| Virginia saltwater fishing becomes more than | | | | |
| just a pastime when May brings the spring | | | | Fishing in Virginia in the early season is |
| weather back - it becomes a way of life. In | | | | particularly good in the Smith Point area, |
| the month of May, the anglers at and around | | | | located at the uppermost portion of |
| Chesapeake bay begin to rejoice and | | | | Virginia's western shore. This is a |
| congregate as the large game fish specimens | | | | peninsula referred to as the Northern Neck, |
| begin to filter into the largest estuary in | | | | which is perfectly situated for the |
| North America in numbers that seem like an | | | | interception of the infuse of fish returning |
| impossibility. Most of the saltwater fishing | | | | from the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and |
| anglers are looking to the south, where red | | | | Maryland's bay waters after their spawning is |
| and black drum are returning from winters in | | | | completed. Interestingly enough, because of |
| southern waters. However, there are still a | | | | the setup of licenses for Virginia saltwater |
| number of individuals anxiously awaiting the | | | | fishing and Maryland fishing, when the waters |
| migration of striped bass from the north to | | | | are cooler and striper don't return to the |
| infuse the Bay with their great numbers. | | | | southern waters as soon as normally expected, |
| | | | anglers from Virginia are allowed to fish the |
| Having just completed their yearly spawning | | | | waters of Maryland, which are already quite |
| rituals in the upper reaches of the Bay | | | | productive in terms of quantity of striped |
| tributaries, this species return in mass | | | | bass available. |
| quantities and sizes reaching 40 inches that | | | | |
| make anglers giddy with anticipation. Of | | | | Trolling tends to be the most popular and |
| course, there are severe restrictions through | | | | productive method of saltwater fishing for |
| the first six weeks of Virginia fishing for | | | | striped bass, since they are moving rapidly |
| striped bass that make the early season | | | | and not holding in one place for long. |
| difficult to comply with, considering the | | | | Menhaden are the preferred bait, as well, and |
| itchy feeling anglers get at the thought of | | | | if fresh fish cannot be found, use lures that |
| reeling in a huge catch. From May 1st | | | | imitate these, including bucktails and spoons |
| through the 15th, there is a Virginia fishing | | | | in similar sizes. Preferred coloring is |
| mandate on the stripers, limiting the catch | | | | white or chartreuse. You might first try the |
| to one fish per person with a minimum length | | | | main shipping channel down the bay, where the |
| of 32 inches. From the 16th through the 15th | | | | water is warmer, trolling along the edges at |
| of June, the limit per person is two fish | | | | staggered depths between the surface and |
| between 18 and 28 inches or one of this size | | | | twenty feet, though this is simply a |
| accompanied by one fish at least 32 inches in | | | | suggestion and not a guarantee of productive |
| length. | | | | Virginia saltwater fishing for stripers. |