Where to put in?

[flathead1802]

I've been watching Chesapeake Bay fishing videos on Youtube all weekend and I'm itching to go! I want to get into some of that Stripper action, too. The problem is I don't know where to put in or get bait. I've been looking at the area around CBBT unless you guys know a better place. Can anyone help me out? Besides eels, what baits would be advisable? What size sinkers will I need, etc.?

[mwardncsu]

Bait = eels if you are doing live bait. Get them across the bridge at Chris's Bait & Tackle or somewhere before you get there (Ocean's East II, etc). You can put in at the Kiptopeke State Park public ramp for $10 I think or the Cape Charles public ramp for free. More parking at Kiptopeke I believe.

Weight (for eels) anywhere from a split shot to several ounces. (We had 2, 2oz on lines for Downlines and current still pulled the lines back some when we were fishing 30+ feet. Upsize your mainline and leader a lot from what you'd use on SML - those fish are big

It's catch & release only now inside the Bay. Not seen many posts on Facebook from Chris' - maybe they just are not posting them now that the Bay season is "over" (from a keeper perspective). That or maybe the water has cooled too much this week. Might check the reports on TidalFish.com - Virginia Angler sub-forum.

[BentRod]

Chris' closed for the season last Friday. Best to get eels before coming across bridge.

[mwardncsu]

That would explain the lack of reports/pics posted to their FB page then

[flathead1802]

So is the ocean side of the bridge considered "ocean" where you can keep the fish or do you have to go further out? Does the bait store in Lynnhaven sell eels?

[tommy1]

Cape Charles to Cape Henry if i am not mistaken is considered the line between the bay and the ocean, don't know about the bait.

[seajay]

Here is a link showing the coastal boundry of the bay . Its the blue line running from smith island over to cape henry. Right now you can only C&R inside that line. If you fish outside the line and keep fish when you cross back over that line you better go straight to the ramp and not drop down and fish. If you get caught fishing inside the line with fish in the box it will not be good. You can probably get eels at oceans east on your way in.

www.fintalk.com/states/va/cbbt_chart.html

[tommy1]

See i was right,, i was mistaken,, i was only half right !!

[leeb]

Tommy

You know half right means ALL wrong ...don't you?

[flathead1802]

Thanks; that chart helps. My daughter lives in Pungo, right on Back Bay. Her husband's father and Grandfather were eel fishermen. I may have to talk Kenny into setting some eel traps before my next visit! They still have a couple of holding tanks I think.