Chesapeake Bay fishing forecast
Chesapeake Bay is a saltwater fishing spot in Virginia/Maryland, United States. Anglers here target Striped Bass, Bluefish, Red Drum, Weakfish. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, September, October, November.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #211 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending down — 6 points below this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 16.8 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 32 km/h from NNE |
| Wave height | 0.4 m at 3 s |
| Current | 0.10 m/s toward SSW |
| Pressure | 1020 hPa |
| Depth | 12 m |
| Cloud cover | 0% |
| Chlorophyll | 3.69 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 9.7 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 10 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.5 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 0.1 m at 3 s from NNE |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.10 → 0.00 m/s |
Nearest buoy: Stingray Point, VA (16 km): water 16.8 °C, waves 0.4 m
The water here is 3.8 °C cooler than the October average of 20.6 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay currently scores 72 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 16.8 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Current +18.0
- moving water concentrates bait
- Chlorophyll +12.6
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
- Gust factor +3.0
- gustiness versus steady wind
What’s biting now
The model expects today: striped-bass, bluefish, weakfish, red-drum, scup, tautog, bluefin-tuna, flathead-grey-mullet
[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately
Bite windows
Best months for Chesapeake Bay:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-09-23, 82/100
26 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
6 points below the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 12 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore ground
What you can catch
-
Morone saxatilis
-
Pomatomus saltatrix
-
Sciaenops ocellatus
-
Cynoscion regalis
Best months by species at Chesapeake Bay
| Striped BassMorone saxatilis | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BluefishPomatomus saltatrix | ||||||||||||
| Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus | ||||||||||||
| WeakfishCynoscion regalis |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Drum | 1/day | 45.7–68.6 cm slot | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Federal waters Gulf of Mexico: 1 fish/day, 18–27" slot. Atlantic federal rules differ. | |||
| Striped Bass | 1/day | 71.1–78.7 cm slot | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Federal Atlantic EEZ: 1 fish, 28–31" slot limit. State waters have separate rules. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.
Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.
FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.
Check Chesapeake Bay before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 257 km of Chesapeake Bay.
-
Norfolk Virginia Beach
James River VA
Potomac River MD
Ocean City Maryland Offshore
Delaware Bay
Kerr Lake VA
Shenandoah River Virginia
Outer Banks North Carolina
Cape Hatteras NC
Hatteras Inlet NC
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Chesapeake Bay?
Anglers at Chesapeake Bay target Striped Bass, Bluefish, Red Drum and Weakfish.
When is the best time to fish Chesapeake Bay?
The most productive months at Chesapeake Bay are typically April, May, June, September, October, November.
What is the fishing forecast for Chesapeake Bay right now?
Chesapeake Bay currently scores 72 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Is the thermocline set up at Chesapeake Bay right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Chesapeake Bay?
The scored point sits over roughly 12 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Striped BassHow to Catch BluefishHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.