Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Blue Catfish, Red Drum, and Tautog Bite Despite Chilly Temps

Hey there, fellow anglers It's Artificial Lure here, and I'm excited to share the latest fishing report for Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, as of February 2, 2025. First off, let's talk about the weather and tidal conditions. Today, we're dealing with some chilly winter weather, which has been the norm lately. The tide times for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel are as follows: low tide at 4:39 AM with a height of -0.11 meters, high tide at 10:48 AM with a height of 0.8 meters, low tide again at 5:02 PM with a height of -0.15 meters, and finally, high tide at 11:22 PM with a height of 0.84 meters. Sunrise is at 7:05 AM, and sunset is at 5:30 PM. Despite the cold, the fishing has been quite active in certain areas. If you're looking to catch some big fish, the Lower Bay tributaries are your best bet. Blue catfish are still biting aggressively, and we've seen some massive catches recently. Just north of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Potomac River, anglers have been pulling in blue catfish ranging from 20 to 44 pounds, with some even reaching up to 62 pounds on the James River. Fresh strips of gizzard shad are the hot bait right now, so make sure you've got some of those in your tackle box. For those targeting striped bass, although the season is closed, catch and release fishing is still allowed. The mouth of the Potomac and the Rappahannock River were productive spots before the season closed, with anglers catching slot-sized fish and some trophy fish. Trolling with umbrella rigs and five-inch sassy shads was the method of choice. If you're fishing in the Way South tributaries, red drum are still active, particularly in the deeper parts of Rudee Inlet. They're biting well on fresh shrimp and soft plastic swimbaits. Tautog are also being caught in both the Bay and at offshore reef sites, with shrimp and clam proving effective due to the lack of crab. Here are a couple of hot spots to consider: 1. **Potomac River near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge**: This area has been producing some massive blue catfish. Look for them in as shallow as 10 feet of water. 2. **Rudee Inlet**: For red drum, this is a great spot, especially in the deeper areas. Use fresh shrimp or soft plastic swimbaits for the best results. 3. **Rappahannock River**: Although the striped bass season is closed, this area is still worth a visit for catch and release fishing. The Cut Channel up to channel marker 62 has been holding some fish. In summary, while the weather is cold, the fish are still biting. Blue catfish are the stars of the show right now, but red drum and tautog are also providing some exciting action. Make sure to bundle up, and don't hesitate to brave the cold for a chance at some trophy fish. Stay warm, stay patient, and tight lines