When I was a kid, we had a shed in the yard and there was a bunch of lures in there. I have no idea what happened to them, but I would like to have them now. They’re probably antiques. My mom told me that her Greek father used to take a cast net down to the water and get a net full of silver minnows. He’d bring them home and put olive oil in a frying pan and fry them and eat them like French fries. Spirit is spot on about the Chesapeake Bluefish. If they are feeding on a school of fish, you can cast anything shinny with a hook in the middle of them and get instant hits. Just like fishing in a barrel. Stripers are the same at night under the lights where I worked. They would swim in a constant swirl in the light and casting a lure got the same result. Lots of fun!

I married a Cheerleader. Close to that type. We’ve been divorced 24 years. I’ll choose saltwater!

I’ve been retired 6 years now. I worked at a coal export terminal. I was a Associate Accountant at a Bethlehem Steel Shipyard from 1974-1989. I could see the end of road coming, so I applied at the new Coal terminal that had just opened in 1984. They were slow in hiring, so I didn’t get hired until 1989. I accepted a job working outside until the position I was opting for opened up in the Control Room. I’m sure I shoveled a ship load of coal over the next 23 years. I moved inside after 7 years, but still had to work outside when needed. My last 2 years, I finally got the inside job permanently. I qualified on all of the equipment at the terminal and would do anything from running a dozer, front end loader, locomotive, tandem coal car dumper, stacker/ reclaimer and ship loader. It was a big difference from accounting work, but it paid the bills. I’m getting my fishing gear cleaned up and getting ready to fish again after many years of helping my folks. Lost my mom in October, and sold my house and moved since then. I have a lot of spots on the Chesapeake Bay that I need to revisit. I don’t miss the shift work and 12 hour days at all.

You’re going to need a bigger boat!

On the Chesapeake, we use peeler crab or soft crab pieces. I like the suggestion of the kastmaster too. I love those and I have them in all sizes. They’ve worked well for me in the past and you don’t have to worry about bait. If they’re schooling off shore, they’ll hit almost anything shiny. Good luck.

I look forward to seeing your post everyday. I start my day by opening fishingstage each morning. I haven’t been fishing in years and I’m going to get back to it one of these days. I spent the last 20 years helping my aging parents. I lost my Dad 10 years ago and spent all of my free time caring for my Mom. I just lost her this past October while I was in the middle of down sizing to a apartment. I’ve been retired for 6 years now and fully intend to get back to the Chesapeake Bay. My parents lived on the bay for 68 years. My brother and I have the house now and thanks to the COVID-19, I have been home bound waiting for the all clear. Fishingstage is my inspiration to get the gear wet again. Keep up the great stories and tips. I look forward to starting my day that way.

I’ve lived my entire life on a creek off of the Patapsco River. The Patapsco River goes from the Chesapeake Bay into the City of Baltimore. I have fished all over the bay my whole life, but gave it up some time ago to take care of my aging parents. I’m about to start fishing again, and I enjoy all of the tips and stories I read in this forum every day. I’m looking forward to keeping up and sharing with everyone.