Braving the Chesapeake Bay: Winter Fishing Outlook for January 2025

If you're planning to head out on the Chesapeake Bay today, January 10, 2025, here's what you need to know: First off, the weather is still quite cold, and the wind has been blowing strong, keeping many boats off the water. However, for those brave enough to venture out, there are some promising catches to be had. ### Tides and Conditions Today's tide times at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel are as follows: high tide at 4:57 AM and 5:19 PM, with low tides at 11:24 AM and 11:12 PM. Sunrise is at 7:17 AM, and sunset will be at 5:06 PM. The moon will set at 4:15 AM and rise again at 1:46 PM. ### Fish Activity Despite the challenging weather, there has been some notable fish activity. Migratory striped bass are still present in the main Bay, particularly around the Eastern Shore near Cape Charles. These fish have been biting steadily, though not aggressively, with some trophy-sized catches reported. Sho-Nuf Sportfishing recently caught and released some very nice trophy fish in this area. For those targeting bluefin tuna, the ocean waters off Virginia Beach have been productive. Boats have been hooking into some massive tuna, with the largest reported catch being a 94-inch fish weighing 502 pounds by Sea Mee Sportfishing. ### Best Spots and Lures If you're after striped bass, consider heading to the mouth of the Potomac River, which was productive last weekend despite the season being closed for keeping them. Catch and release fishing is still allowed, and trolling with plugs or using bait like anchovies can be effective. Another hot spot is between Pooles Island and the Bay Bridge, where you can find striped bass and bluefish near the surface or hiding in channel edges. For bluefin tuna, sailing out of Virginia Beach and heading into the ocean has yielded significant results. Plugs have been the preferred lure for these tuna. ### Bait and Lures For striped bass, using plugs or trolling with bait like anchovies or shad can be very effective. For bluefin tuna, diving plugs have shown to be particularly attractive. ### Hot Spots - **Eastern Shore near Cape Charles**: Good for migratory striped bass. - **Mouth of the Potomac River**: Productive for striped bass, even though the season is closed for keeping them. - **Between Pooles Island and the Bay Bridge**: Excellent for striped bass and bluefish. - **Ocean waters off Virginia Beach**: Ideal for bluefin tuna. Stay warm and good luck on the water This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.