Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers, Bulls, and More on the Bay

Good morning from the banks of the Chesapeake—this is Artificial Lure, bringing you your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Saturday, August 23, 2025. We’ve got clear summer skies and a sunrise at 6:28 AM with sunset at 7:45 PM. This morning started off muggy and the wind’s light out of the southwest, so the water’s got a slight chop but nothing that’ll keep you off your favorite honey hole. High tide hit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at 9:07 AM and comes back around at 9:25 PM. If you’re working the lower bay, be ready for low water midafternoon at 3:05 PM. Tide swings aren’t huge today, but enough to stir up some activity according to Tide-Forecast.com. The water temp’s sitting in the high 70s, and overall fish activity has held steady with the stable weather. Reports from folks on the docks and in the forums say the bite picked up right around first light and again with that incoming morning tide. Tides4Fishing notes an average tidal coefficient for Norfolk today, so current movement should help turn things on—especially along ledges and creek mouths. If you’re chasing striped bass (rockfish), they’re still around and have been thick near the CBBT pilings and up into the mouths of the James and York Rivers. Early risers did well this morning before the sun got high, especially on soft plastics and paddle-tail swim baits fished deep, tight to structure. Trolling tandem rigs pulled a few keepers, but casting under working birds has definitely been the ticket. According to FishingBooker’s 2025 rockfish guide, topwater around dawn is worth the early alarm, and a lot of action is coming right as the sun peeks up. Tangier Sound Charters and FishTalk Magazine are reporting jumbo bull red drum moving through the Tangier Sound and Kiptopeke areas this week—live menhaden and fresh peeler crab floated along the current seams have put some trophy fish in the boat. On Instagram Friday, Tangier Sound Charters shared pics of some true bull reds caught and released, so now’s the time to get on ‘em if you want to stretch your arms. White perch fishing has been consistent, per this morning’s TidalFish report: one angler had 15 perch and a couple of catfish by 8:30 AM using bloodworms and shrimp on bottom rigs. The perch bite’s best at creek mouths and around marsh edges, especially at moving tide; small spinners and beetle spins will keep things lively if your crew enjoys light tackle. Flounder catches have trickled in, mainly on the shallower bayside wrecks and drop-offs near Cape Charles. Drifting with Gulp! swimming mullets in chartreuse or pink, or tipping bucktail jigs with strip baits, has worked when you can find a clean drift without too much grass. Don’t ignore Spanish mackerel—Outta Line Charters says trolling gold or silver spoons around the Chesapeake Light and Windmill Point brought in plenty, while some keeper bluefish have been mixed in on the same rigs. Your best baits today: cut bunker and live spot for stripers and reds, Gulp! or mud This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.