44" Rockfish near Thomas Point

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Southern
Location: Middle Bay

Headed out about 8:30 am on April 28 for 1st fishing trip of the year with my 9 year old son, Brian. At 9 am we had 4 lines out at the mouth of the Severn trolling tandem bucktails and parachutes, heading south with scattered bait, but no fish, and slack current. After a while we turned southeast to get to deeper water and turned back south at 45 feet at Western Edge of Shipping Channel Between Tolly and Thomas Point. Bait was much more thick here and current was just beginning to come in. This fish hit hard and pulled a lot of drag. My son tried to get the net on it, but it was twice as big as the net so I grabbed it by the gill and pulled it over the side. Biggest fish ever on my boat - 44 inches and 28 pounds.