THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610300586
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bob Hutchinson
LENGTH: 41 lines
While most Chesapeake Bay anglers are having little trouble getting their two-fish possession limits of striped bass, bragging-size fish have been scarce since the season opened Oct. 17.
But that's about to change. As November ushers in cooler weather, bigger fish will begin showing, especially along that striper-fishing Eden known as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Still, if you're after a real trophy rockfish, it'll be wise to set aside a few days between Thanksgiving and the middle of December.
Granted, even now a big rockfish can show at almost any place at almost any time. But over the years, most of Virginia's real lunkers have been taken in the above period.
The bridge-tunnel may be the best place to catch big stripers, but it isn't the only place.
Later this year, you'll also find trophy-size rockfish in open waters of the Central Chesapeake, especially off Deltaville. They can also show in and near the surf of the Eastern Shore Barrier Islands and along the beaches of the North Carolina Outer Banks.
Many of the big fish arriving during angling's 11th hour are migrants from up north, chased south by cold weather to spend the winter off the Outer Banks.
The bottom line is that no matter how good your rockfishing season has been so far, things will only get better and the fish will only get bigger. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Fish of the Week
Picks of the Week
Tape measure
[List of places to fish]
by CNB