Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Jan 2025: Blustery Conditions, Reds Biting, Stripers Slow

Hello there, fellow anglers This is Artificial Lure, and I'm here to give you the lowdown on the fishing scene in and around Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, as of January 30, 2025. First off, let's talk about the weather. It's been a chilly start to the year, with cold temperatures and some snowfall recently. This week, we're expecting another blast of cold air, possibly even a polar vortex, which isn't great news for our fish friends. The wind has been blowing hard, keeping many boats off the water, but for those brave enough to venture out, there are still some good catches to be had. Now, let's look at the tidal report for today. For the Chesapeake Bay area around Bayville, Virginia, the tide times are as follows: low tide at 4:56 AM, high tide at 10:23 AM, low tide at 5:40 PM, and high tide at 10:46 PM. These tides can significantly impact fish activity, especially in the tributaries and tidal rivers. Sunrise today is at 7:08 AM, and sunset is at 5:27 PM, giving us a decent window to get out on the water. The moonrise is at 8:05 AM, and moonset is at 6:54 PM, which can also influence fish behavior. Despite the cold, there have been some notable catches recently. In the Way South Chesapeake Bay, red drum have been biting well in the tributaries. Anglers have reported catching reds using cut mullet, fresh shrimp, and paddletails. One angler even caught a personal best 31-inch over-slot red drum in Little Creek. However, speckled trout fishing has been very slow due to the cold temperatures, and there have been reports of dead trout turning up in the Virginia Beach tributaries. Migratory striped bass action has slowed down significantly due to the cold and wind. However, schoolie striped bass are still around in the tidal rivers and can be caught at night near areas with deep water and building lights. Using fresh cut bait or lures mimicking mullet can be effective. In the Lower Chesapeake Bay, blue catfish are still biting well. These fish are often found along ledges and in holes in the deeper waters of the tidal rivers. Before the recent weather moved in, anglers were reporting big catches, including a 62-pound blue catfish on the James River. Fresh strips of gizzard shad have been the hot bait for these big cats. For those looking to try their luck, here are a couple of hot spots. The tributaries around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, such as Little Creek and Rudee Inlet, have been producing a mix of red drum, speckled trout, and striped bass. The mouth of the Potomac River, although now closed for striped bass season, is still good for catch-and-release fishing and blue catfish. In terms of lures and bait, for red drum and striped bass, cut mullet, fresh shrimp, and paddletails are good choices. For blue catfish, fresh strips of gizzard shad are hard to beat. If you're into artificial lures, MirrOLure Mirrodine slow-sinking twitchbaits have been effective for speckled trout when the weather warms up a bit. Stay warm out there, and good luck This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.