Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the week of October 22, 2026. Fall keeps delivering the best striper action of the year on the Chesapeake, with cooler water pulling fish to 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 keep improving as water temperatures drop.
Where to Find Them
Fish the Bay Bridge pilings and 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 full, tides are strengthening. 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 for stripers, plus live eels and bunker.
On bright days stripers hold deeper, so jig the bottom, and in low light work topwaters.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Sandy Point State Park, Matapeake and Solomons Island. Check current Maryland and Virginia regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, as striper rules change by season and region.
This Week’s Tip
Fish the tide changes at bridges and points where bait gets pushed.
More Chesapeake Bay Resources
All Chesapeake Bay fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
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