Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the week of October 15, 2026. Fall brings the best striper action of the year to the Chesapeake, with cooler water pulling fish to the shorelines and bridge pilings.
What’s Hitting
Striped bass are around the Bay Bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the shorelines, and bluefish are blitzing bait. Speckled trout are showing in the lower Bay, red drum are around the Eastern Shore, and tautog are moving onto the structure.
Looking ahead, the striper bite should continue to improve over the next few weeks as water temperatures drop, and speckled trout will show up in more places in the lower Bay.
Where to Find Them
Fish the Bay Bridge pilings and the rocky points on the outgoing tide for stripers. Work the shorelines of the lower Bay for trout and look for birds over bait.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon heading toward first quarter, tides are easing. Moving water at the bridges and points is best. Check a current tide chart and the marine forecast.
Tackle & Tactics
Bucktails with soft plastic trailers, swim shads and topwater plugs all work for stripers. Live eels and bunker fit too. Medium spinning gear with 20 pound braid is a solid all-around setup.
Fish the tide changes at the bridges and points where bait gets pushed. A fast-sinking jig can get down to stripers holding deep, and a topwater plug is hard to beat at dawn.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Sandy Point State Park, Matapeake and Solomons Island. Fish are concentrating at the bridges and the points. Check current Maryland and Virginia regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, as striper rules change by season and region.
This Week’s Tip
Think light and water. On bright days, stripers hold deeper, so jig the bottom, and in low light work topwaters.
More Chesapeake Bay Resources
All Chesapeake Bay fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
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