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Bield:Fish
Inshore migration calendar

Chesapeake Bay (Lower) migration calendar.

Mid-AtlanticVirginia7 species tracked

The Lower Chesapeake is one of the most species-rich inshore fisheries on the Atlantic Coast — striped bass, cobia, red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish all stack up around the Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the mouth of the bay through the warm months. The May–June Chesapeake cobia run is one of the most distinctive migration events on the East Coast.

Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year over year with water temperature, weather, and bait movement. Cross-reference with NOAA marine forecast and a local source before planning a trip.

What's running now — May

7 active species

Auto-updated based on the current month. The planning section that matters for trips this week.

Chesapeake Bay (Lower) hotspots

Productive locations
  • Bay Bridge Tunnel structure
  • Mouth of the Potomac
  • Fisherman's Island
  • Buoys 36/42
Active this month
  • BluefishPeak
  • CobiaPeak
  • Red DrumPeak
  • Striped BassGood
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • Summer FlounderGood

All species — sorted by current month

  • BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering offshore. Typical water temp: 42–50°FFeb — Absent Few fish present. Typical water temp: 44–50°FMar — Possible First spring arrivals possible in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 50–56°FApr — Good Spring run beginning; chopping bunker in the bays. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMay — Peak Peak spring run — choppers in bays and along beaches. Typical water temp: 60–68°FJun — Good Spring run thinning as fish push north. Typical water temp: 66–74°FJul — Fair Resident summer fish; numbers down from spring. Typical water temp: 72–80°FAug — Fair Same — scattered summer fish. Typical water temp: 74–82°FSep — Good Fall return with cooling water and bait. Typical water temp: 66–74°FOct — Peak Peak fall blues with bait migrations through the bays. Typical water temp: 58–66°FNov — Good Fall run continuing south; biggest fish of the year. Typical water temp: 52–60°FDec — Possible Last stragglers leaving the region. Typical water temp: 46–54°F
    Best months: May · October

    Peak spring run — choppers in bays and along beaches.

    Top lures: Metal-lipped poppers, Diamond jigs, Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
    Full Bluefish calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)
  • CobiaRachycentron canadum
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering off FL. Typical water temp: 44–52°FFeb — Absent Same. Typical water temp: 46–52°FMar — Absent Spring migration not yet here. Typical water temp: 50–58°FApr — Possible Earliest fish at the mouth of the Bay. Typical water temp: 58–64°FMay — Peak Cobia run begins — fish following rays into Chesapeake. Typical water temp: 64–72°FJun — Peak Peak Chesapeake cobia season — sight fishing on flats and bridge structures. Typical water temp: 72–78°FJul — Good Resident fish through summer. Typical water temp: 76–82°FAug — Good Same — fish on buoys and structure. Typical water temp: 78–82°FSep — Fair Fall departure begins. Typical water temp: 72–78°FOct — Possible Most fish gone south. Typical water temp: 64–72°FNov — Absent Departed. Typical water temp: 56–64°FDec — Absent Wintering south. Typical water temp: 50–56°F
    Best months: May · June

    Cobia run begins — fish following rays into Chesapeake.

    Top lures: Live eels, Bucktail jigs, Whole crab on bottom
    Full Cobia calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)
  • Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Wintering schools in deep marsh holes and channels. Typical water temp: 42–50°FFeb — Fair Same — pre-spawn fish staging. Typical water temp: 44–52°FMar — Good Spring movement back to flats — pre-spawn schools. Typical water temp: 50–58°FApr — Good Big drum on the flats; spawning aggregations forming. Typical water temp: 58–64°FMay — Peak Spawn underway; bull reds in inlets. Typical water temp: 64–70°FJun — Good Resident fish on flats; spawn winding down. Typical water temp: 70–76°FJul — Good Tailing fish on summer flats. Typical water temp: 76–82°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–84°FSep — Peak Fall bull red schools forming on beaches and inlets. Typical water temp: 72–78°FOct — Peak Peak fall drum season — Outer Banks bull red blitz. Typical water temp: 64–72°FNov — Good Bull schools dispersing as water cools. Typical water temp: 56–64°FDec — Fair Fish moving to wintering holes. Typical water temp: 48–56°F
    Best months: May · September · October

    Spawn underway; bull reds in inlets.

    Top lures: Live mullet under popping cork, Cut mullet on bottom, Gold spoons
    Full Red Drum calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)
  • Striped BassMorone saxatilis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Resident bay fish in deep channel water; some holdover migration fish. Typical water temp: 38–46°FFeb — Good Pre-spawn fish staging at bay mouth; late winter trophy fishery on big migratory fish. Typical water temp: 40–48°FMar — Peak Spring trophy season — pre-spawn migrants stage at the mouth of the Bay. Typical water temp: 44–52°FApr — Peak Spring spawn moving up the rivers. Trophy fish and migrating bass throughout. Typical water temp: 50–58°FMay — Good Post-spawn fish recovering; migration continuing north out of the Bay. Typical water temp: 56–64°FJun — Fair Resident summer bass on structure; larger migrants gone north. Typical water temp: 64–72°FJul — Fair Hot water pushes fish to deeper channels and the cooler bay mouth. Typical water temp: 70–78°FAug — Fair Same hot-water pattern. Early/late tide and structure focus. Typical water temp: 72–80°FSep — Good Cooling water reactivates resident fish and brings southbound migrants back. Typical water temp: 64–72°FOct — Peak Fall run — bait migrations through the Bay produce blitz conditions. Typical water temp: 56–64°FNov — Peak Peak fall striper season. Big fish on bait throughout the Bay. Typical water temp: 50–58°FDec — Good Late season fish pushing south but resident bay fish still active. Typical water temp: 42–50°F
    Best months: March · April · October · November

    Post-spawn fish recovering; migration continuing north out of the Bay.

    Top lures: Live menhaden, Soft plastic shads on jigheads, Bucktail jigs
    Full Striped Bass calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)
  • Speckled TroutCynoscion nebulosus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Sub-50 water; fish in deepest holes if present at all. Typical water temp: 40–48°FFeb — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 42–50°FMar — Fair Fish becoming active as water warms. Typical water temp: 50–58°FApr — Good Spring trout return to grass flats. Typical water temp: 58–64°FMay — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 64–70°FJun — Good Summer pattern — flats at dawn and dusk. Typical water temp: 70–76°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 76–82°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–84°FSep — Good Cooler water reactivates flats fishing. Typical water temp: 72–78°FOct — Good Strong fall fishing — fish feeding heavily. Typical water temp: 64–72°FNov — Fair Fish moving to deeper water as cold fronts arrive. Typical water temp: 56–62°FDec — Fair Wintering pattern in deep marsh holes. Typical water temp: 46–54°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Strong spring fishing.

    Top lures: Soft plastic paddletails on jigheads, MirrOlure suspending plugs, Live shrimp under popping cork
    Full Speckled Trout calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)
  • Summer FlounderParalichthys dentatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Offshore wintering. Typical water temp: 42–48°FFeb — Absent Same. Typical water temp: 44–50°FMar — Possible Earliest fish in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 48–54°FApr — Fair Spring fluke arriving in bays and inlets. Typical water temp: 54–60°FMay — Good Spring inshore — fluke on sand bottoms. Typical water temp: 58–66°FJun — Peak Peak summer fluke — channels, drops, and back bays. Typical water temp: 66–74°FJul — Peak Same — best time for doormat-class fish. Typical water temp: 72–80°FAug — Good Summer fluke fishing solid. Typical water temp: 74–80°FSep — Good Fall offshore migration begins. Typical water temp: 68–74°FOct — Fair Last of the season inshore. Typical water temp: 60–66°FNov — Absent Fish have moved offshore. Typical water temp: 52–58°FDec — Absent Offshore. Typical water temp: 46–52°F
    Best months: June · July

    Spring inshore — fluke on sand bottoms.

    Top lures: Bucktail tipped with squid or Gulp!, Spro Bucktail Jig + curly tail, Live killifish (mummichog)
    Full Summer Flounder calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)
  • Black DrumPogonias cromis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore. Typical water temp: 42–50°FFeb — Fair Pre-spawn fish arriving. Typical water temp: 44–52°FMar — Peak Spring black drum spawn — Delaware Bay, Cape Charles inlets. Typical water temp: 52–58°FApr — Peak Peak spring spawn — big fish in inlets. Typical water temp: 58–64°FMay — Good Spawn winding down; fish dispersing. Typical water temp: 64–70°FJun — Fair Resident fish on structure. Typical water temp: 70–76°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 76–80°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 76–82°FSep — Good Fall feeding before departure. Typical water temp: 70–76°FOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 62–68°FNov — Fair Fish moving offshore. Typical water temp: 54–60°FDec — Possible Most fish offshore. Typical water temp: 48–54°F
    Best months: March · April

    Spawn winding down; fish dispersing.

    Top lures: Whole blue crab on bottom, Live shrimp, Cut clam
    Full Black Drum calendar for Chesapeake Bay (Lower)

Month-by-month — top 5 species

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Striped Bass
Red Drum
Bluefish
Speckled Trout
Summer Flounder
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Bluefish in Chesapeake Bay (Lower)

Spring choppers arrive April–May with the bunker, push north through June. Resident summer fish thinned out; fall return September–November tracks bait migrations through the bays.

Cobia in Chesapeake Bay (Lower)

The Chesapeake cobia run is one of the iconic spring saltwater migrations on the East Coast. Fish arrive following cownose rays into the Bay in May and stay through summer; depart by October.

Red Drum in Chesapeake Bay (Lower)

Resident year-round in the Lower Chesapeake and VA Eastern Shore; major spawning aggregations form in inlets in spring and fall bull red schools push to the beach September–November.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone ANZ630

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for Chesapeake Bay (Lower).

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

Download Bield: Fish
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