Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass from Chesapeake Beach: Year-Round Guide

Chesapeake Beach: The Western Shore's Striper Hub

Chesapeake Beach sits on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, Maryland, roughly an hour from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Its position on the Bay gives anglers direct access to some of the finest striped bass fishing in the world. The Chesapeake Bay is the primary nursery and migration corridor for the Atlantic migratory striped bass stock, and Chesapeake Beach sits squarely in the middle of the action. From trophy spring fishing to fall blitzes to winter jigging, stripers are available within a short run of the harbor in nearly every month of the year.

Seasonal Striper Guide

Spring Trophy Season (April–May)

Spring trophy season is the marquee event on the Maryland striper calendar. Large female striped bass — fish in the 35 to 50-inch range weighing 20 to 50 pounds — enter the Bay from the ocean and push north toward spawning tributaries. Chesapeake Beach striped bass anglers intercept these fish trolling large parachute jigs, umbrella rigs, and tandem rigs along the Bay's main channel edges. The area between Chesapeake Beach and the Calvert Cliffs produces consistently during the peak weeks of late April and early May.

Summer (June–August)

Summer stripers in the Bay tend to be smaller schoolie fish in the 18 to 28-inch range, but they are abundant and willing biters. Chumming with ground menhaden (a technique Maryland is famous for) draws fish to the boat where they can be caught on cut bait chunks, live spot, or soft plastic jigs. The chumming grounds off Chesapeake Beach — particularly the area known as 'the Lumps' south of town — produce all-day action on summer weekends.

Fall (September–November)

Fall fishing from Chesapeake Beach combines the best of both worlds. Schoolie stripers blitz baitfish schools on the surface, creating visible feeding frenzies that can be located by watching for diving birds. Meanwhile, larger fish in the 30-inch-plus class hold deeper along channel edges, accessible by jigging or trolling. The fall run accelerates through October and peaks in November as fish stage for their exit from the Bay.

Winter (December–March)

Many anglers put their rods away after Thanksgiving, but winter jigging for stripers remains productive near Chesapeake Beach. Fish concentrate in the deepest holes in the Bay — channels running 60 to 100 feet deep — where water temperatures are more stable. Vertical jigging with heavy metal lures reaches these deep-holding fish. Catches often include a mix of sizes, and the solitude of winter fishing appeals to anglers who prefer an uncrowded Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay did not become the striped bass capital of the world by accident — it is the nursery, the highway, and the dining room for the most important striper population on the Atlantic coast.

Chumming: Maryland's Signature Technique

No technique is more closely associated with Chesapeake Bay striper fishing than chumming. Anglers anchor over structure or along a channel edge and ladle a steady stream of ground menhaden into the current, creating a scent trail that draws stripers from hundreds of yards away. Hooks baited with chunks of the same menhaden are fished at varying depths within the chum slick. When the school arrives, the result is often a multi-rod hookup that keeps everyone on the boat busy.

Rod-and-Reel Crabbing

While waiting for the striper bite, Chesapeake Beach anglers have the bonus option of targeting blue crabs — the Bay's most iconic crustacean. Bluefish around Chesapeake Beach also provide exciting action during summer months when they chase bait through the same waters as schoolie stripers.

Chesapeake Beach Harbor and Access

• Rod 'N' Reel Marina — Full-service marina and charter boat operation, the primary launch point for Chesapeake Beach
• Chesapeake Beach Fishing Pier — Public pier extending into the Bay for shore anglers
• Bayfront Park — Shoreline access for bank fishing and crabbing
• North Beach boardwalk area — Additional shoreline fishing access in the adjacent town

Regulations

Maryland's striped bass regulations are among the most carefully managed in the country. Trophy season (typically April 15 through May 15) allows one fish per person above the minimum size. Summer and fall regulations permit two fish per person within specific slot limits. These regulations are subject to annual adjustment based on stock assessments. Always check the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the most current season dates, size limits, and closures before heading out.