Chesapeake Bay Fishing Forecast: Tides, Weather, and Hot Spots for December 12, 2024

If you're planning to hit the Chesapeake Bay today, December 12, 2024, here's what you need to know: First off, let's talk about the tides. For Windmill Point, which is a good indicator for the southern part of the Bay, the high tide is at 7:53 AM with a height of 1.46 feet, and the low tide is at 1:40 AM and again at 2:42 PM, both with a height of -0.11 feet. The next high tide will be at 8:13 PM with a height of 1.03 feet[2]. The weather is looking relatively calm, with sunrise at 7:11 AM and sunset at 4:47 PM. This time of year, the water is cooler, but that doesn't mean the fishing is slow. Yesterday, anglers had a great time catching a variety of fish. Sheepshead fishing has been excellent, especially around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) and other inshore bridges in the Virginia Beach area. Fishermen have been pulling in sheepshead ranging from five to eight pounds, with some brutes reaching up to 20 pounds[1]. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also plentiful, particularly along the Virginia Beach oceanfront and inside the Bay. Trollers have been successful using metal spoons trolled behind number one or two planers in the 15-30 foot range. At the Virginia Beach fishing pier, anglers have had luck casting Gotcha plugs and other metal lures to catch mackerel, bluefish, spot, croaker, flounder, and even stingrays[1]. For bait, live or cut baits like peeler crabs and bloodworms work well for bottom fishing, especially in deep holes and creeks. For sheepshead, fiddler crabs are a favorite. If you're after mackerel and bluefish, metal lures like Gotcha plugs and spoons are the way to go[1][3]. If you're looking for hot spots, the CBBT is always a winner, especially for sheepshead and larger fish. The Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach is another great spot, as evidenced by kayak anglers catching limits of sheepshead and other species there. Additionally, the coastal buoys and wrecks, such as Bluefish Rock off Hampton and the Kiptopeake area off Cape Charles, are known for their rich fishing grounds[1][3][4]. So grab your gear, check the tides, and head out to the Chesapeake Bay for what promises to be a great day of fishing. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.