to new peaks. By Hank Shaw
Amber knows how to enjoy summertime on the Choptank – happy July 4th, everyone!
ANGLER IN CHIEF
Lenny Rudow, lenny@fishtalkmag.com
PUBLISHER
Mary Iliff Ewenson, mary@fishtalkmag.com
A SSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Chris Charbonneau, chris@fishtalkmag.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Molly Winans, molly@fishtalkmag.com
SENIOR EDITORS
Beth Crabtree, beth@fishtalkmag.com
Kaylie Jasinski, kaylie@fishtalkmag.com
COPY EDITOR
Lucy Iliff, lucy@fishtalkmag.com
FISHING REPORTS EDITOR
Dillon Waters
ADVERTISING SALES
Eric Richardson, eric@fishtalkmag.com
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Brooke King, brooke@fishtalkmag.com
DISTRIBUTION / BROKERAGE / CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER
Beatrice M. Mackenzie, beatrice@fishtalkmag.com
ART DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER
Zach Ditmars, zach@fishtalkmag.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER / PRODUCTION A SSISTANT Royal Snyder, royal@fishtalkmag.com
COASTAL CORRESPONDENT John Unkart
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Adam Greenberg, Jim Gronaw, Chuck Harrison, Capt. Monty Hawkins, Eric Packard, David Rudow, Wayne Young
DISTRIBUTION
Keith Basiliko, Martin and Betty Casey, Jennifer and Al Diederichs, Gregory and Dorothy Greenwell, Dave Harlock, Ron and Colleen Ogden
Rudow’s FishTalk is a monthly magazine for and about Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic anglers. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the officers of Rudow’s FishTalk LLC. Rudow’s FishTalk LLC accepts no responsibility for discrepancies in advertisements.
Rudow’s FishTalk is available by first class subscription for $45 a year, and back issues are available for $4 each. Mail payment to Rudow’s FishTalk Subscriptions, 612 Third Street, Suite 3C, Annapolis, MD, 21403.
Rudow’s FishTalk is distributed free of charge at more than 850 establishments along the shores of the Chesapeake and the DelMarVa Peninsula. Businesses or organizations wishing to distribute Rudow’s FishTalk should contact the Rudow’s FishTalk office, (410) 216-9309 beatrice@fishtalkmag.com.
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ve things you should know about boat insurance
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Notes from the Cockpit
By Lenny Rudow
The good news: for five years running we’ve enjoyed an above average spatfall, the measure of reproductive success of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. The bad news: It’s a safe bet that some people will push for expanded oyster harvest and increased limits as a result.
Attempting to look through an objective lens, it’s tough to blame those who do so. Commercial watermen work plenty hard at a relatively risky job, and more oysters means more money—more food on the table and new shoes for the kids. Still trying to remain objective, however, we must remember that oyster populations in the Bay are at one to two percent of what they were just two centuries ago. Back then oysters filtered the entire Bay in a week. Today it takes over a year. It should be obvious that maintaining oyster populations at their current numbers is insufficient. We need to let them rebuild, which means maintaining harvest limits and letting nature add back more—much more—than we haul out.
As with rockfish, nature plays a dominant role in the fortunes of oysters. Disease has been a major contributor to
their population crash, and for the past five years we’ve simply been lucky that conditions have favored good spat falls and lower disease mortality. But we don’t know how long this will last, just as we don’t know when the rockfish will (finally) get a break and have favorable spawning conditions. Why worry about this now, in the middle of summer long before oyster season? When we have another six or seven months before learning what sort of spatfall 2025 will bring? Because now, when the oyster harvest is the farthest thing from our minds, we need to remember:
• In 2019 commercial interests pushed to harvest from oyster sanctuaries in Maryland and then-governor Larry Hogan vetoed a bill to protect them; it took an override from the General Assembly to prevent the travesty of harvesting taxpayer-funded and restored oysters from taxpayer-funded “sanctuaries” for private gain.
• In 2023 oyster farms in Maryland produced over 94,000 bushels of oysters while the harvest of wild oysters over the 2023-2024 season yielded
about 430,000 bushels. In Virginia, however, farming has surpassed wild harvest and 400,000 bushels of the total 700,000 bushel harvest came from farms. The ratio of farmed to wild harvest oysters in Virginia demonstrates that farming is the future.
• Wild oyster reefs don’t just filter the water, they provide critical habitat to dozens of Chesapeake Bay species. Blue crabs, mud crabs, eels, grass shrimp, mussels, barnacles, ghost anemones, skillet fish, three species of gobies, two species of blennies, bull minnow, oyster toads, croaker, spot, sea bass, silver perch, and white perch are all common residents—as are the rockfish, speckled trout, drum, and flounder that eat all those little guys.
What really got me thinking about this in the middle of the summer, however, was helping a friend clean out his oyster cages. When a single cage holding 500 oysters was pulled out of the water and shaken over a tarp, a blenny, two skillet fish, two blue crabs, a handful of bull minnow, a dozen gobies, a dozen eels, and many dozens of mud crabs and grass shrimp dropped out. The tarp was also covered with thousands of tiny wiggling amphipods called scuds, shrimp-like creatures that all of the aforementioned critters eat. The value of oysters as habitat simply cannot be overstated, and the amount of life generated by a bunch of oysters in a threefoot by four-foot area is utterly shocking.
Compare that to the endless stretches of barren soft mud bottom in much of our Bay, its creeks, and its rivers. And most critically for we anglers, ask yourself which sort of habitat you think you’ll catch more fish in.
# The amount of life found in just one cage of oysters is mind blowing. Imagine how good the fishing would be if the Bay’s bottom was paved with these creatures, as it once was.
Dear FishTalk,
Catching and Cooking
Iconsider it a challenge to find interesting new ways to prepare fresh fish meals with my catch, and I enjoyed the “Blue Catfish Cuisine” article in the May edition. I do plan to try the recipes in it, but FishTalk readers should know, there’s also a great selection of other blue catfish recipes on the Maryland Department of Agriculture “Maryland’s Best” website, marylandsbest.maryland. gov. Just go to the seafood tab and the “Wild Caught Blue Catfish” section. Check out the Blue Catfish Tacos recipe: it rocks.
Dear Eli, Thanks for the tip!
Dangling in DE
Ireally enjoy the Fish Talk content. I’ve learned so much watching Lenny’s videos. I’d love to see more Delaware content, but I know you’re generally focused on the Chesapeake. Thanks for being a great resource for DelMarVa anglers!
-Josh S., via Facebook
Dear Josh, Your wish is our command! Well… actually you just have great timing. See page 42!
Send your fish photos, questions, and comments to lenny@fishtalkmag.com
-Eli B.
Questioning Your Sanity
Dear FishTalk,
Q: What species of fish is known to enjoy travel?
A: Goldfish. They go all around the globe over and over again.
-Anonymous
your catch of northern snakehead, blue catfish, and flathead catfish in the Chesapeake Watershed for a chance to win great monthly prizes! Register for FREE today! ccamd.org/count
Fis H News
By Lenny Rudow
Change Is Brewing
At the most recent Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) meeting, the Sciaenids Board (which manages red drum) initiated Draft Addendum II to address growing management concerns. Redfish stocks are broken down between the northern stock we fish on (North Carolina to New Jersey) and a southern stock (South Carolina to Florida). The southern stock is considered overfished and experiencing overfishing, and southern states will have to propose regulation changes to reduce harvest. Fortunately for us in Chesapeake country the northern stock is not overfished nor is it experiencing overfishing. However, several board members expressed concern that improving red drum fishing and a shift in angling effort away from striped
Ibass and towards red drum are creating increased trends in fishing mortality. Board members also cited the varying and confusing differences in red drum regulations between jurisdictions on the Bay; Virginia, Maryland, and the Potomac River each have differing regulations even though you could easily fish the waters of all three in an afternoon. Potential changes to bag and/or slot limits are expected to be considered for public comment in August, with hearings held in the late summer or early fall.
Another topic addressed at the meeting was the potential reshuffling of striped bass regulations on the Bay. The state of Maryland requested the board to allow for public comment regarding a possible shift in fishing seasons, to allow for more catch-and-release angling in the spring
No Limits
while shutting down more of the summer season—when release mortality is highest. Size and bag limits and the bulk of the striped bass season would otherwise remain the same. The board voted to allow the public to weigh in, so expect to hear more about opportunities to provide input at meetings and/or online later this year.
f you ever wished you could go fishing with no size limits, no bag limits, and no seasons, now’s your chance. Pennsylvania’s Fish and Boat Commission has announced a complete lifting of all regulations at three different lakes: Harris Pond, High Point Lake, and Rose Valley Lake. All three of these impoundments are scheduled for complete drawdowns (due to necessary dam repairs) in late 2025 or early 2026. To reduce the number of fish in them the commission is lifting all the regs and encouraging anglers “to fish these waters and make good use of as many fish as they can prior to the lakes being drained.” Visit the Fish and Boat Commission newsroom webpage (pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat.html) to get more information.
# The electrofishing intel found on the Maryland Lakes and Ponds interactive map is well worth checking out.
Electrified Intel
In the state of Maryland fisheries managers do regular electrofishing surveys to keep tabs on the changing fisheries. Naturally, the data they gather would be of interest to anglers, but up to now there hasn’t been a simple, effective way to gain insight to that data. The new Fishing Maryland Lakes and Ponds interactive map (dnr.maryland. gov/fisheries/pages/maps.aspx) changes all that. Click on a box to include whatever species you’re interested in and then click on the mapped hotspot you want to know about, and you’ll get a thumbnail. Click once more to enlarge it and the pop-up graphic shows the fish-per-hour catch rates for fish of different sizes from 2016 to 2024, along with a pie graph of size distribution and a bar graph showing the fish’s lengthto-weight relationship. At a glance you can see where the populations have been growing, where they’ve been falling, and where there are more big fish versus little fish.
# Changes may be brewing regarding redfish regs.
Reeling in Big Checks
July 10 to 13 one of the big-money tournaments of the summer takes place in Ocean City, MD: the OC Tuna Tournament. Organizers claim that this has grown into the largest tuna tournament in the world, with multiple boats taking home six-figure payouts. This one’s all about building the biggest stringer of bigeye, yellowfin, bluefin, and longfin, but there are also prizes for the largest individual tuna plus mahi and wahoo. This is a trollingonly tournament, with each boat fishing two of the three days. Visit octunatournament.com to get all the details.
Bigger Is Bester
The 2025 Huk big Fish Classic is set to hit the water July 25 to 27, and with a purse busting past $1.1 million you can bet anglers will stay awake and fish for every moment of their 32-hour angling timeslot. Captains get to choose whether to fish Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday and can fish their stretch anywhere within 125 miles of the OCMD sea buoy. There are multiple divisions including release, but the idea with this one is that the biggest fish—any fish—is the winner, with marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tuna, wahoo, and mahi all in the mix. Get the full scoop at bigfishclassic.com.
Marlin Club Mayhem
The OC Marlin Club has two tournaments coming up in July: the Canyon Kickoff and the Kid’s Classic. The Canyon Kickoff runs July 4 through 6 with boats fishing one of the three days, with weigh-ins from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at a location TBD as we went to press. The Kid’s Classic benefits the Wish-A-Fish Foundation and runs July 19 and 20, with weigh-ins at Sunset Marina and the awards banquet at the Marlin Club. Visit ocmarlinclub. com to learn more.
# The OC Tuna Tournament kicks off July 10-13.
Bass’N on the Bay
Bass anglers will be interested to hear that there’s a St. Croix Bassmaster Open taking place July 23 to 25 in the Upper Bay. The first two days are full-field competition, and on day three the top 10 fight it out for the remaining spots. The winner will secure a spot at the 2026 Bassmaster Classic in addition to a healthy cash prize and this event will be based out of North East, MD. Check out bassmaster.com to learn more.
Been Waiting For!
SIFT Wrap-Up
After an opening day with fair seas and sunny skies, anglers in the 2025 Smith Island Fishing Tournament braved gusty winds and rainstorms as they competed for the biggest redfishrockfish-speckled trout stringer. The second and third days were especially tough for those in the Kayak Division, with little change in the rankings after Friday—yet Team FishTalk crewmember David Rudow had managed to put together a trio of fish including a 40-inch red drum, a 24-inch rockfish, and a 19.5-inch speck to take first place among the paddlers and the pedalers. “If watching a 40-inch redfish smash your lure doesn’t get you hyped up to fish the Chesapeake I don’t know what will, and taking home the win is icing on the cake,” Rudow said. Team Hooked Up hit 111.5 inches to win first place among the boats, with an impressive 47.75-inch red, a 39.5-inch rock, and a 24.25-inch speck. As usual the Saturday evening party on the island at 3 Knots Marine was a blast (the grilled chicken was awesome!) and anglers staying in Ewell reported that it was a weekend of fun to remember.
# David Rudow took home first place in the Kayak Division during the Smith Island Fishing Tournament.
Photo by Mark Nicolaus
HOT NEW GEAR
Editor’s Note: We wish we could personally test every item that appears on these pages, but that simply isn’t possible. So that you know the difference between when we’ve physically tested a piece of gear and when we’re writing about it because it’s newsworthy and we think you’ll want to know about it, we’ve developed this FishTalk Tested button. When you see it printed next to something in this section, it means we’ve personally run it through the wringer.
Wild Thang
You have a wild child who’s crazy about fishing? In that case, you’ll want to check out the new Easy Angler Kids Combo from Wild Child Outfitters. This complete fishing kit packs into a compact, strong, rugged carrying case with a shoulder strap, making it ideal for taking a young angler on a hike to your favorite honey hole. The 4’6” two-piece rod (protected by a rigid tube) has an “ArmorGlide” tip that tapers down to reduce tangles—and it comes with not one but two top sections, so if a youngster gets overly aggressive while casting or cranking and breaks the rod tip, they already have a replacement on hand. The spincast reel (spooled with eight-pound test) is metal, not plastic; the included mini-tacklebox is loaded with basics like bobbers, hooks, split shot, jig heads, tails, and even a few spoons and a crankbait; and pliers/snips are also included. When we opened this kit up we were impressed by two things. First off, the quality level of the gear is up to snuff for adult use, but sized for kids who take their fishing seriously. Unlike many kid’s fishing kits, this is absolutely not junk. Second, it’s amazing how much stuff they packed into that carrying case. Sling it over a shoulder, head for the pond or river, and your kid has everything he or she needs for a day of fishing in a kit they can easily carry. Two thumbs up for the Easy Angler Kids Combo! Price: $199. Visit wildchild-outfitters.com to make that youthful angler smile and smile big.
Get My Dryft?
Chest waders keep you dry during deep wading, but they come up so high they can get uncomfortably hot and stuffy, too. Dryft’s Session Lite Convertible waders, however, convert from chest height to waist height. Magnetic locking snaps make the adjustment, without having to take the waders off or fuss with a bunch of straps. The Session Lite is also made to last, with four layers of recycled nylon, double-taped seams, and a PFAS-free waterproof coating. The main chest pocket includes fleece lining for warming up the hands on chilly days and an optional waterproof media pouch fits inside. The feet are neoprene and the belt is a semi-stretching Comfortflex. Since these waders weigh in at a mere two pounds, nine ounces, they’re a great option for packing in on hikes to wilderness rivers. Price: $479. Check ‘em out at dryftfishing.com
SRig Like a Ninja
ick and tired of opening the package of a surf fishing rig and finding subpar materials? Us, too, so we were psyched to find Ninja Tackle’s assortment of hand-tied rigs. These boast topnotch pieces and parts put together right here in the USA, and better yet Ninja’s a local outfit in Chester, VA. Check out the #2 pompano/whiting rig, for example. It’s tied with 30-pound fluorocarbon leaders, chemically sharpened black nickel octopus circle hooks, and brass barrel-and-crane snap swivels. They offer similarly high-end rigs for big drum, specks and puppies, bluefish, and they even have a blow toad/pufferfish rig (really?!) Price: $4.99. Visit ninjatackleva.com before you reach the beach.
Artifactual
We’ve seen slingshot fishing rods before, but we’ve never seen a “Fish Shooting Artifact.” The manufacturer, Yueming Outdoor Products, says that it provides accurate fish shooting catching learn it once you learn it, and it comes ready for use with one plastic hshing reel1. If you find that slightly confusing, don’t worry because the Fish Shooting Artifact is really a “durable long-range casting rod with hidden ballistics and strong rubber band.” Added bonus: Flying Shark Dart included!! Price: $54.34 $39.49. Visit Temu if you’re dying to get arrested the next time you go “fishing.”
Light Might
Buzzing Around
It’s tough—very tough—to find a tackle box that has spaces sized for everything from split-shot to sputnik weights. Enter: Buzbe. With their Empty Swarm bags and Colony 15 boxes, you can create the sizes and spaces that you want to fit your tackle stowing needs. The bags are not only waterproof they’re submersible and airtight when zipped closed, and feel thoroughly rugged in-hand. The Colony 15 boxes have quick-pop latches with 316-grade stainless-steel and glass-filled nylon, and a 316-grade stainless-steel hinge pin. What really sets them apart, however, is the “Hexlok” grid system inside. It allows you to secure an assortment of modular bins, which you can puzzle-piece together to provide the different sized and shaped compartments you need. And yes, we were able to customize one to fit both split shots and sputniks in the same box. Price: $19.95 for the smallest box to $395 for a huge modular gear case triple pack. Visit buzbe.com to join the swarm.
Weight matters, especially if you plan to cast from dawn to dusk. That’s why Okuma set out to improve their Hakai, a baitcasting reel designed with a Litecast magnesium alloy frame, which tips the scales at a feather-like 5.9 ounces. For 2025 it’s been beefed up with a stainless-steel handle arm and drive shaft to boost longevity. But weight is still minimized via handle cut-outs and the shaft being a patented hollow “Flite-Shaft” design. The drag system is a multi-disc stainless-steel/carbon hybrid that can put out up to 20 pounds of max drag, there’s an adjustable magnetic cast control, six ball-bearings plus roller bearing, and Quick-set anti-reverse roller bearing. How confident is Okuma that the Hakai will hold up for the long haul despite its uber-lightweight nature? This reel is backed up with a threeyear warranty, as compared to the usual one or two years that most big tackle manufacturers provide. Price: $149.99. Visit okumafishingusa.com to shed a few pounds.
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Eyes Wide Open
If you scan the waters with stabilized binoculars while looking for birds, there’s a new option hitting the market for 2025 from a long-established player. Fujinon has introduced a pair of new Techno-Stabi models, the TS-L1640 and TS-L2040. As you might guess from the model tagging, the TS-L1640 offers 16x magnification while its larger sibling offers 20x magnification. Both feature a 40 mm objective lens diameter, 30 hours of battery life, and +/- three degrees of image stabilization. The existing 14x TS-X14 Techno-Stabis boasted +/- six degrees of image stabilization so these new models might not be as effective in very rough seas, how ever, they either cost less (for the TS-L1640) or the same (for the TS-L2040), so you can get a serious magnification boost at the same price-point. These new units are also significantly lighter at 30 ounces versus 46 ounces. Price: $1199.95/$1299.95. Visit shopusa.fujifilm-x.com if you’re hoping to spot breaking fish from miles away.
Put a Fork in it
If you’re a freshwater fly angler into Euro-nymphing you’ll be into Temple Fork Outfitter’s latest offering, the Elevare. These are four-piece rods in 10’, 10’6”, and 11’ lengths, in two, three, and four weights. They have a fast action for quick lifts and hooksets and are uber-lightweight, tipping the scales at a mere 2.5 to 2.9 ounces. Grips are cork and larger models have a burl cork fighting butt, and these rods are labeled on the bottom of the butt for easy identification when you’re pulling them out of a tube or rooftop rod carrier. These rods don’t come cheap, but they do come with Temple Fork’s awesome no-fault lifetime warranty against defects. Price: $499.95. Visit tforods.com for more info.
Exit, Stage Right
More rods is always more better, but for a kayak angler it can be tough to find space for all those rods and reels. Plus, if you’re paddling a shoreline that takes you under overhanging trees, those vertical rodholders are going to cause problems. Maybe it’s time to make some horizontal space, via the YakAttack Sidestage Pro Rod Rack. The SideStage holds three rods at your side, and features a new attachment point they call “ClickTrac.” It allows for removal at the push of a button and vertical adjustability, while the “FlipGrip” allows for securing your rod in position or letting it rest as a stager in the open position. The SideStage Pro is made of injectionmolded polymers to survive in the marine environment, and mounting requires two GearTrac attachment points. Price: $75. Visit yakattack.us to take the stage.
North Bay Marina | 302.436.4211 36543 Lighthouse Rd, Selbyville, DE northbaymarina.com
Carlisle’s Marine | 302.389.0100 49 Artisan Dr, Smyrna, DE carlislesmarine.com
Virginia
Legasea Marine | 757.898.3000 821 Railway Rd, Yorktown, VA legaseamarine.com
Tips for winning the slots
Slots With a Schnoz –
When you’re targeting those puppies and slot reds, remember that they have an excellent sense of smell. Using scented baits WILL give you an edge.
Rock the Docks – Redfish can feed in shockingly shallow water, so don’t just cast to the ends of docks, sneak in close and cast right up to where they meet the shore. This can be especially effective where there’s riprap present along the shoreline. Kayak angler: you have an edge here and can get in tight, so play to your advantages and look for spots where the docks are too close together for bigger boats to get inside and cast shallow.
Magic Trick – When handling a redfish you’ll be releasing, cradle its belly in your palm. For some reason they chillax and stop thrashing. We have no clue as to why, but this works. (Also, resting your chin on a toy boat seems to help).
Ask an Expert Damien
Our expert this month is Damien Cook, the world record holder for northern snakeheads and a guide for Lowland Outfitters. Since it’s getting hot out there we asked him about summer snakehead fishing.
Q: What’s your favorite lure for midsummer snakeheads, and why?
A: I am definitely a chatterbait man. My favorite would probably be the Cooker because it’s very versatile. You can fish it in open water and fish it in in deep cover, with all sorts of different retrieves.
Q: What’s the best way to work it during the summer months?
A: That really depends on what the fish want that day. On the harder days I will work it in a yo-yo fashion back to the boat.
Q: Where do you look to find the fish when it’s super-hot out?
A: Grass lines, spatterdock, lily pads, hydrilla, and any place like that where there’s shade and it makes a good ambush point. Sometimes I’ll find them in a little bit deeper water as well.
Q: Are dawn and dusk best for snakeheads during summer, as is the case for many other species?
A: Yes, the middle of the day in summer tends to be slow with these fish. If you have cloud cover you can have a bite mid-day but for the most part they slow down. That being said if you are persistent enough you can catch them any time of day. This is why I suggest my clients only do half days and three-quarter days in midsummer.
Thank you, Damien! To
Cook of Lowland Outfitters
Q: What about tides? How do they change the game during the summer?
A: Tides can and will impact these fish any time of year. One main thing to keep in mind in summer is if the tide is low and they can’t get to any cover, there’s a good chance you’ll find them in deeper water. Remember, deep water is relative to the area you are fishing in.
Q: We’ve all heard that snakeheads can spawn all through the season, and everyone knows to look for fry balls. But, isn’t it tough to spot them from your low position in a kayak? Any tips for spotting/identifying them, and what to look for as you gaze out across the water?
A: Standing definitely helps to spot them. The main tip I have is to pull your fishing glasses down from time to time. A good pair of polarized glasses will take the glare off and for me a lot of times that’s a good way to spot the shimmer from the bubbles with all the little fry taking a breath.
Q: When you do spot one, what’s next? If you don’t get a strike right away how long do you pound it before moving on? Any other tips for fishing them?
A: So how long I work a fry ball really depends on the size of the fish. The bigger it is the longer I stay but in general I’d say 10 to 20 minutes. But if I see a fish guarding the fry that’s big enough I might stay for an hour, or come back an hour later and try again. As for tips, change up what you’re throwing and how you’re retrieving. One of my favorite ways to fish a fry ball is to take a chatter bait and rip it through the ball.
Q: You fish with lots of different people and undoubtedly see the same mistakes over and over again. What are the three most common things that folks are likely doing which reduces their success rate for snakeheads?
A: Moving spots too quickly, getting too close and spooking them, and being too attached to one lure or lure type. I love my chatterbaits but if the fish don’t want it then it doesn’t matter what I want to throw.
Q: Open mic—anything else you’d like to say to all those anglers out there?
A: Keep a positive attitude; you will catch more fish when you’re not mad. And take every trip as a learning experience. Even skunks.
Ch ESAPEAKE C ALENDAR
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
July through Jul 2
cca Dc fishing trip Raffle
Eight lucky raffle winners will join author/ chef Hank Shaw and Ike Jime Federation president Andrew Tsui on a VIP custom charter fishing trip targeting blue catfish in our nation’s capital. The trip will take place Friday July 18, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., disembarking from The Yards Marina in Southwest Washington, DC. Raffle sales end July 2 at 11:59 p.m. Live drawing July 3 at 6 p.m. on LIVE with Lenny. Purchase raffle tickets at ccamd.org/raffle
through Mar 31
great chesapeake invasives count Help collect important data while competing for great prizes! Log your invasive species catches (northern snakehead, blue catfish, flathead catfish) on iAngler, and FishTalk will present monthly prize drawings. Register: ccamd.org
1
cca somD chapter kayak jugging on mallows Bay 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CCA Maryland will partner with Heroes On the Water (HOW) to host up to 20 participants for kayak angling employing a technique called “jugging” on Mallows Bay in Maryland.
2 kent Narrows annual independence Day celebration
Rain date July 3. Family activities start at 6 p.m. on the lawn next to the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor’s Center. Free parking at the “old outlets;” complimentary shuttle. Fireworks: 9:15 p.m.
Do you have an upcoming event? send the details to: kaylie@fishtalkmag.com
3
liVE with lenny
Join us on the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. for new episodes. Watch on Facebook or YouTube. Tune in for an interactive live stream with Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow where he discusses various seasonal fishing tips and tricks for targeting a variety of fish species.
3
Rock hall fireworks Fireworks over the harbor at 9 p.m.
3 town of chesapeake Beach fireworks Display 5:30 to 10 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial, Kellam’s Field, Bayfront Park. Chesapeake Beach, MD.
4 annapolis fourth of july celebration
The Independence Day Parade runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m., starting at Amos Garrett Blvd and West Street and ending at Susan Campbell Park. Annapolis launches its fireworks from a floating barge in the harbor at 9:15 p.m.
4
annual solomons fourth of july Boat Parade
All are invited to show up on Mill Creek in Solomons, MD, at noon on the 4th. Show your American pride and dress up your boat or your person and join in on the fun. 38.331264 by 76.450065 is the start. There is no registration, just show up and jump in line. For more information, please contact melissa.mccormick101@ gmail.com and stay on channel 68 the time of the parade.
4
fourth of july great american Picnic and fireworks
5 to 10 p.m. at Town Point Point Park at the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront. An evening of All-American fare, live music, and fireworks over the Elizabeth River at 9:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.
4
fourth of july in Baltimore Inner Harbor Festivities begin at 3 p.m. reworks show over the water at 9:00p.m., drone show at 9:30 p.m.
4
fourth of july in yorktown
A full day of activities in Historic Yorktown, VA, including a run/walk, parade, live music, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and fireworks over the York River at 9:15 p.m.
4 Newport News stars in the sky
6 to 9 p.m. at Victory Landing Park in Newport News, VA. Great food, live music, festive entertainers, and a spectacular fireworks display over the James River at 9 p.m.
4 Washington, Dc, fourth of july celebration
The National Independence Day Parade kicks off on Constitution Avenue between 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW at 11:45 a.m. Fireworks on the National Mall at 9:09 p.m.
5
cBmm Big Band Night 7 to 10 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets for an evening of music, dancing, and fireworks along the Miles River (scheduled for shortly after dusk). Rain date July 6.
5 havre de grace independence Day celebration
2 p.m. parade, 5:30 p.m. concert at Hutchins Park, 7:30 p.m. concert at Concord Point Park, and fireworks will be launched from a barge in the Susquehanna River off Concord Point Park at 9:15 p.m.
5 middle River annual fireworks Extravaganza
Presented by the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County. Details TBA. Visit mtabc.org to help support this annual event.
9 frederick saltwater anglers monthly meeting
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Frederick Elks Lodge #682. Optional food starts at 6 and meeting begins at 7. We have a speaker and vendor along with raffle prizes and a 50/50.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025
Join us in 2025 as we celebrate our continued commitment to making a splash in cancer care for our community.
Fish For A Cure (F4AC) is a fishing and fundraising competition that benefits cancer patients and their families in our community. Over the last 18 years, F4AC has raised more than $6.5 million to support the Cancer Survivorship program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. The 19th Annual Fish For A Cure Tournament, Paul C. Dettor Captain’s Challenge, and Shore Party will be taking place on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Safe Harbor Annapolis, our tournament home. For more information and to register, visit us at www.fishforacure.org.
Chesapeake Calendar
July (continued)
10 anglers combos for kids Event
At Mike’s Beach. Boats needed. Presented by Anglers Sports Center.
10
cmm Waterside music series
7 p.m. at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, MD. Live music by Darius Rucker.
10-13 Potomac jazz and seafood festival
A four-day extravaganza of nationally acclaimed jazz artists, delectable Southern Maryland seafood, and breathtaking Potomac River views in St. Mary’s County, MD.
17 msfc monthly meeting
7 to 8 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge, MD. Mid-Shore Fishing Club of Maryland.
19 antique outboard motor club meet 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Flying Point Park (511 Kennard Ave.) in Edgewood, MD.
19
cca somD chapter Book signing Event
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 10425 Mackall Rd, St Leonard, MD. This year’s event will feature renowned author, chef, angler, conservationist and James Beard award winner Hank Shaw of the website Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook, who will be promoting his new book “Borderlands.” Ticketed event.
20 tides and Vibes
3 to 7 p.m. at Baltimore Peninsula’s Port Covington Marina. Theme: Conservation and Cuisine. An afternoon of free waterfront fun for the whole family. Food, drinks, games, music.
26
maryland marina Nautical flea market
Buy, sell, or trade boat-related gear, with tables available for individuals and vendors. Kids’ activities, food truck, raffle for prizes, and free transient slips for the weekend. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Maryland Marina.
26-27 smBc leonardtown Bash on the Bay Vintage race boat exhibition presented by Southern Maryland Boat Club at Leonardtown Wharf Park. Free.
31 anglers combos for kids Event
At Mike’s Beach. Boats needed. Presented by Anglers Sports Center.
31 cca angler’s Night out 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at West End Grill in Annapolis. Presented by Waterfront Marine. “Chesapeake Cobia Mastery” with Capt. Jon Henry (Tidewater Charters). Talk and Q&A. Free and open to the public.
August
9 150th anniversary celebration of thomas Point shoal lighthouse
6 to 9 p.m. at the Navy Marine Corp Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD. Presented by the US Lighthouse Society and Visit Annapolis. Dinner, guest speakers, live music, wine pull, door prizes, and more. Tickets $150 per person.
Tune in Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 6 p.m. for a new episode!
Presented by
New episodes air on the first Thursday of the month on our Facebook page (facebook.com/fishtalkmag) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/fishtalkmagazine). View past episodes at fishtalkmag.com/live-with-lenny
Scan this code to follow us on Facebook and YouTube or sign up to get notified about upcoming LIVE video streams via email at
8-10 Pirates & Wenches Weekend
A town-wide family friendly event in Rock Hall, MD. Rum tasting, shanty sing-along, performers, dinghy parade and poker run, live music, activities for kids, and more.
10
Watermen’s appreciation Day
A thrilling boat docking contest, steamed crabs straight from the Bay, live music, family activities, and more unforgettable fun for all. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
13
frederick saltwater anglers monthly meeting
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Frederick Elks Lodge #682. Optional food starts at 6 and the meeting begins at 7. We have a speaker and vendor along with raffle prizes and a 50/50.
16 cmm Waterside music series 7 p.m. at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, MD. Live music by Sam Hunt.
16 sassafras River Docking contest and River Days 10:30 a.m. at the former IJK docks at the north end of Georgetown Yacht Haven, MD. Centered around the docking contest, this event will include dozens of local vendors as well as food trucks, live music, drinks, and more. Serves as a fundraiser for the annual Georgetown Labor Day Fireworks and the local community.
17 tides and Vibes
3 to 7 p.m. at Baltimore Peninsula’s Port Covington Marina. An afternoon of free waterfront fun for the whole family. Food, drinks, games, music.
18 anglers combos for kids Event
At Mike’s Beach. Boats needed. Presented by Anglers Sports Center.
21 msfc monthly meeting
7 to 8 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge, MD. Mid-Shore Fishing Club of Maryland.
Reader Photos
# Cathy caught this 6.9-pound flounder in Chincoteague, to win the Frederick Saltwater Anglers Etzler Memorial Flounder Frenzy tournament.
caught and released this nice over-slot rock on Memorial Day.
# Julian
# Bill caught a nice one on opening day in the Upper Bay.
# Uncle Tom visited from Michigan and nabbed a 22-pounder on the Flats.
# Ryan got into a mess of sea bass on opening day for v irginia.
# William ran into a nice batch of bluegills at the local pond.
# v ince and Craig had great opening day action.
# Mia and harper enjoyed some excellent weekend angling on the Bay.
# Mark found a keeper flounder and a speck casting into the waters of Lynnhaven.
# Leo landed a big blue cat while casting from the beach at Sandy Point.
# Emory hit his limit on the flatties!
# Tim hit the water after the sun went down and tied into the redfish.
# Tom sets a new world record… for small!
# Nathan hooked into a beastly 30” snakehead, then Kaden got a hand in its gill plate to lift it over the bulkhead.
# Greg caught a native Savage River brookie on a dry fly.
# Eastern Shore boys Polock, Dave, Tony, Jon, Dink, and Eric had a great day offshore of the OBX.
# holly caught this beautiful black drum the day before her birthday – now that’s what we call a great birthday present!
Zach tied into a 27”, seven-pound flattie this spring. S-W-E-E-T!
on
# Simon the Redcoat tied into a 16 pound, 15 ounce mega-snake in Dundee Creek.
# Kevin scored
opening day, trolling aboard the Heat Wave
#
# Callan caught his first white perch while fishing the Patuxent with a spinnerbait. WTG, Callan!
# Matt caught this 44-incher to put his team in first place in the Cast for the Cure tournament in Fenwick.
# Cassidy got a keeper in Chincoteague.
# Rich scored another big Susquehanna blue cat.
# Mark had an awesome day of surf fishing at Broadkill Beach, reeling in five beautiful black drum.
# Pete, Tieren, and Jen had a great day offshore out of Morehead City this spring.
# Braxton was bass fishing when a 32” bowfin jumped on the line. Cool catch, Braxton!
# While the rest of the family pedaled furiously to keep up!
# harley got her first flounder of the season…
# Amy and Ryan caught some nice mahi on the inshore pots out of Indian River Inlet –Okuma gear only, of course!
Charters, Guides, and headboats
One of the most difficult ways to learn how to fish the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean is trial and error. Then there’s the boat issue; we don’t all have one. Luckily, the Bay is full of knowledgeable guides and charter captains ready to show you the ropes. Below you will find a directory of professional guides, charter boats, and head boats to get you started on your quest for the perfect fish. Whether you like to fly fish, troll, or bottom fish, there’s likely a local expert who can lend a hand.
Hot New Fishboats
By Lenny Rudow
Bayliner T22SC: Opportunity Knocks
Those center consoles are too exposed to harsh weather and the dual console design doesn’t quite do it for you, but there aren’t many other options for you and your fishing family to check out? Add the Bayliner T22SC—an all-new fishing boat for the 2025 model year—to your must-see list. The SC stands for Side Console, and this model is unlike any others on the market today.
Start with the bow: you walk up there by swinging open the port-side windshield and entering into a fish-fighting arena that can be outfitted with a removable bow fishing seat and/or cocktail table. The center deck is surrounded on all sides except for that entryway by elevated casting decks, so multiple anglers can cast from up front. And thank goodness Bayliner offers a pair of flush-mount rodholders in front of the windshield—why do so few builders of dual consoles do that!?
Or on non-angling days you can slip in the filler and put on all the cushions, and the bow, which is bolstered all around, becomes seating and/or one big padded playpen. Flip open the forward center hatch (which swings up on a gasassist strut) and you’ll discover a gaping stowage compartment. And note that the T22SC features Bayliner’s beam-forward design, which means it’s one heck of a lot roomier up there than you’d expect from a 22-footer. In fact, it maintains
# The layout of the T22SC is about as inventive as it gets—and is plenty fishy.
Quick Facts
LOA: 22’7”
Beam: 8’6”
Displacement: 4,500 lbs.
Draft (max.): 2’9”
Transom Deadrise: 18 degrees
Fuel Capacity: 80 gal.
Max. Power: 250 hp
so much beam into the bow that you can sit with your legs fully stretched athwartships even all the way forward. Since the helm console extends from the starboard side to beyond amidships it has plenty of space inside for a portable MSD, plus extra stowage. This design also allows for lots of space at the helm itself, and there are options for twin MFD displays up to nine inches. Behind the helm there’s a triplewide seat with split fold-down bolsters, so the captain can stand or sit as desired while running the boat without affecting the rest of the crew, and the seatback flips for facing aft.
The cockpit boasts another triplewide aft seat and a walkthrough to the
B# This is a family boat for sure, but it’s got all the prerequisites we anglers demand.
swim platform to starboard. The kids will be putting that swim platform to good use when the bite’s slow, just as long as you also opt to get the ski-tow pylon. The kids are also going to love the standard 120watt Rockford Fosgate Bluetooth stereo system. And on the fishing front, there’s a livewell in the transom, four flushmount rodholders, and flip-out hide-away rodracks in the port inwale. Flip up the transom seat and you’ll find a surprisingly hefty insulated fishbox, one big enough to swallow up even the largest of the Chesapeake predators, including keeper-size cobia. Note that like the bow, the stern
cockpit is bolstered all around. Add on the bow-mount trolling motor, and you’re ready to cast from day one.
You say you need the protection a dual console provides to keep the kids and crew happy, but you want more fishability and a roomier head than most in this size range can provide? Check out the T22SC. This boat is surprisingly unique in today’s marketplace, and you might just discover that it fits the bill.
Area Dealer: Riverside Marine, Essex, MD, (410) 686-1500 or riversideboats.com
Coastal Skiff 171: Uncommon sense
ack in the olden days when my hair was black, a bag of bloodworm cost three bucks, and I thought an algorithm was some sort of vegetable, you could wander any boat show or dealership and find plenty of simple, inexpensive skiffs. Lots of builders offered 16’ to 18’ boats that were ideal for fishing and crabbing—heck, even Sears had its own lineup—and most were well within the financial reach of an ambitious 20-something.
These days? Good luck finding a new skiff that doesn’t cost as much as a new car. At one boat show I attended this past winter I saw a 15-footer with a 50-hp outboard boasting a sticker price of $50K. Ouch. On top of that, the boat was thoroughly gentrified and complexified with stuff like lighted push-button switches, a four-speaker stereo system, a touchscreen MFD, courtesy lighting, and
a cell phone charger. Don’t get me wrong, it was a cool little boat and if I were a bazillionaire I’d probably have bought one on the spot. But I’d have done so knowing that all that fancy stuff drove its price through the roof and meant gobs more maintenance than an old-school skiff would require.
Then a few isles over I saw a very different kind of boat: the Coastal Skiff 171. Also rigged with 50 horses and sitting on a trailer, the entire package cost about half as much. Half… for a larger boat. The interior was gray/black spackle and its systems amounted to a switch for the nav lights and a single digital gauge for the
Quick Facts
LOA: 17’1”
Beam: 6’7”
Displacement: 1100 lbs.
Draft (hull): 0’6”
Max. Power: 60 hp
engine, which means this skiff will be about as close to maintenance-free as it gets in the world of boats.
The Coastal Skiff isn’t just built simple, it’s built smart, too. The hull incorporates a slight tunnel aft and draft is a mere six inches, so you can slip into those shallow water hotspots usually reserved for kayaks. Below the waterline the bow has a slight rounded V to break waves, and above it there’s an elevated casting deck with stowage underneath. The design also incorporates a small aft deck, seating consists of a swing-back helm cooler seat and a forward console seat, and there are vertical rodracks on the console sides. Yes the deck does self-bail, and no there isn’t any wood whatsoever in the boat’s construction.
Another attractive feature of old-school skiffs is that they’re light, which makes them easy to handle around the ramp and easy to tow with a small vehicle. The Coastal Skiff 171 tips the scales at a mere 1100 pounds, so you can haul it with anything from a Tacoma to an Outback. Yet believe it or not this boat has a maximum capacity of five, and while a blustery wind will have you fishing the tributaries, on nice
days it has plenty of space and plenty of beef to hit the open Bay.
Why don’t the big mass producers build rolled-edge, spackle-interior skiffs like this anymore? As is often the case, it all comes down to money. Why spend your time building a boat that’s affordable to just about everyone, when you could build one with a much larger profit margin? Well, maybe because some folks want to build boats that people who love the water can actually afford even as they’re trying to raise a family and cover a mortgage.
Mercury Joystick Piloting: There Can Be Only One
If you love the idea of driving via joystick but have a single-engine boat, Mercury Marine says no problem. Their new Joystick Piloting for Single Engine Outboards was introduced this spring, putting complete maneuverability at your fingertips. The system can incorporate bow thruster control for complete mastery of your ship when shifting, throttling, and steering. This feature will prove particularly helpful for anglers, too, since it delivers dynamic positioning abilities with Skyhook and Drifthook. Joystick Piloting for Single Engine Outboards is available for Mercury Verado and Sea Pro systems with their V8, V10, and V12 outboards equipped with electric steering, from 250- to 600-hp. Bow thruster compatibility ranges with various CAN-based variable-speed thrusters. Visit mercurymarine.com to learn more.
There’s a small, simple rolled-edge skiff sitting in my driveway right now and I love boats like this, because I don’t have to spend hours at a time waxing, cleaning, and fixing stuff. So this bazillionaire is glad he kept walking and turned down the next isle. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go grab a bag of bloodworms. Where did I leave those three bucks?
Area Dealers: Scott’s Cove Marina, Chance, MD, (410) 784-7624 or scottscovemarina.com
For more fishboat reviews, visit: FishTalkMag.com/fishboat-reviews
# Beauty in simplicity? heck yeah.
Buzz Baits for Beginners
By Jim Gronaw
Buzz baits are a top topwater offering.
Over the years, literally decades, I have been fond of tossing the simple but effective buzz bait—especially for late summer and early fall largemouth bass. Early attempts with these topwaters proved discouraging, as I would miss the great majority of the strikes. It was me, usually, because I had the bad habit of setting the hook too soon rather than waiting to feel the weight of the fish. Over time I developed a knack for hooking more, and sometimes bigger bass, with the buzz bait. To this day, to me it remains the most exciting form of bass fishing.
Buzzing Basics
As a topwater bait, the buzzes are primarily a warm-weather option best used when fish are looking up or shallow enough that a disturbance on the water can get their attention. Strikes can be anywhere from soft, subtle smacks to explosive blasts that rocket the lure skywards.
Many companies make buzz baits, as well as a slew of independent lure manufacturers. Sizes run from 1/8th ounce minis to half-ounce hulks that entice the largest and most aggressive fish. Most of the time throwing a 3/8th or quarter-
ounce model will be ideal for targeting fish in the three-pound range or larger. Blade materials vary, as lightweight metal, aluminum, or Lexan are all used. The goal is to have a blade that will spin right along on top of the water at a fairly slow retrieve rate. High-riding buzz baits often have a flat or banana-style body that enables the bait to plane easily on the surface without a fast retrieve. The slower the speed, the easier it is for a fish to track and overtake the bait as it lunges for the disturbance. Additionally, a wire offset on the lower body that holds the hook allows for better, cleaner hooksets.
# The author with a chunky bass that blasted a buzz bait.
Many anglers have long claimed the need for a plastic trailer on the hook and sometimes the addition of a trailer hook is effective, but I have found that the plastic addition actually leads to more missed strikes than solid hookups. I occasionally use a trailer hook, especially when the fish are tentative and seem to be striking short. But mostly, the best success comes with baits that have a skirt just slightly past the bend of the hook and no plastic trailer added.
Start your retrieve as soon as the lure hits the water rather than allowing it to fall, which requires increased speed to get it back up to the surface. Often, quality bass will pound a buzz bait the instant it hits the water. I use my hand to flip the bail of the spinning reel just before the lure lands on the water and immediately get the bait moving, to prevent it from sinking.
When tossing buzz baits from kayaks there will be times when you will have strikes just as you are pulling the lure from the water or within a few feet of the yak. Be aware that missed strikes at this distance can send a bait whistling back in your direction, even at your face. Keep rods low and to the side at the end of the retrieve so that the lure doesn’t catapult back at you.
Tackle Options
Heralded as a lure for baitcasting gear, you’ll also have plenty of success with these lures using medium-heavy spinning gear and braided lines in 20- to 30-pound test. Some anglers use 20- to 30-pound test fluorocarbon leader but I feel this isn’t necessary as the line is out of the water during the retrieve. Be careful not to make casts that are too long and challenge the hook-setting capabilities of your tackle. Indeed, a
nice long cast can get a strike, but even with braid setting hooks in a bony jaw can be challenging. Shorter, accurate tosses in the 20’ to 40’ range often get better results.
Buzz baits have been around a long time and most people have their favorites. The long-established Buzz King, by Strike King Lures, is a classic used over decades of buzzing for bass. Currently, I have enjoyed success with the Wild Thang Series of buzz baits from GA Boy Lures of Waycross, GA. There are many others out there as well. Both two and three-bladed lures catch their share of fish.
Any time the water temperatures are above 60 degrees and the fish are feeding shallow can be a good time to tie one of these on. Buzz baits are exciting, fun to fish, and can lead to some of the biggest blow-ups of the year. Just remember: set the hook when you feel the weight of the fish—not when you see the strike.
For more article on how to learn to fish, visit fishtalkmag.com/tag/fishing-beginners
# Buzz baits come in a wide variety of styles and sizes.
Delaware Bay, rays Ditch to roosevelt
There's plenty of structure to probe where the Delaware River becomes Delaware Bay.
By Wayne Young
DelMarVa recreational fishers prospecting where the Delaware River meets Delaware Bay and down the Bay’s Delaware coastline have some interesting structure to target between Rays Ditch and Roosevelt Inlet. We’ll start our structural scouting mission downriver of Rays Ditch outlet at Site 3 on the chart, where there’s an unidentified 16’ least depth wreck on the Delaware side of the ship channel. However, the DEM data layer is unrevealing, suggesting that little is left there.
A charted 31’ least-depth obstruction marked as Site 4 is at coordinates 39°23.823 x 75°29.387. Whatever is there
lies along what appears to be a long line of dredge material on the northeastern side of the ship channel. Although the vertical relief is uncertain, DEM color relief shading suggests at least several feet of rise off of the bottom. Sand waves are charted in the area northeast of the ship channel between Buoys R “46” and R “44.”
Along the Delaware shoreline at Collins Beach there’s a nice boat ramp, but be careful entering the mouth of Cedar Swamp. The area at Site 5 is charted as foul for good reason—submerged rocks and deteriorated pilings that date to before 1900. A 1986 hydrographic survey documented by National Ocean Survey found that “The
jetty runs north from the above position to shore and bends around the point in the area of Collins Beach. A small L-shaped groin exists at the point. The area inshore of the jetty is gutted with pilings which are visible at low tide; some portions of the jetty from midpoint to shore uncovers with rocks. The jetty, from its midpoint to the offshore end, is completely submerged and is considered very dangerous.” The submerged jetty was visible in a 2007 Google Earth historical image at coordinates 39°23.493 x 75°31.393, immediately south of the rock shoreline protection at Collins Beach. How much remains today is uncertain.
At the entrance to the Smyrna River at Site 6 are two heavily weathered old inlet jetties. According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers records, this channel protection project was constructed in 1939 and deauthorized in 1986. The project consisted of an 803’ north jetty and a 2,000’ south jetty, both of which run towards the northeast. The structures consist of two parallel, rockfilled, timber crib jetties. Portions of each cover and uncover, especially towards the outer sections. The DEM data layer shows a drop-off just off the south jetty. Check here and around the end of the outer portion of the south jetty for striped bass. For largemouth bass anglers, the river and larger feeder creeks here are navigable way upstream. Several bridge crossings provide piers to target.
Site 7 marks five features west and northwest of Buoy R “42.” Of these, the 33’ least-depth wreck at coordinates 39°21.379 x 75° 27.022 is the more substantial. The feature is recorded in a 1970 survey as a 50’ LCM, so it’s been there for at least 50 years. A nine-foot wreck at coordinates 39°21.155 x 75°28.343 was uncharted when found during a 2001 hydrographic survey, and displays as a mound in the DEM data layer. Neither the 41’ obstruction nor the 37’ obstruction stand out.
The southwest side of the ship channel becomes very rugged from just upriver of the 41’ obstruction all the way down-
# Chart 2: Sketch of ruins in Pierson Cove off Woodland Beach. Bottom satellite image and insert courtesy of Google Earth.
#
river to Ship John Shoal. Just northeast of Buoy R “42,” look for a 27’ wreck at coordinates 39°21.215 x 75°26.044. A 1986 hydrographic survey found “a large mass of corroded metal.” The wreck was found again during the 2001 hydrographic survey and there’s a slight mound displayed by the
DEM data layer. So, whatever is there now appears to have less vertical relief.
Southeast of the broad outlet of Duck Creek is the town of Woodland Beach where there are extensive pier ruins (Site 8). The town was once home to a major beach resort with hotels, restaurants, bars,
an amusement park, and roller coaster. The resort was wiped out by a hurricane and 10’ storm surge in late 1878. Many structures that were rebuilt were wiped out by a nor’easter and storm surge in 1914. The pier ruins in Pierson Cove are the remnants of the steamboat landings. Extensive visible
Chart 1: General location of features where the Delaware River meets the Bay.
broken off pilings extend out but there are more submerged ruins further offshore, as seen on Chart 2. Be careful operating and fishing in this area. Today, there’s a substantial fishing pier here and a concrete public boat ramp which falls bare at low tide. The ramp is protected on both sides by rock groins, but there’s no protection to shelter it from waves.
Southeast of Woodland Beach, Bombay Hook Shoal (Site 9) has interesting bottom contours. The shoal ridgeline appears to be of geologic origin rather than depositional. The submerged point is only a foot or two below the surface. At its outer end, the bottom slopes downward and then drops off to about 25’. There’s a small bowl or shallow ravine on either side of the outer end. The configuration positions the submerged point to interact with tidal currents and also can draw baitfish into the bowl and around the end of the submerged point. This is a setup for striped bass when current is running.
East southeast on the north side of the ship channel is one of the prime upper Delaware Bay fishing destinations, Ship John Shoal Light (Site 10) at coordinates 39°18.317 x 75°22.598. The shoal is named after the ship John which, on Christmas Eve 1797, grounded on the shoal. The passengers and crew were safely removed and the cargo was salvaged, but the ship was a total loss. The iron caisson style “fireplug” lighthouse is nestled between two large icebreaker rockpiles. Current interactions with the icebreakers make for some interesting fishing conditions. Anchoring is difficult due to current and bottom conditions, and many fishermen use grappling anchors here. This is known as a nighttime fishing hotspot, but given its configuration, try casting for stripers any time current is running. Historically this was also a good weakfish spot.
Site 11 across the ship channel from the lighthouse marks a 39’ least-depth obstruction and a 41’ least-depth obstruction. The DEM data layer shows small masses at each location. Now we come to Delaware State Fish Haven #1, Site 12. The reef program layout drawing superimposed over a highly processed DEM sounding data layer shows a natural ridge with multiple high points (Chart 3). Reef structures are in the southeastern corner on the channel side of the ridge. When prospecting the reefs, don’t forget the ridge. Also check out the unidentified 24’ least-depth wreck (Site 13) at coordinates 39°15.894 x 75°20.856
outside but near the middle of the fish haven’s northeastern boundary. This danger to navigation was found during a 2001 hydrographic survey and several side-scan sonar images (bottom images) show substantial scattered debris.
The remains of a sunken fishing vessel (Site 14) are on the southwestern side of the ship channel just northwest of Buoy G “31.” The 34’ least-depth wreckage, charted in 1984, is at coordinates 39°12.961 x 75°17.709W and is described by divers to be “wood and metal debris on a gently sloping bottom.” The DEM data layer shows a low mound. Look for a cluster of obstructions southwest of the buoy along the ship channel edge at Site 15.
Before turning into Port Mahon, check out Elbow of Cross Ledge Light (Site 16). A fireplug-style lighthouse sat on a cast iron caisson originally excavated into the bottom using a pneumatic process, then the caisson was filled with concrete. It replaced Cross Ledge Light, now in
ruins several miles to the northeast (Site 17). The caisson platform was completed in 1907. The lighthouse wasn’t protected by a rock icebreaker, which might have saved it from its future fate; it was struck glancing blows several times by ships navigating in fog, and contemporary reports say that the lightkeepers slept with their lifejackets on during foggy nights. The Coast Guard automated the light in 1951 after it was substantially damaged by a strong storm, then in 1953 a large ore ship inbound in heavy fog with an inoperative radar collided with it. The upper two-thirds of the masonry structure was knocked into the bay creating a rubble pile that is fished today. The rest of the masonry structure was demolished and replaced by the existing skeletal steel tower with a light. Both lighthouse foundations are fishing destinations, but be prepared for the strong currents as well as changing weather and surface conditions.
As well as being a regular contributor to FishTalk, Wayne Young is the author of multiple books detailing wrecks and fishing reefs in the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and beyond. All are available at Amazon.com, and you can find his Facebook page at “Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs.”
# Chart 3: Top right – Fish haven #1 Layout. Drawing and data excerpts from Delaware Reef Guide 2023-2024. DEM data layer from NOAA Bathymetric Data v iewer. Bottom – Side-scan sonar images of 24’ wreck from NOS DR h11022.
Kiptopeke is more than kinda cool-it’s killer.
By Lenny Rudow
The CBBT always gets the headlines, which is no wonder since it holds the most diverse mix of utterly epic fisheries of any one hotspot in the entire Chesapeake Bay—in fact, one could argue that in a number of ways it’s one of the best fishing hotspots on the entire East Coast of the United States. But for many anglers it’s also a tough area to access. It can get mighty rough where the open Atlantic meets the Bay, and with over 17 miles of bridge-tunnel complex, there’s an awful lot of water to cover. Sitting in the shadow of the CBBT, however, there’s a not-so-hidden gem of a hotspot that’s accessible by just about anyone: Kiptopeke State Park.
The park has something for everyone, and a whole lot to love for anglers. There are cabins, campgrounds, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, hiking and biking trails, and both swimming and fishing beaches. The
park is open for angling 24/7, the park office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday with varying seasonal hours on weekends, and there’s a camp store open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday (May through October). And there are fish to be caught here. Lots and lots and lots of fish.
Kiptopeke by Land
fish; free-swimmers including bluefish and Spanish mackerel—the list goes on and on.
Shorebound anglers will discover some of the best potential for hooking into megafish—and lots of fish— on the fishing pier. It’s open 24 hours and is lighted, and some nights fish will swarm in the illuminated area. You can catch just about anything swimming in either the Bay or the Atlantic here: bottom fish like spot, croaker, and flounder; trophy sportfish like bull redfish or monster black drum; toothy predators like sharks and cutlass-
Sharpies fishing here will often set out one baited rod with a top-and-bottom rig or a fishfinder rig to target bottom fish of one sort or another, while actively casting a second rod with offerings like Gotcha plugs or spoons. Baits can run the gamut with squid strips or bloodworms for the panfish and crab chunks or cut mullet and bunker for larger predators. Savvy anglers might also try casting a bottom rig baited with blood-
Photo by Virginia State Parks
# Those zany, crazy cutlassfish can get thick around here, too.
worm or Fishbites to catch small fish like spot, which then go right onto the hook of a larger rig to be livelined for hungry predators.
Anglers can also hit the beach and try some surf casting, but be sure to head for the south beach area because the north beach is reserved for swimmers. Most people would probably argue that the pier fishing is better than on the beach, especially at night when the lights often pull in hordes of fish. But fishing the beach is also bound to be a bit more relaxing as the pier is quite popular and at times can get rather crowded.
Kiptopeke by Kayak
One of the best things about fishing here is the concrete ships. Nine of these ships, which were built during World War II when steel was in high demand, were sunk to create a breakwater. Today they sit in 12’ to 25’ of water about 350
yards from the boat ramp and fishing pier. So they’re a short pedal or paddle away, and thanks to their north/south orientation, there’s almost always sheltered water to be found on one side or the other. And they hold fish—lots and lots of fish—so they’re a favorite target for kayak anglers.
Many people will fish right up close to the ships, and especially in the gaps between their bows and sterns where water rushes between them, to target species like sheepshead, redfish, and flounder. And in this case kayak anglers have an advantage over the guys in boats since they can get right next to the structure and keep their baits tight to the strike zone. Stick with sand fleas or crab baits for the sheepshead and reds or drift minnow and jig bottom for the flounder. Put down a baited top-and-bottom rig and you’ll catch a mix of croaker, spot, roundhead (kingfish) and weakfish, next to and all around the ships.
When you’re getting tortured by tiny sea bass and other mini-fish (which can be a serious issue at the ships), try moving off the structure a bit and fish the troughs and holes around it. Up-sizing baits or switching to baits the tiny critters can’t grab easily (like fiddlers) sometimes helps, too.
Trolling can also be very effective here. Pulling small spoons or swimming plugs high in the water column is likely to produce an abundance of Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and cutlassfish. Keep an eye out for birds because often a school of fish will start breaking water and our feathered friends will give away its location. If it’s calm enough to get outside of the ships note that happening upon a cobia becomes very possible, as sometimes schools of bait stack up in the area and bring them into the trough just west of the ships.
# Sheepshead are often caught right up alongside the concrete ships.
There are a LOT of toothy critters swimming these waters during the summertime. If you like fishing soft plastics be sure they’re the tooth-proof variety, or you’ll pull back one tail-less bait after the next. Using hard lures like swimming plugs and spoons is generally a good move. If you plan to fish up close to the ships also be sure to add a heavy shock leader that will stand up to abrasion, especially if you’re spooled up with braid. Regardless of what you fish with and where you fish it, be sure to bring plenty of extra tackle because bite-offs, break-offs, and snags are all part of the game here.
Kiptopeke by Boat
Everything we just talked about that applies to the kayak guys applies to boat anglers, too. Of course, those with a boat have a bit more flexibility to expand their options. If flocks of birds are popping up and moving around you can chase them, or you can point the bow for distant horizons and make way for the CBBT and all the opportunities found there. You can also run for the open Bay where sight-fishing for cobia is often hot. Or from here it’s a quick hop to the Cabbage Patch reef, just a few miles to the west, where you can target species attracted by structure with less competition than is usually found at the concrete ships.
While the temptation to head for different destinations can be inescapable, remember that the fishing at Kiptopeke can be utterly fantastic. More than a few times boat anglers have launched at this location, run here, run there, and run everywhere, then returned to the concrete ships and caught more fish a few hundred yards from the ramp than they did anywhere else. And if you’re return-
ing in the evening, remember that those pier lights are quite strong and bring a lot of fish into the area. After the sun has set you can park the boat well beyond casting range of the pier, set out lights of your own, and will likely have swarms of fish surrounding you in short order.
Feeling Friendly?
Remember that Kiptopeke is an incredibly popular, well-known fishing destination, so you need to expect to be fishing around plenty of other anglers regardless as to whether you’re on shore, on the pier, kayaking, or going by boat. During the summer whenever the weather is decent there will be plenty of lines in the water even during the middle of the week. On weekends you can expect a serious crowd. If you want
a spot all to your own, either fish very early or very late in the day during the middle of the week, come during the off-season, or choose another destination.
That said, there’s plenty of room here for everyone. The range of productive waters is expansive, and the fish are often shockingly plentiful. Sometimes it’s impossible to go 10 minutes without getting a bite from some sort of finned critter, and you really never know just what that critter will be. If you haven’t tried fishing Kiptopeke yet give this hotspot a shot. In many ways, one could argue that it’s one of the very best hotspots on the entire East Coast of the United States—right behind that big bridge-tunnel complex that overshadows it.
# Blues and Spanish mackerel are regular visitors to the waters of Kiptopeke.
Going B-I-G
Expand your spread’s appeal for a chance at epic.
By Staff
You say you want to have a better shot at bagging a bigeye this summer, but you don’t want to become so dedicated to the cause that you vastly reduce the chances of catching other species? Focusing solely on bigeye takes some serious dedication and comes at a cost, which includes catching fewer of the “regular” offshore pelagics you’d get to bite while pulling the usual spread of baits at the usual times in the usual ways. With a few tweaks to the method of your madness, however, you can boost the chances of hooking into one of these monsters during a regular day of offshore trolling—without drastically reducing the chances of catching other species.
What You’re Pulling
• Make sure some elephant-sized offerings are in your spread. Horse ballyhoo on crystal and blue/white Ilanders are top picks. Keep their placement a bit farther from the other goodies than normal, so they stand out and stand alone.
• We hope you have a nice selection of spreader, splash, and sidewinder bars behind the boat. Bigeye love ‘em, and they act as teasers as well as hook baits. That can boost your catch on other species, as well.
• Run the big rigs. It takes 50s and 80s to put out the heat you need to best one of these beasts, and 30s just don’t quite cut it. If you have a limited selection set the big guns out with the biggest offerings in the spread and run smaller stuff on the smaller rigs in the hope of a yellowfin or a mahi (but recognize that if a bigeye happens to slam one of the
smaller baits on a smaller rig the odds of getting it up to the boat are long).
Where You Pull It
• Stick to trolling canyon edges in the 150- to 500-fathom range. You’ll still encounter plenty of mahi and
yellowfin in this depth range, but when you go outside of it the chances of running into a bigeye start falling.
• Keep an eye out for pilot whales and when you see some, stick around and work the area hard. Pilot whales and bigeye both feed
# This bigeye bit the dust at Washington Canyon.
down deep on squid and they’re often found in close proximity. Your very best visual indication that bigeye tuna are nearby is spotting those whales.
• If you see a big boil or two near a bait and don’t hook up, stick tight to the area. Because of those huge eyes these fish have, which are designed for seeing in deep dark waters, bigeye are light-sensitive and have pretty lousy vision when they’re near the surface in full light. They miss a lot more often than yellowfin, so a boil is a great indication that you’re in the right spot even if rods don’t start bending.
How You Pull It
• Go early and/or stay late. Thanks to those huge eyeballs and that light-sensitivity, most of the time they’ll hit when the sun is very low on the horizon. Sharpies targeting them in specific often leave the dock at noon and troll until well after sunset. It’s not unheard-of for dedicated anglers to troll all night long, or troll for several hours after dark, switch to drifting for swordfish in the wee hours of the night, then switch back to trolling for the last hour or two of darkness and through the sunrise.
• Keep trolling speed in the six- to seven-knot range. As a general rule of thumb, slower is better in rough water and faster is better in calm water. In slickcalm conditions bumping it up to 7.5 knots works at times.
• When you’re in low-light conditions and the chances of encountering a bigeye go up, consider pulling a few of the smaller offerings out of the water and swapping them for larger ones. Yes, that can cut into your chances of catching other species, but capitalize on the moment.
Remember that hooking up with a bigeye is only half the battle. You can work up to a very good hookup-to-kill ratio with yellowfin and normal-sized bluefin, but these fish will average over 100 pounds and are often well over that mark. Battles can grow long and even with heavy gear standstills and tugof-war fights are the norm. Make
sure you have a high-quality harness aboard, make sure all of your tackle is in tip-top shape, and don’t be afraid to tag-team the fish when an angler gets whooped. That will happen to many of us and tired anglers make mistakes. Still, when you put one of those pelagic beasts into the cockpit every bit of prep work and sweat will pay off—and then some.
# The crew of the Heat Wave was trolling a mixed spread when this bigeye attacked.
The Others
When striped bass shut down whatcha gonna do?
By Lenny Rudow
Come July 16 anglers in southern Bay waters will be counting their lucky stars for the blessing of species diversity, while those up north will be digging for angling options. The farther north you go the fewer those options will be. Still, even with rockfish off the table for a few weeks there’s plenty to catch no matter where you’re located.
# By the time July hits we should have a good shot at finding bluefish in the Middle Bay zone.
Way North
The way we divvy up the Bay in our reports (which we just sort of made up since no one had done it before) the Way North Chesapeake zone ranges from the lower Susquehanna down to around the Gunpowder-ish area. And you folks fishing here already know what alternative species number one is going to be: blue catfish. These critters are in the midst of a population boom and not only does that present a danger to native species, it also presents us with an opportunity to catch huge numbers of fish — including some that are quite massive.
WN Blue Cat Tip: Include a float rig in your spread. Some days a bait hovering a foot or so off bottom will out-catch those laying in the mud by a mile.
For our second alternative species we turn our attention towards another invasive: snakeheads. You’ll need the ability to creep into relatively shallow water so kayak and small boat anglers will have the advantage over larger boats with this one, but the awesome battles and epic meals that snakeheads provide are worth testing your draft limits.
WN Snakehead Tip: If you have draft issues look for areas where channel edges come up fast and pad fields are within casting distance, then go there just as a flood tide begins to drop. On falling water the snakeheads will often move out to the edges of the vegetation near deeper water.
Upper Bay
This area as we define it stretches from Way North all the way down to the Bay Bridge. Rockfish aren’t just the main target in this zone, they are THE target for most anglers, and if July weren’t closed you can bet that countless boats would be running here from points north and south to get in on the action. However, the Upper Bay has a second card up its sleeve: white perch fishing. Although perch certainly don’t have the same mass as rockfish they are prolific, are almost always willing to bite, and are a great fish to take home for dinner. Fishing over Upper Bay oyster shell bottom on shoals (like Seven Foot Knoll, Snake Reef, Belvidere Shoals,
etc.) with a Chesapeake Sabiki tipped with bits of bloodworm or Fishbites bloodworm flavor is often the ticket to a hot bite.
Upper Bay White Perch Tip: Schools of perch will shift around on the oyster beds, so drift until you locate a concentration of fish. Then drop anchor or Spot-Lock in place with a trolling motor and you can enjoy fast action, often for hours at a time.
For the second alternate species we go back to the Way North zone’s prime suspect, the blue catfish. Depending on salinity levels they may or may not be prevalent in the open Bay, though most seasons they will be at least down to the Pooles Island area. If salinity is up or you’re fishing to the south you’ll want to head for the tributaries. The Back, Patapsco, and Magothy rivers are all top prospects.
Upper Bay Blue Cat Tip: The higher the salinity gets, the farther up into the tributaries you’ll want to travel. As a general rule of thumb they prefer salinity below 10 psu (though they can tolerate significantly more).
Middle Bay
From the Bay Bridge down to the Maryland/Virginia line species diversity improves quite a bit and there’s a wider range of potential targets, but we’re going to choose bluefish as our number one alternative based on its historic availability throughout this entire range. Blues regularly make their way up to the Bridge (and sometimes beyond) by the time summer is in full swing, and as an added attraction they often churn the water and can be found in feeding frenzies under flocks of birds.
Middle Bay Bluefish Tip: When the birds aren’t cooperating try trolling three- to four-inch silver spoons behind inline weights or planers. You’ll be able to cover a lot of ground and hopefully locate some fish even when their presence isn’t obvious.
As for species number two, we’re going to take a bit of a gamble in this case and pick redfish. It’s a gamble because no one can predict at this point if they’ll be around in the same numbers and sizes as they were in recent years,
but the species has been on a major uptick in Middle Bay waters for several years running. And if they are present in good numbers again this summer you can bet they’ll be a prime target for a lot of anglers. Their range covers the entire Middle Bay zone (plenty were caught in the Magothy last season, too), and they can be found along shorelines and piers in areas similar to those one might target rockfish.
Middle Bay Redfish Tip: Slow down your retrieve and keep it close to bottom. Reds prefer to slurp up easy meals as opposed to chasing them down, and a jig that’s slowly hopped and crept along bottom has a much better chance of being hit than one that’s ripped along the surface.
Lower Bay, Tangier, and Way South
Count those lucky stars, people, as you have the option to go for any and all of the above — and then some!
# Blue cats are a top option once you get north of the Bridge. Photo courtesy of Eric Packard.
Ceviche Tostadas, Chesapeake Style
go fishing or crabbing in the Bay and then take your palate to new peaks.
By Hank Shaw
Ceviche tostadas is the most common way you see ceviche served in Mexico. Here’s how to make them so they don’t shatter.
A few things to start. First, while I am using (steamed) crab ceviche for these tostadas, it can be any ceviche. Speckled trout, redfish, rockfish, or black seabass would all be good choices. Just remember to freeze the fish for a couple days first to kill any potential parasites.
A great trick I learned in Baja is to spread a little guacamole on the bottom of the tostada first. The guacamole serves as a tasty “glue” for whatever is on top — not just the ceviche — so it doesn’t slide all over the place when you try to eat it.
Now, about making better ceviche tostadas. There are a few things to know about making a good tostada. And if you’ve ever eaten a bad tostada — one bite and it shatters, dumping all your toppings into your lap — you know what I mean.
Tostadas are one of the many wonderful things you can make with stale tortillas, store-bought or homemade. Basically, you fry or toast tortillas until they are crispy, then top them with whatever. The best tostadas are made from tortillas that were a bit more coarsely ground than normal. Homemade ones are perfect for this. If you are buying tortillas, look for “stone ground” ones, or any that look a bit thicker and coarser than usual. Unless you have a known and trusted brand of pre-made tostadas, I do not recommend buying
pre-fried ones because they almost always seem to shatter. Something about frying your own seems to help them hold together
better. When you fry tortillas for tostadas, make sure the oil is hot (350 degrees) and the tortillas fry until most of the bubbles
# Photo by holly A. heyser
Save the Date
Join author Hank Shaw at the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland Hank Shaw Dinner and Book Signing on Saturday, July 19. Dine with this renowned author, chef, angler, and conservationist, in St. Leonard, MD, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Anglers in attendance will receive two of Hank’s cookbooks, “Borderlands” and “Hook, Line, & Supper”, while enjoying live music, a dinner inspired by “Borderlands,” and drinks. Visit ccamd.org and look under the “Events” tab for all the details or to get tickets. And while you’re at the website check out CCA’s blue catfish fishing trip taking place the day before dinner—get a raffle ticket and you could win a spot with Fish the Potomac or Capitol Blues Fishing charters.
die down, about two minutes. Flip them a couple times, and use tongs to press down on any spots where the tortilla balloons up. Drain on paper towels and salt lightly when they come out. Keep them on a wire rack in the oven set to warm.
You don’t have to fry ceviche tostadas. You can also cook them directly on the burner, flipping them over and over (and blowing out any flare-ups) until they are very crispy. You can toast them on a comal or griddle, too, but this takes longer. The
Crab Ceviche
comal method works better with stale corn tortillas. If you only have fresh, I recommend the gas burner method. Toasting over a grill is great, as well. Below you’ll see my recipe for nice blue crab ceviche, but you can go with whatever you caught that day.
This is best eaten soon after it’s made, although the ceviche will keep a day or so in the fridge. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Marinating Time: 30 minutes | Serves: Six
Ingredients
12 to 16 ounces picked crabmeat
1/3 cup lime juice, fresh squeezed if possible
1/2 red onion, minced
1 large radish, minced
1 red bell pepper, minced
3 fresh garlic scapes, or 2 garlic cloves, minced
1 avocado, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil, use the good stuff
Salt and black pepper
6 to 12 tostadas
Optional: guacamole
Instructions
Gently mix the crab with the lime juice. Mince the onion and fold that in with the crab before you chop the other vegetables; this helps take the sting out of the raw onion. If you’re using guacamole, spread some on each tostada. Fold the remaining ingredients in with the crab and onions, and pile them onto the tostadas. It is important not to let them sit around, or else the tostadas will get soggy.
Ceviche has a sweet spot in terms of marinating time. For most of us, that’s 30 minutes. Shorter, and you have a different dish, Mexican aguachile. Longer, and you’ve basically pickled your seafood. It’ll still be OK after a long marination, but it will adversely affect the other ingredients.
Fis H i N g F OR e CA s T
Gathered from our reports by Dillon Waters
We all know printed fishing reports are generalized, and weeks have passed before the report gets into your hands. For timely, up-to-date reports, visit our website FishTalkMag.com. Current reports will be published every Friday by noon — just in time for your weekend fishing adventures. In the meantime, here’s our monthly prognostication.
Coastal
Summer is here and it’s time for some mixed species action. Hopefully the tuna bite will be a bit better than last year, but either way by this month the mahi-mahi bite should be in full swing. Along the beach surf fishers can hope for blues, kingfish, and spot, and don’t forget that last season there were a good number of bull drum being caught from the suds of Assateague for those willing to give the night bite a try. We can also expect rockfish to be around the bridges spanning the bay behind OC, flounder to be biting in all of the coastal bays, and bluefish snapping in the inlets.
F reshwater
We hope you’re willing to get an early start, because once the heat of July sets in the bass will be looking to cool down and fishing before the sun gets high in the sky will often be the key to success. If you have snakeheads in your sights, on the other hand, you’re in luck because these fish don’t mind the heat quite as much—look for the thickest growth in the shallows and start popping that frog. In the reservoirs expect crappie to be suspended in relatively deep waters near structure like bridge pilings and standing timber. And even though the bite might not be epic, river anglers often groove on July since this is a great time of year to try some wet-wading and stay cool the natural way.
# Anthony had a fun surprise at the CBBT a few summers back— let’s hope there’s more like this in store for the summer of 2025.
Way N orth
You have two weeks of rockfish until we go into shut-down mode but even after that July will be a great time to hit the Flats, thanks to the snakeheads and bass. This month should provide some good fry ball fishing, so be sure to grab some frogs and flukes. We can also expect the catfish bite to be as hot as the weather this month, especially anywhere in deeper waters within sight of the 95 bridge. Or go a bit farther upriver and time your fishing to coincide with a water release to enjoy the best of the summertime smallmouth bite.
U pper Bay
It’s all about the rockfish in this zone of the Bay, so be sure to enjoy some catching before the middle of the month arrives. Once the shut-down kicks in hitting the tribs and creeks will be a good move if you’re hoping to target white perch, or head a little farther upriver to hit the snakeheads. Oyster bottom and shoals should be producing plenty of perch and spot right about now, too.
Middle Bay
Let’s cross our fingers that by the time the shut-down hits, we have some species other than rockfish to go prowling around after. Everyone’s fingers are crossed for a return of the puppy drum we enjoyed last year, and with the early appearance of bluefish the chances seem good that plenty of blues will be around all summer long. If we’re extra lucky in 2025 maybe Spanish mackerel will show up on the early side (or at least just show up), too.
Lower Bay
Will those redfish be around in the strong numbers they displayed last year? We can’t predict it, but we certainly hope so. Either way we should be seeing plenty of bluefish, panfish, and hopefully decent numbers of speckled trout as well. Let’s also hope that the flounder numbers keep going up season by season as we’ve seen in the past few years. There should be a good cobia bite going off by now, too, at least up to the Rap and hopefully beyond.
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Sho re
This season started off on the slow side for specks, but hopefully the cold winter wasn’t too harsh on their numbers and more will be showing up as the season progresses. Just remember that once the serious heat sets in the best shallow water bite will likely be early and late in the day, with the fish shifting to slightly deeper structure once the sun is high in the sky. We did have a good start on the redfish in this neck of the woods, so the chances seem better around here for a hot summertime bite targeting this species.
Way South
While the opportunities here are basically too vast to list out, there’s no doubt that cobia will take the top billing as summer sets in. Remember that last season they were finicky about what they’d hit, and casting big twitchbaits sometimes out-produced even compared to eels. Another B-I-G tug you’re likely to encounter in this neck of the woods comes from monster bull redfish, which spent much of last summer prowling around the CBBT islands and were often happy to slam six- and eight-inch paddletails. Hopefully we’ll see a repeat of this action, as well.
# Fishing reports editor Dillon Waters caught this Middle Bay black drum on a jig.
Up the Creek with a Paddle
By Eric Packard
Let’s do a brief overview of paddles that are specifically built for kayak fishers. Wait, there are paddles specifically for anglers? There are all types and styles of paddles for various paddling sports, the question is, do you need a paddle specifically built for fishing? No, you can use any style of paddle to push your kayak along, just as you can cast from kayaks that aren’t designed solely for fishing. But paddles that are designed and built specifically for kayak anglers will deliver some advantages.
Sizing your Paddle
Let’s start with sizing your paddle for you and your kayak. First, you will need to know the width of your kayak and your height. Paddles are built to be sized for the user and the boat, and some are built with seat height in mind as well. If you have an adjustable seat you may want to have a paddle that has an adjustable length verses a fixed length. Shown here is a typical sizing chart. Some brands may have slight variations, so check the brand that you are most interested in.
Paddle Blades
Now let’s talk about paddling style. Are you a high angle or low angle kayaker? Most anglers will use a paddle with a high angle blade on them. These are built to move boats with lots of gear (weight) on board. The blades are built for aggressive and fast kayaking, shorter and wider with more surface area to push the load with a powerful stroke. Low angle kayak paddle blades, on the other hand, are built for more of a relaxed paddle for hours of cruising with less effort. The blades of a low angle paddle are longer and thinner to provide less surface area, for a more relaxed, leisurely stroke.
Blade material is usually plastic, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. Plastic is most economical, but can weaken with years of UV exposure and flexes when
moving the water. Fiberglass is stiffer, and moderately priced. Carbon fiber offers the best performance for the least weight, but naturally, costs the most.
Paddle Shafts
Shafts are typically made of either fiberglass, aluminum, or carbon fiber, and they make up most of the paddle’s weight. As a rule lighter paddles are better as they wear you out less, but lightweight shafts built with high-tech materials do cost more.
There are also bent and straight shafts. Bent shaft paddles have hand placement that will give you more power during the stroke and can minimize fatigue and joint pain, because they align with your wrists in a more natural fashion. This also makes the forward stroke more efficient and enhances control. Plus, the bend in the shaft provides an indication of blade orientation and makes it easier to position. However, bent shaft paddles are more expensive and tend to weigh slightly more than straight shafts.
Ferrules
Back to seat height: A fixed seat will only need a fixed ferrule paddle. With an adjustable height seat, you may want to consider a paddle that has an adjustable ferrule to accommodate any height. With an adjustable ferrule you can slightly vary the length of your paddle to meet any increase or decrease in seat height.
Feathering
Many paddles will have the ability to feather the blades, which means they are offset from one another, not matched. Feathering will reduce wind resistance of the blades as you paddle along.
Special Features for Fishermen
Paddles designed just for anglers often have a ruler on the shaft and/or a hook in the end which you can use to grab your line, guide your paddle to the lure or hook, and (hopefully) free a snag. There are also some with teeth molded into an edge of the blade. These are helpful for getting a grip when pushing the kayak off solid surfaces like trees or boat ramps.
Anglers who fish in super-shallow water may also want to consider utilizing a “backwater” paddle. These are short hand-paddles carried in addition to your main paddle, which are easy to store and can be used to push off trees or rocks and make minor adjustments to your position without having to put down your rod. There you have it, a quick overview of fishing kayak paddles. Now, let’s get out there and catch a few fish—well, after you paddle to your favorite spot, that is.
2023 Bayliner Element E18 Mercury 4-Stroke 90hp Outboard (Warranty until 3/11/2026), Galvanized Karavan Trailer, Grey hull and Bottom, Bimini Top, Snap-on Cover, Cockpit Flooring, Garmin Echo Map 44cv Plus, Cockpit Table, Bow Filler Cushion, Turbo Swing, Load Guides on Trailer, and more! $27,495 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21150
New 2024 Bayliner T18 115 EFI 4S Mercury Outboard, Single Axle Galvanized Trailer, Black hull w/ White Bottom, T-Top w/ Rail Mounted Rod holders, Convenience Package (Stereo Speakers, Stainless Steel Upgrade Package, hydraulic Steering, Forward Livewell, Trolling Motor Bracket), and more! $32,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20732
2016 TideWater Boats 198 CC Adventure yamaha F115XB Outboard (518 hours), venture Aluminum Trailer, Garmin MFD, Soft Top, White Bottom Paint, Polk Stereo, Bow Cushions w/ Backrest, Leaning Post w/ Rod holders an Backrest, Flip-Up Transom Seats, Transom Live Well, and more! $34,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21177
2007 Yamaha SX210 Great family boat! Dual yamaha 110hp 1052CC engines w/ jet drives, and much more! $21,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com
New 2024 Sportsman Open 212 F150XC yamaha Outboard, INCLUDES venture Aluminum Trailer, Explorer Blue w/ White Bottom, Polar White Upholstery, White Powder Coating, Platinum Package is now Standard, Premium Dual Chair Leaning Post w/ Flip-Up Bolsters and Armrests, Standard SeaKeeper Ride System, Standard Garmin GPSMap 1243xsv MFD 12”, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20570
2023 Bayliner T22CC Mercury 150hp Outboard, Mercury Warranty until 5/3/26, Karavan Galvanized Trailer, Softtop, Cockpit and swim platform mats, Dual Battery and Switch, Simrad GPS, Portable head, Raw Water Washdown, Anchor Roller, Bottom Paint, and more! $59,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com, #21167
1996 Parker 2320 Sport Cabin 200hp Mercury offshore engine. Livewell. Windlass anchor. 9” Garmin screen. 18’ outriggers. $20,000 Call for more information 410.245.9819.
2023 Sportsman Open 232 CC yamaha F200XB Outboard, 9 hours (y.E.S. Warranty until 5/6/28), (Trailer Available), harbor haze hul w/ White Bottom, Desert Tan Upholstery, Twin Garmin 943XSv GPS Units, JL Audio Premium M6 Stereo, hardtop, Dual Batteries, Under Water Lights, Portable head, Raw Water and Fresh Water Washdown, SeaKeeper Ride, Bow Filler Board and Cushion, Under Leaning Post Tackle Storage, Cooler Slide, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.6886.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21214
2019 Kew West Boats 244CC yamaha F300UCA Outboard (473 hours), Load Rite Aluminum Trailer, Garmin 7616 GPS, Uniden vhF Radio, hardtop, Dual Battery, Portable head, Raw Water Washdown, Windlass, Trim Tabs, Bottom Paint, and more! $79,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, Sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21162
To advertise in the Brokerage and Classified sections, contact beatrice@fishtalkmag.com
2019 Yamaha 242 Limited S Pinnacle of performance and luxury, watersports edition! Twin 1.8L high Output engines w/ jet drives. $59,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com
2004 Grady White 258 Journey Beautiful single-owner boat - very well kept and maintained. Powered by yamaha F225hp outboard engine. Price reduced! $39,900 Beacon Light Marina, 410.335.6200, www.beaconlightmarina.com
2016 Parker 2520XL Meticulously maintained and in excellent condition. yamaha F300XCA 4-stroke (low hours), Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs, Garmin 700, Garmin vhF 200, Jabsco electric toilet w/ macerator, Lenco trim tabs, NOCO Genius GEN 24-7, Lewmar windlass, Shurflo washdown, deluxe helm seating, and much more, including 2004 Loadrite trailer w/ new brakes. Fully equipped, turnkey. $109,000 Call 301.518.9731. For more info and to see full flyer, visit: www.tinyurl.com/2016Parker2520XL
2016 Cutwater Boats C-26 volvo Penta D3, Diesel Inboard, approx 240 hours, Trailer Available, Most recent survey completed March 2024, w/ records on hand –Fully loaded! $119,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21197
New 2024 Sportsman Masters 267OE XF450 yamaha Outboard - White, INCLUDES venture aluminum trailer, Ice Blue w/ White Bottom, Polar White Upholstery, White Powder Coat, halfTower w/ Second Station, Second Garmin GPSMAP 1243xsv 12”, On-Board Battery Charging System (2-Bank), ShipsDek Custom Flooring, and more! $179,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #20563
2001 C-Hawk 29 Sport Cabin Equipped w/ a Chevy 454 MAG paired w/ a Mercruiser Bravo II outdrive (1480 hrs). Microphone, GPS, auxiliary station. $35,000 OBO Call or text 302.228.6411. For more info/pics, visit: www.tinyurl.com/2001CHawk
2024 Sportsman Open 322 CC Twin Mercury 400hp v10 Outboards, (Trailer Available), Sea Glass hull and Bottom, 2 Garmin 1643xsv 16” Screens, Garmin vhF, Garmin GMR 434 xhD3 Open Array, Mercury Joystick, Pump out head, Sundeck/Table Cushion, Underwater Lights, Trim Tabs, Windlass, Mooring Cover, and more! $339,995 Riverside Marine, 410.686.1500, sales@riversideboats.com , www.riversideboats.com #21182
1990 Nautique 42’ Sportfish Twin economical cat 3208s. 8kw Onan, teak cockpit, transom door, pulpit, queen centerline cabin, double guest cabin, head w/ walk in shower, galley up, custom all-teak interior, hard top on flybridge. Great liveaboard! Potomac River. $65,000 or best offer. 704.425.4108
MARKETPLACE & CLASSIFIED SECTIONS
The Annapolis Boat Show is Hiring Come work at the event of the year in Annapolis! Flexible schedules and job descriptions from August to October. Can you smile and greet vendors? Can you lift, bend and carry? Can you welcome patrons and answer their questions? Enjoy hourly wages, free entry to the shows, free food and a completion bonus. For additional information and to apply, please visit www.annapolisboatshows.com/job-opportunities or www.annapolisboatshows.com
Seeking Part-Time Delivery Drivers Looking for a reliable driver to assist with magazine distribution routes in Maryland, three days per month. Compensation is based on the number of stops. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license in good standing, a dependable vehicle, and the ability to lift up to 25 lbs. For more details, please email info@spf-360.com
M ARINE SERVICES
M ARINE SERVICES
TACKLE SHOPS
TACKLE SHOPS
Alltackle.com 2062 Somerville Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410.571.1111, and 12826 Ocean Gateway #9548, Ocean City, MD 21842, 410.213.2840, alltackle.com
Anglers Sport Center 1456 Whitehall Road, Annapolis, MD 21409, 410.757.3442, anglerssportcenter.com
Suzuki Marine USA announced the promotion of two executives to key vice presidential management positions. Brandon Cerka will now serve as the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, while Jacob Ewing was promoted to the position of vice president of operations. Both Cerka and Ewing have long track records of success with Suzuki Marine, helping the company expand its presence and market share in the competitive U.S. recreational boating industry. Cerka joined Suzuki Marine in 2012 and over the years has served in a variety of capacities, most recently as general manager of sales and marketing. In his new role, Cerka will focus his efforts on strategic growth, brand development, and cross-functional alignment across departments. Ewing has an equally impressive track record with Suzuki, having started in the parts and accessories division and taking on increasing levels of responsibility over the years. Ewing has been a key member of Suzuki’s leadership team over the years, most recently as general manager of operations. In this new role, he will oversee administration, business compliance, logistics, accounting and finance, and credit and collections. Ewing will also oversee Suzuki Marine’s human resources and IT functions, in consultation with Suzuki Marine USA president Nobuo Suyama. suzukimarine.com
New Places To Pick Up FishTalk
Let’s give a warm welcome to these new FishTalk distribution stops!
• Baked Bistro and Pizza in Hampton, VA
• Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in Annapolis, MD
• Bad Alfred’s in Chestertown, MD
• Chestertown Auto Plus and Marine, Church Hill Rd. in Chestertown, MD
• Chestertown Auto Plus and Marine, Washington Ave. in Chestertown, MD
Partnership
Suzuki Marine USA also announces a partnership with West Marine to bring its line-up of four-stroke outboard motors to boaters coast to coast. West Marine stores are now offering a range of small to mid-sized Suzuki outboards. Customers can choose from eight Suzuki four-stroke models overall, including the DF2.5, DF4, DF6, DF9.9, DF15, DF20, DF25, and DF30. With this range of outboards available, boaters will be able to find the ideal power match for their RIB, tender, or other small boat. When West Marine customers purchase an inflatable boat package, it will be exclusively matched with a new Suzuki outboard motor. Suzuki Marine will provide West Marine customers with premium factory certified Suzuki Ecstar Marine oils and lubricants to keep customers’ outboards in peak operating condition and deliver easy starting, reduced fuel consumption, and durability in the harsh marine environment. West Marine will also offer genuine Suzuki parts for the full range of available motors, along with convenient Suzuki Marine Maintenance Kits that provide everything DIY boaters will need to keep their Suzuki motor running strong throughout the boating season. suzukimarine.com
Authorized Dealer
Diversified Marine Services (DMS) announced that it is now an official authorized dealer and service center for Honda Marine Engines. This exciting partnership allows DMS to offer a wide selection of Honda’s reliable and efficient marine engines, as well as expert mobile service and maintenance. Whether you’re in the market for a new engine or need professional servicing of your existing one, the team at DMS is ready to provide industry leading support and expertise. Contact DMS today to explore its range of Honda Marine products or to schedule a service appointment. diversifiedmarineservices.com
New Model
Formula Boats announces the debut of the all-new Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider. From the stepped FAS3Tech hull to the stylish glass-sunroof hardtop, this leap in day venture offerings is a refreshing, innovative choice for dayboaters. Thirty-six feet long with a generous 11’ 3” beam, the 360 CBR heralds the arrival of the new generation of open-bow dayboats, the first driven by Formula designer Michael Young, a John Adams-mentored new creative force in luxury-boating architecture. Describing this new generation of Crossover Bowriders, Young states, “The Formula 360 CBR is a true blend of entertainment-ready comfort and the exhilarating agility that is rooted in our performance heritage. I’ve been excited to preserve that unmistakable Formula essence while introducing new features and finesse. Alongside the dynamic exterior styling, full-width wraparound dash, and innovative performance venting strategy, I’m especially proud of the reimagined transverse head with full-height shower—a standout feature in this class.” formulaboats.com
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