Choptank Rockfish on Poppers

Type: Tidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Choptank River

The Choptank River has been good to us this fall. Even though this time of year can be difficult for rockfish because of transition from structure to open water feeding, we've been able to do well. We've found breaking fish on two occasions and have a rock pile that's been holding a lot of fish as well. We have caught lots of sublegals, with enough keepers to fill out a limit if you are patient. I got this fish on the rock pile on a on a popper, on a Sunday evening, October 6th, just prior to the big storm system that passed through on October 11th and 12th (the remains of Hurricane Michael). We were steadily catching fish there from the time we got there (4 PM) on bucktails and zulus run along the bottom. It was a bright day, but when the sun went down the rock came up to the surface. We tossed poppers for a half-hour. This was the biggest fish of the day (maybe 26 inches) and the last I caught. It put up a good fight, but was in good shape for release. Perhaps not big by upper Bay standards, but big for the Choptank.