Autumn Bites on Chesapeake Bay: Stripers, Cats, Scallops and More

Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay, Virginia fishing report for Friday, October 24, 2025. We’re waking up to crisp, cool, and sunny fall weather—real classic October on the Bay. The **sun rose at 7:21 a.m.** and she’ll set at **6:14 p.m.** tonight. Winds are moderate but have calmed down slightly compared to earlier in the week, so it’s a fine day to get on the water and soak in some of that autumn color. **Tidewise:** At Cape Henry, we’ve got **low tide at 4:29 a.m., high at 11:15 a.m., and the evening low at 5:29 p.m.** tonight, before bouncing up again just before midnight. The tidal coefficients are high today, which means stronger currents—good news for getting bait stirred up and drawing in hungry fish. **Water temps** in the main Bay sit in the mid-60s, dipping to the upper 50s in the rivers. Water clarity is about average, and salinity is running higher than normal for this time of year, so you might see some different fish moving through. **Fish Activity & Catches:** According to Maryland DNR and FishTalk Magazine, **striped bass**—known locally as rockfish—are starting to feed aggressively ahead of the big winter move. You’ll find them along steep channel edges and around structures like bridge pilings and rock piles. Anglers are catching them by jigging with soft plastics, trolling umbrella rigs, or live-lining spot and perch. The shallows are still producing in 5-6 feet of water where these bass have a high metabolism and are on the hunt. Recent catches have included some keeper-size fish, though folks are working hard for them around Love Point, Pooles Island, and the Bay Bridge. **White perch** are shifting out of the tidal rivers and showing up over hard bottoms and reefs. The lower Bay is still holding a few big spot—get them soon before they migrate south. **Blue catfish** remain hot, especially on channel edges and deep holes in the rivers. Chumming with cut bait or using ground fish draws them in. If you’re after something unusual, northern snakeheads are active near brush and remaining grass, particularly with a big minnow set under a popping cork or bobber. **Lures and Bait:** The top lure choices this week are **umbrella rigs, Mojos, parachutes (white/chartreuse), paddletails, poppers, and jerkbaits**. Trolling with six-inch shad in white or chartreuse on tandem rigs is the staple for rockfish. A fast jigging speed keeps those feeding stripers engaged—FishTalk says give ’em lots of action while they’re still energetic, before water temps really drop. For catfish, fresh cut bait and stink bait are king. Snakeheads and perch are biting on minnows or marabou jigs worked near structure. **Hot Spots:** - **Bay Bridge Piers and Rock Piles:** Reliable for stripers and perch, especially during moving tides. - **Mouths of the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers:** Still holding striped bass and the last of the big spot. - **Tangier Sound/Eastern Shore Flats:** Large red drum for catch-and-release and a shot at speckled tro