Josenhans Fly Fishing Blog

Birds are our friends. Especially BIG birds. Gannets, pelicans and large gulls all signal big bait and, subsequently, big stripers. That is what we have been searching for  of late as we cruise Tangier Sound and the bay proper in pursuit of migrating, ocean-run stripers. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, my clients have had to find content in 75-fish-per-person days of school-sized rockfish. Most of the stripers have been in the 15 to 18-inch size range, but a dozen or two 18 to 23-inches fill the creel on most days. I did have one lucky angler pull a 34-inch striper out from under some resting gannets near the mouth of the Choptank River on a recent outing. Fish have been caught casting Bass Assassin Sea Shads, Specialized Baits Li’l Jimys and Clouser Minnows. While a few trophy fish have been caught in the main bay, we are still waiting for the arrival of sea-run stripers to Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. The first half of December was very good last year and we’re hoping for a repeat performance this season. Drop me a line if you’d like to get in one last shot at a rockfish dinner before the snow comes.