Yearly trip to the chesapeake bay bridge.

[ped579]

Leaving early tomorrow for the Bay Bridge and do some fishing on Wednesday.  This will be the 4th trip and it looks to be a good one.  We fish off the Seagull Pier which is out into the bay some 3 1/2 miles and is another 660 feet off the roadway of the bay bridge tunnel.  Pretty unique.  Last year we caught an mess of croakers and sea bass pretty cool.

Look out Norfolk here we come.

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

Have a safe trip Paul. Catch em up. 

[Hunter 2]

Have fun Paul, Nice area down there. Lots of good crab shacks too.

[NJ Guy]

good luck!! try a straw rig for mackeral you wont be disapointed

[Bucktail]

Good luck!

[bassnblues]

Have fun! I'm looking forward to your report. I've been wanting to do that trip for a while.

[ChrisL]

Good luck Paul.
We're going to Va. next month and plan to hit the pier for a couple hours on the way across the bridge.

[gymrat987654321]

Good luck and have fun 

[SurfJockey]

Good luck and have a safe trip Paul! 

[Pops Soul]

Have a fun and safe trip Paul

[ChrisL]

So how was the trip Paul? 

[Kenny]

 

[Still Running]

Have a safe and fun trip Paul

[ped579]

Aloha,

This years trip was long, hot, and productive.  Sorry guys but since I got back I have been battling  the stomach virus, yuck.  Okay now but that was no fun.

We were catching croakers and blues but the red drum were sall around us, yet no one could hook up on one.  an nice 47 pounder was caught the week before yet it was not going to happen this trip.

We were ready for them and throwing everything at them from silver sides to crabs of every size and shape.  Many think that the waters were way to hot and the bite was off during the day.  The water in the bay was in the low 80's and a slight murky, they say there is a large amount of algae this year.  Who knows, all I know we did not get a big hit.

Next year, the trip will be postponed till the following year. The family and I  are going out to Hawaii again.  Man I can't wait.  We are counting down the days already.  You want to talk about large fish try fishing for marlin out there.

A Hui Hou Kakou

Paul

[ChrisL]

Sounds like a good trip 

What's the preferred bait and rigs there?  Are there pier nets available on the pier?

[ped579]

Hi Chris,

Trip was a good one. I will start with the last question first.  No there are no nets available but this year we had our own.  My uncle bought one a few weeks ago so it was there with us just iin case we landed something big.

As far as rigs go you can use the same stuff we have here.  I brought along small stuff to have fun catching the small blues and the croakers.  But for the big stuff like the drum the rig and I think you can just about answer this yourself, was everything from a F/F rig with anywhere up to a 10/0 circle hook tipped with a whole crab to just about everything in between.

We were using mullet and shrimp for bait and doing pretty good.

At one point there were a few guys that had to have about 20 poles out all cast toward the rocks and even they had no luck.  But that's okay we were there not only to fish but to have some fun and teach the next generation of fisherman what this crazy sport is all about.

This place is quite unbelievable, where else can you fish 3 1/2 miles from shore and still be on solid ground or should I say pier.  Plus close enough to see a nuclear sub go by and see the crew on deck.

It is worth a visit just once, but I bet the experience will bring anyone back for more.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Pops Soul]

Glad to hear all is going well and everyone is having a good time Paul, hope you got a few pics of the Sub 

[ped579]

Sorry Skip no pictures.  It was so hot out there that I did not want to bring the cameras along.  All I can say if uou are traveling south and going across the CBBT bridges take time out and visit the pier.

Going south once you go through the second tunnel right as you get out put your blinker on and get ready to turn right.  The turn off is right there.  Very easy to pass up.

Another thing that was cool was watching a couple of fast boats crusing with NAvy SEALS on board.  I am sure they were sweeping the channel for what ever.  We found out that the Big E was due in port on that Friday so every motel room was taken and Norfolk was all a buzz with excitement.

[Kenny]

A very unique type of fishing trip there Paul, Sounds like a good time