CBBT--Many Mediums a Few Larger

[Wild Bill]

Catching large numbers of bass jigging was not a problem for most. The bite was very light--many times a just very light tap. The trollers near the bridge tunnel did not seem to be doing much but stared at the bent rods on the way by. Consistently big fish were caught at Cape Charles on eels. Capt Jack had seven days in a row with citation fish (40 pounds) and boated a 58.8 pounder.

Starting Monday morning friend Les landed and released a 37" fish on the very first cast. We did not take a pic of the fish or fisherman because we thought that was a rather small fish and there would be many more and bigger fish to come. Well that notion did not prove out. We did catch a load of very fat 22" to 28" footballs and a few slot fish (28"-34" in VA).

Wed we fished a half day and found a pod of large fish. We hooked five fish in about as many minutes and then they were gone. Stuffer was using a dropper fly with his assassin and hooked two large fish at one time. The shorter leader with the dropper parted as normally happens with two biggins at one time. Each of us boated at least one good fish--a 33" slot, 35" and 36". Not true hogs but larger than the average for this trip.

Would like to go back between Christmas and New Year's but am a little concerned about the water temp. Today the surface temp was 43 degrees.

Today there were only a few other boats fishing. I guess the cold, scarcity of large fish, 15 kt forecast and proximity to Christmas all resulted in few CBBT fishermen.

It is my opinion that the quality of fishing this year does not come close to last year in the number of big fish available. It is still excellent fishing even in a slow year.

http://home.ptd.net/~bschotta/cbbg1.jpg
Stuffer with a 35"

http://home.ptd.net/~bschotta/cbbs2.jpg
A Healthy 36"

[Lov2Fish]

Once again you produced excellent fish! --127-3- GREAT PHOTOS AS WELL! I wish we still have the big ones here. Way too much of a hassle for me to tow all the wat to CBBT, but I deffinately gave it some thought. Still getting the smaller schoolies here, so I do it the poor mans way and use lighter tackle, and still get my reels screming! Tight Lines!

[Wild Bill]

Lov2-

The CBBT is definitely not worth a real long tow this year. The big fish did not show in significant numbers yet. With the water temp at 43 degrees, I doubt they are going to visit the CBBT in mass like last year. My friend Simon fished it today and yesterday and caught no big fish.

In three days of fishing I did not use the fly rod more than an hour. The big schools of good fish that we had in open water last year were not available. Most of the time I jockeyed the boat around the pilings of the bridge in strong current. My 225 FS was running most of the trip. I can spin fish while holding the boat fairly well but cannot work a fly rod and run the boat near the pilings.

We got a reliable report from a charter boat mate that a large number of gannets and big fish were off Cape Henry on Monday. We ran the 20 miles and found menhaden, scattered gannets and no bass. There were eight huge Omega factory ships, a spotter plane and 16 netting boats surrounding the menhaden. According to a guy who works on the Omega boats, loads of huge bass were also in the nets. He claims that they go in the hold as by-catch along with the pogies to be ground up for oil and other products. I do not know for certain that is true, but the loss of tons of food source for the bass and possible loss of tons of large breeder bass is a travesty. I believe the menhaden boats are banned from NJ and NY waters but killing that many bass in VA affects the population of the entire coast.

[Lov2Fish]

It definately has to hurt the fishing! No food no fish. Also on your lower picture there is some sort of tage or growth on the gilplate of thet fish, did you notice it? Or was it from your lure? Tight Lines Mark

[Wild Bill]

Lov2-

I saw that mark on the pic. It was a piece of dirt from the boat deck. Where I had to park at the motel was under some dirty trees. We caught five big fish in five minutes. I do not personally keep any bass but if a buddy wants a couple I will take an ice chest. These guys wanted to keep a few the last day we fished. We stacked the fish up in the motor well and caught them while we could. There were not many large fish available and the pod of nice fish I found was not big. I knew it would not last and we took advantage of the brief bite while we could. When we drifted off the fish and went back to where we first saw them on the meter, they had run off.

We catch some very sick looking fish loaded with lesions and red marks in the summer in the Chesapeake. Some of the fish have so many sores and are emaceated to the point that it is hard to imagine that they can still swim and feed. The ocean run fish at the CBBT were mostly in great shape. Some were so fat they were almost square. I did catch a 23" fish with a tag and number and called it in on my cell phone.

One of the suspected causes of sick fish is lack of substantial food like menhaden. It also causes bass to feed more on small bass, trout and perch. It is believed that the Omega Corp is doing great damage to the bass population.

[fmw]

that story re omega and the bunker boats is pretty sickening. amazing that the data doesnt seem to show it, but everything Ive seen in terms of anectodal evidence . . . even the reports from the Montauk six pack charter boats . . . is that the bass fishing has been way off and that this year was the worst in at least a decade.

[Wild Bill]

FMV-

Not sure I trust the data anymore. It will be interesting if the huge schools show up in NC this year. When you see schools over a mile long of all big fish, it makes you think the data may be correct. We had that last year. So far reports from NC are very spotty. Jan and part of Feb are the best times, so it could happen. I hope to check them out soon.

The middle Chesapeake bay all summer and fall was pathetic. The bass were not there in any numbers at all. That is why I started fishing NY/NJ this year. I have a lot to learn about that area but had all good trips. In the middle of the summer we chummed blues offshore a bit and had a ball with the fly rod.

[MarkZ]

Hi Bill, I need to trailer my 19ft bay boat down to Shelbyville, DE from Long Island for some repairs sometime this winter. I know the CBBT is not that much further from there. Can you suggest a time you think would be best to connect w/ large on the fly if at all. I may or may not have use of the boat for a bit when I'm there, so perhaps you could recommend a local guide as well. Thx, Markus Zanelli.

[Wild Bill]

Hi Mark-

I would if I could but it may be about over at the CBBT. It is mainly a matter of water temp. When the temps get to 42 things are real slow and when it hits 41, it is over. Last year that happened about that time and most quit. Then we had a moderate spell and a late group of big fish came back in Jan. That real mild winter (I think 2000) I caught big fish at the CBBT in February. For catch and release guys Jan and Feb are wonderful because the keeper season is over Dec 31 and the trollers are gone. We seem to get one of those super mild winters about every ten years. As an old timer, I may or may not see one of those again.

If you have the time and inclination, I would recommend going to Nags Head in Jan or early Feb. That is a more certain bet than the CBBT. Last year we had some 60 degree air temps and were fishing without jackets.

There are message boards that cover the CBBT and you can keep an eye on the temps and action. Mail me if you want them and I will send them to you.

[MarkZ]

Thx for the info Bill. I'll play it by ear and figure out what to do when the date gets closer. Nag's head could be a possibility. Any recomendations on guides?

[Wild Bill]

Yes, Mark-

Capt's Brian Horsley and wife Sara Gardner are both top light tackle and fly guides down there. Most every time I located the birds with the binoculars Sara and Brian were already on them. They may have contacts with the bigger boats down there that use radar to find birds at a distance beyond what good glasses can see. They also know the area and fish patterns. If you do a search you will find Brian and Sara's site with the open dates and other info.

Getting out is the problem down there. An east wind makes Oregon Inlet very tough to impossible. But when it is right down there is it really right. Charter on days with some west in the forecast. ;) I try to pick a calm time and then go hang out for a week and fish the days that we can. Last year we lucked out and fished every day.

Good luck