Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers, Specks, and Fall Patterns - Nov 6, 2025

Artificial Lure here with your Thursday, November 6, Chesapeake Bay fishing report, straight from the water and the docks. **First up, the crucial details:** Today’s sunrise rolled in at 6:59 a.m., and you’ll catch the last light slipping out right at 6:43 p.m.—daylight’s fading fast this time of year along the Virginia capes. **Tides are running classic fall patterns.** Guard Shore and much of Virginia’s Bay side saw a low tide around 3:16 a.m., high at 8:41 a.m., then a midday slack before another low at 3:22 p.m. If you’re fishing the evening window, banks are filling up again by 9:15 p.m. Tidal swings are moderate, so plan your drifts and drops to hit the outgoing or incoming for best results. **Weather’s kicked up—this morning started chilly, breezy, and clear.** We’ve got northwest winds blowing 20 to 25 knots, keeping most boats tucked in hard to lee shores. Waves are running 2 to 4 feet, with a Gale Warning in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday per WBOC Weather. That northwest blow means stained water and a little chop, especially on open stretches, but it’s classic for stirring up feeding activity[WBOC Weather]. **Fish activity is solid as the season turns.** Recent reports from FishPit Charters and locals around Windmill Point and Cape Henry say striped bass are pushing through—plenty of slot-size rockfish moving along channel edges and creek mouths. Top catches are coming early and late, especially around structure and drop-offs[FishPit Charters]. Speckled trout are still biting, especially south of the Bay Bridge Tunnel and around Lynnhaven Inlet, with a few overslot reds still mixed in. White perch are stacking in tributaries like the Rappahannock and back creeks near Kilmarnock; panfish action is strong for those willing to work a bit deeper. Flounder reports have slowed with cooling temps, but keepers are still popping up from deep holes near the mouth of the Bay. **Last week saw decent striper numbers, with most anglers pulling 2–5 good fish per trip,** and some heartier souls landing double digits when the weather cooperated. The record-setting pompano dolphinfish made news just north of here, but that’s rare inside the main Bay—focus on striper, perch, specks, and blues[Maryland DNR]. **Best lures and bait today:** With choppy conditions and cooler water, lean into bright chartreuse **soft plastics** for stripers—5” paddle tails on 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig heads work best. If you’re targeting trout, pink or white **MirrOlure** suspending twitch baits are local favorites. For perch, bloodworms and live minnows on bottom rigs will get it done. If you’re chucking hardware, **metal spoons** and bucktails work wonders for blues and schoolie rockfish, especially in the faster-moving water around high tide. **Hot spots for today:** - **Mobjack Bay’s Ware River mouth:** Excellent structure, plenty of lee from NW winds, and solid fall mix of striper, perch, and occasional specks. - **Kiptopeke Beach Pier:** Shelter from the wind,