View Full Version : Where are the Rockfish on the lower Potomac??
FairfaxDan
10-01-2006, 11:07 PM
Where should I go to drag some lines for Rockfish on the lower Potomac, Near Point Lookout.
FairfaxDan
10-02-2006, 04:49 PM
OK..........Someone.......Knows........Something.. .......As many views as this tread has recieved.......and nobody replies?????? Come on guys I wont catch the all [smile]
rocksandblues
10-02-2006, 05:15 PM
i was going to reply yesterday but could not get away from a smart-a answer... sorry.
They are everywhere. i have found keepers all summer. After opening day just look for the fleets.
Get a chart and look for channel edges and stucture and then troll around and look for marks on your sonar. Keep your eyes peeled for working birds too. If there are marks set out your spread. nice sized rocks have a good echo and feeding arches are distinctive.
Beacon
10-02-2006, 05:30 PM
Hey FairfaxDan,
I added this thread to my favorites to watch it to see how many replies you got. I am guessing that a lot of anglers like me have been chasing stripers in skinny waters upstream, and don't know the PLO area, or have been targeting blues and Spanish, or flounder there.
Another possible reason you have no response yet is that I think you asked a similar question and got some answers a weekend ago, yet posted no report to help your fellow board members who helped you. I am fairly new to the board, but have noticed that if you post reports and participate you may even get some b mail with some help from people who do not want their honey hole overrun by all of their board friends on a given weekend.
More details about the type and size of vessel you have to fish from could help focus those who wish to give you advice.
Booking a charter with local guides can also be a good way to get started learning the area. I have picked up names of a couple who seem to have good reputations from this board and Potomac River Anglers Club board.
Try searching the board for recent reports, or even last year's. You can learn some nicknames of areas and hotspots.
Welcome, and good fishing.
Sea King
10-02-2006, 05:31 PM
In the water!
Sorry, couldn't resist...
capt. dave
10-02-2006, 06:07 PM
Fairfax, You might consider joining the Northern Neck Anglers Club. The Club is big on helping people learn about fishing in the Potomac, the main Bay and the Rappahannock. Check out their web site at www. chesapeake-fishing.com/nnac. Dave
FairfaxDan
10-02-2006, 06:57 PM
OK...OK... I admit I did leave the door WIDE open on my posting....LOL I like in the 'In the water' suggestion........I will look into the CLUB thats a great Idea. I have a 25 foot CC with a 300hp yamaha. I can carry 150 gallons of fuel so I can get around if I need to. I have been using #2 planers with spoons and red tubes rigged on PENN Slammer rods with a 330 GTI reel. I like the combo pretty good just wish the eyelet inserts were a little smoother. I did pretty good last weekend, caught a few blues of decent size around #5 just off point lookout. but I didnt hook any rockfish at all. Im new to the Potomac. Im from the other side of the NN on the Rappahannock River. I bought a place last year on the potomac so thats why I have no clue where to find fish on the lower Potomac. I'm going out again the friday, and I will post what a caught and where and what on. I've only been fishing for a few years so I have alot to learn on what to use. Thanks for all your advice!
GOOD HOOKIN!!!![grin]
catchone
10-02-2006, 08:10 PM
Why burn fuel when the big fish aren't really happening yet and you can catch all you want on a moving tide at the mouth of any creek or rock jetty one hour after dark or at sunrise. Toss rattle traps, wind cheaters or sassy shads --they will just about eat anything. Live line some baitfish if you don't like casting.
Mel
fishontackle
10-03-2006, 09:50 AM
OK Fairfax
This time of year the river is in a state of flux. One day they are breaking the surface, the next they are down low and either way most likely mixed with Blues. Most who do not want to sacrifice their tackle box to the blues are trolling the shallows or casting surface lures in the skinny water.
This pattern is about to change the the fish should begin the fall pattern. Blues and small rock will feed on the surface daily and the larger rock will hang in the lower 1/3 of the water column. Trolling and jigging will be the ticket until Thanksgiving and then heavy trolling until the season closes December 31 on the Potomac.
Good luck!
FISH ON! Petey!
Barry Pugh
10-03-2006, 10:13 AM
Fairfax, I have had the best luck for Rocks with Sassy Shads and Bucktails in thin water around #7 to Coles Point. Good luck.
Sea King
10-03-2006, 01:52 PM
check b-mail
Beacon
10-03-2006, 02:55 PM
Well, FairfaxDan, it sounds as if you have a fine boat to handle the often choppy waters of the bay or the rivah around PLO. and your tackle sounds fine. In your post re 9/30 you mentioned the Coan. Are you keeping your boat there or near PLO? There are good areas to fish on both sides. I have more recent info about the VA side, but I have not been able to get out fishing for several weeks, so you may be better off to rely on what others have told you. Fishontackle, Rocksandblues, and Barry Pugh have all given me some good general and specific info in the past. Get out and burn some of that fuel and look for birds, identify some structure, and bait concentrations. A lot of folks use channel 68 to talk about fishing. It never hurts to listen and talk. Sometimes you can learn types and depths of lures of successful fishing boats, if not the location. I am trying to make a cross reference list of online names, boat names, and radio names because they sometimes differ.
(BTW, sometimes I think you could get a lot more company, and quicker, by announcing to a friend on the radio that you are slaughtering the fish at buoy 9 (e.g.) than by sending a MAYDAY)
I've never tried either, though - never cry 'wolf'.
Hope you get some good pullage on your next trip.
Mushy
10-03-2006, 03:35 PM
FairfaxDan, It's going to be a couple more weeks before I get my boat back on the water due to the birth of our son. However, if you need a HO one day, I'll be glad to show you what I know (which isn't much) about the area. I'm having withdrawals from fishing!!! I usually keep my boat at Lewisetta, are you close to there?
BTW, what type of boat do you have?
Mushy
27' Judge
Chesapeake
'Getsome'
FairfaxDan
10-03-2006, 10:05 PM
Thanks for all the great advice....I just bought a new thermos for that hot coffee on saturday morning on the river....MAN IT IS GOING TO BE SWEET!!!![grin]
FairfaxDan
10-03-2006, 10:08 PM
MUSHY
Drop me a line by email ctsriver@yahoo.com Im on the VA side near Cod Creek. Heathsville
maycraft19
10-04-2006, 07:39 AM
Hello Fairfax Dan, I am also from the NOVA area but have a place to stay on Hack (sp) creek in Healthsville. Will be down this weekend. Plan to start by trolling planers and clarke spoons, maybe some live lining if I can catch some spot. We did ok a couple of weeks ago with the blues and stripers trolling from Smith Pt to a couple of miles up the Potomac on the VA side. I will keep an eye out for your boat this weekend.
FairfaxDan
10-05-2006, 03:43 PM
Give me a shout on channel 68 My boat name is Virgina Joy. See ya on the Rivah![smile] I cant remove the sour faced smiley!!! LOL
Mushy
10-05-2006, 07:19 PM
May want to check your spelling there Vagina Joy......LOL
Sorry, had to do it!
Mushy
Beacon
10-06-2006, 08:00 AM
Dear Mushy,
Isn't Vagina Joy your boat name?
Oh, sorry, I guess 'Getsome' could refer to fish.
Sea King
10-06-2006, 01:31 PM
how about 'In-Joy Virgina' as a name?
Mushy
10-06-2006, 03:17 PM
The phrase 'Getsome' has different meanings the older I get. Now it means getsome diapers, baby wipes, aspirin, earplugs.... Hopefully soon it will mean Getsome fish!!!!!
Mushy
Fairfax Dan, hope I didn't offend you with the comment.
fishontackle
10-10-2006, 01:52 PM
Mushy
I am glad I keep my boat names simple: Black Top, Blue Top, Red Top and No Top (I wish, that's my wife's boat).....LOL.
FISH ON! Petey!
FairfaxDan
10-10-2006, 05:16 PM
My second choice for a boat name was 'Croaker Stroker' LOL No offense taken Mushy! All in good fun!
FairfaxDan
10-12-2006, 04:28 PM
Im going to try at the mouth of the potomac, Storm umbrella rig with a inline 14oz. I will let you if I hit anything!
FairfaxDan
10-12-2006, 09:19 PM
Mushy are you going out this weekend?
Sea King
10-13-2006, 09:27 AM
I'm trying to go out Sunday. Look for hard top Bayliner 24' 'Lone Star'. Prob head to PLO and take a trip into the bay.
Mushy
10-13-2006, 11:22 AM
FF Dan, the boat is still in the driveway. Got the bow hunter fever right now! It will probably be another week before I tow her back down and put her in the slip.
How did you do deep trolling? There may be a few big fish sneaking up river. Wouldn't that be a nice suprise!!!
Mushy