West Side of Shipping Channel

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Mid Bay
Location: West Side of Shipping Channel

Boat: FISHHAWKS NEST

Number of fishers: 2

Area Fished: Bay Bridge, Hacketts Bar, Sewer Pipe, east side, west side of shipping channel

Details: Thanks to the good folks at Anglers for an honest fish report when we stopped for bloodworms and razor clams. No spot at the bridge, some perch. 2 spot on Hacketts Bar/Dollys Lump and plenty of perch. They liked my hand tied shrimp flies tipped with a small piece of bloodworm pegged with a small piece of fishbite bloodworm. Checked east side up to the LP buoy. Nothing doing. Swung over to the west side. Lots of bait schools moving north with the tide. Marked feeding fish in 22' on west edge on south side off mouth of Magothy River. Caught 6 schoolies, largest 19-1/2". A striper about 18" broke off at the boat. A rockfish well over 30" broke my partners 20 lb test line on a strong third run away from the boat. Hooked a modest sized ray and brought it alongside on a medium bait caster combo - cut the line just above the hook. Lots of snapper blues attacking bait schools. We caught one on our rockfish baits and tossed it back. My partner had one of the spot out for about 4 hours - no takers. Let it go for good service! All stripers were hooked on alternative live bait.