Tactical Angler: Fishing Tactics

Fishing tactics and techniques used on the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and surrounding freshwater fishing areas are covered in depth.

June 23, 2024
Whether you go Chepaeake Bay fishing for striped bass up north near the Bay Bridge or down south out of Norfolk, Virginia, you’ve probably seen those monstrous ships anchored up, waiting to enter…
June 22, 2024
Acres of tuna are busting water all around us at Poormans Canyon, there are five boats trolling for yellowfin in the frenzy, and all of our baits are going unmolested. For half an hour we zig and zag…
June 7, 2024
Presented by Sirius XM Marine As early season yellowfin tuna cruise up the coast the next month is likely to be a good one. Or, maybe a great one. Of course, there’s no telling just how hot the…
May 10, 2024
A huge flurry of fishing reports of speckled sea trout has come in, and these fish are being caught in areas from the Elizabeth clear up to the Choptank. And while few anglers focus on speckled sea…
May 9, 2024
Those of you who read FishTalk on a regular basis may have noticed that I swapped out my old reliable 22 Glacier Bay for a new Caymas 26 HB last year, and along with it, shifted to a completely new…
April 27, 2024
It was Memorial Day weekend on the mouth of the Choptank River, and the fishing was unusually quiet. The water was so clear you could make out every little shell and pebble on the sandy bottom. I…
April 15, 2024
Snakeheads may like it hot, but if you choose the right spot and make the right moves April can be a great month for targeting them. These three spring snakehead fishing tips will help light a fire…
April 11, 2024
Presented by Sirius XM Marine When you’re going to spend an afternoon at the lake or a morning Chesapeake Bay fishing, naturally you want to catch fish. But when you’re heading offshore it means…
March 22, 2024
There’s an annual spring migration taking place this month in many of the Chesapeake’s tributaries which will trigger a different migration of sorts — one involving fishermen jumping into their cars…
March 17, 2024
For anglers in the southern areas of the Bay — or those willing to travel there — March has come to mean you can start chasing red drum. Will those massive schools of bulls have arrived yet? Probably…
February 21, 2024
Greetings FishTalkers, and welcome to our new section Ask an Expert where we kick things off by talking with Captain Tom Weaver, of Fish With Weaver, a renowned light tackle and fly fishing guide out…
December 13, 2023
It’s 45 degrees, you see striped bass down deep on the meter, and as you stand there shivering you’re wondering why the heck you can’t get a bite when the day before rockfish were thrashing on the…
December 7, 2023
No matter where you live in Chesapeake Country there are sure to be plenty of bridges nearby, and hopping from one to the next is a great way to find a solid bite — especially during the winter…
November 13, 2023
In the Chesapeake’s waters, black sea bass can be both a blessing and a curse. We love to see ‘em, but most of the time they’re bait-stealing juvenile delinquents, pecking away at your offerings…
October 29, 2023
Spoonin’ Up the Stripers When the water temps drop this month, at some point the stripers will move deep. And in-between flurries of bird action there will almost certainly come a time when you spot…
October 19, 2023
What’s worse than waking up to discover a 20-knot breeze when you’re bound and determined to try some Chesapeake Bay fishing? Not having a backup plan. Push your luck and head for open waters on a…
October 4, 2023
You say you enjoy fishing in tournaments (see the local upcoming events at our Chesapeake Bay Fishing Calendar), and you want to win more of ‘em? While there’s always an element of luck involved in…
September 21, 2023
It’s the most common mistake I see people make aboard my boat: when told the rockfish are hugging bottom, they cast out and then retrieve without knowing exactly where in the water column that jig is…