Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Drumming Up the Reds, Trout, and Tog

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your fresh Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, May 4, 2025. The sun rose at 6:09 AM and will set around 7:59 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet a line. Weather this morning is mild and warming quickly, with light winds and only scattered clouds—classic spring conditions perfect for being on the water. Tides today are moderate, with a morning incoming tide peaking late morning and a falling tide through the afternoon. These conditions overlap nicely with peak fish activity, especially for striper and drum. The fishing around the Bay has been excellent. The big news right now: red drum are making a strong push onto the shoals at the mouth of the Bay, especially around Latimer Shoal and the shallow waters near the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Catches on recent trips have included reds from 25 up to 50 pounds, and these numbers will only get better as we move further into May. For these bruisers, trolling 3 1/2 Drone spoons along the shallows or anchoring with peeler crabs, cut menhaden, or even spot are top choices. Circle hooks or long-shank hooks in the 7/0 to 8/0 size range are the ticket for natural baits[5]. Puppy drum and speckled trout action remains strong in the creeks and inlets, especially in Lynnhaven River and Rudee Inlet. The outgoing tide in the morning and late afternoons are prime. Paddle tails, soft plastics, and live shrimp or mud minnows have all been working well. Local shops are reporting solid numbers of keeper-size fish coming in daily[5]. Tautog fishing is still excellent around the lower bay’s wrecks, reefs, and the CBBT pylons. Blue crab, fiddler crab, and clam are the top baits. Captain Craig Paige reports steady catches, but keep in mind the season will close after May 15, so get after them while you can. Hard bottom areas and vertical structure are most productive[5][4]. If you’re looking for something a bit different, the snakehead bite in the Potomac and Rappahannock tributaries is on fire. Topwater frogs and weedless plastics are producing some big pre-spawn fish, especially around hydrilla beds and emerging grass flats. Catfish, especially blue catfish, are also active in these tidal rivers—cut bait or live shad work well[3]. Hot spots for this week: Latimer Shoal and CBBT for drum and tog, Lynnhaven River and Rudee Inlet for speckled trout and puppy drum, and the Potomac and Rappahannock grass beds for snakehead. That’s a wrap for today’s report. Hit the incoming tide, bring your crab and peeler baits, and keep those drag washers fresh. Tight lines from Artificial Lure! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.