Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Perch, Rockfish, and More for February 9th, 2025

Hey there, fellow anglers, this is Artificial Lure here to give you the lowdown on the fishing scene in and around Chesapeake Bay for today, February 9th, 2025. First off, let's talk about the tides. Today, we're looking at a high tide of 2.55 feet at 5:57 AM and another at 1.93 feet at 6:14 PM, with a low tide of -0.06 feet at 12:15 PM. These tides should provide some good movement and activity for the fish. The weather is expected to be relatively mild for this time of year, which is great news for us anglers. Sunrise is at 6:59 AM, and sunset will be at 5:38 PM, giving us a good window to get out on the water. In the Chesapeake Bay, particularly in the Virginia waters, we're seeing some promising action. Yellow perch are very active right now, especially around the Perryville area and the mouths of other tidal rivers. These fish are mostly schooled up in depths of 40 to 60 feet, and live minnows are working best, although small artificial jigs are also enticing bites. With some reports of boat limits and jumbos over 13 inches, this is a great time to target these perch[1]. Rockfish are also starting to make their presence known, especially in the Rappahannock River. While the season for keeping them doesn't open until later, the larger ones are active and worth the catch-and-release effort. Use swim baits, lipless crankbaits, and topwaters to lure them in[3]. Red Drum are active in the lower bay areas, such as around Sandbridge surf, Buckroe Pier, Lynnhaven Inlet, and Rudee Inlet. Fresh shrimp, cut mullet, crabs, and other forms of cut bait are working well for these Drum. The windy conditions we've been having actually strengthen the Drum bite, so don't let that deter you[3]. Sheepshead and Tautog are biting well around the lower bay, especially around structures like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) and artificial reefs. Fiddler crabs, cut Blue Crab, and even sand fleas are excellent baits for these species. If you're after Flounder, the CBBT and ocean wrecks are your best bets, with live Spot and Croaker strips being effective[3][5]. For a hot spot, I recommend checking out the Lynnhaven Inlet. This area has been producing multiple species, including Flounder, Spot, Croaker, Trout, and Rockfish. The grass flats inside the inlets and rivers are also great for Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum, where shrimp and minnows are plentiful[3]. In terms of lures, topwater baits are still effective for Trout, especially with the cooler weather. For Spanish Mackerel, smaller Drone and Clark spoons in the 2 to 2-1/2 inch sizes work well. If you're after Pickerel, suspending minnows on shad darts and small bucktails under a bobber can be very effective in the chillier waters[3]. So, grab your gear and head out to the Chesapeake Bay. With the right baits and lures, you're in for a great day of fishing. Tight lines, everyone This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.