One of the best trips I have had out of Kent Island was on Tuna the Tide with Captain Grasso. We departed the dock and ran down the Chester River past Love Point to the mouth of the Magothy River. There the captain put out a spread of trolling lures, and we began to pick at the rockfish.
At this point Captain Grasso saw a large school of rockfish under the boat. The trolling lures were quickly brought in, and we broke out soft plastic jigs. Being naturally contrary, I used a two-ounce Stingsilver. I never claim to be a better fisherman that anyone else, but my Stingsilver was catching a larger class of rockfish. There is no question I caught the pool-winning fish, but unfortunately for me, there was no pool.
While we enjoyed a steady catch of rockfish, the boats around us continued to troll. Why none of them started jigging I will never know. We put a limit of rockfish in the box and headed back to the dock in time for the old folks to take a nap before lunch.
Speaking of lunch, there is no lack of good restaurants on Kent Island. I have eaten at a half dozen or more and never had a bad meal. One of my favorite meals is a big plate of steamed soft clams. Of course I am also partial to soft crabs, steamed crabs, and crab cakes.
On another trip from Kent Island I accompanied a charter captain along with his paying party. This time we trolled near Baltimore Light with the usual charter boat gear. This is heavier than what we used on the Tuna the Tide because when you have a party of inexperienced anglers, you want to make sure any fish you hook makes it to the boat. We had a decent pick of rockfish and blues on this trip, and the party was all smiles when we hit the dock.
Then there was the trip with a few local captains and mates who were fishing in a dealer-sponsored tournament. We set up to chum near Love Point, and once the fish started to come onboard, the trash talk began. I was laughing so hard because they weren’t directing their barbs at me. I was just the poor reporter they offered to take along.
While we were catching a steady pick of rockfish, one of the guys connected with a seven-pound bluefish that ended up being the largest blue in the contest. I tried to convince them that having me along was good luck. I don’t think I succeeded.
While charter boats are the best way to assure catching some fish, there are six boat ramps on Kent Island should you decide on a do-it-yourself trip. You will need a parking permit from Queen Anne’s County that is available at several bait and tackle shops in the area.
Two fishing piers on Kent Island also provide fishing access. Matapeake Pier is on the western side of the island with access to the Chesapeake Bay. This is also a launch site for boaters. The Romancoke Pier provides access on the eastern side of the island and has a launch ramp for kayaks and canoes.
If you are the kind of angler who doesn’t mind losing a bit of sleep, there are some good light-tackle and fly fishing opportunities all around Kent Island. The key to success here is being on the water at sunup. Most top-water lures will draw strikes along with soft paddle-tail swimmers. Work the shoreline in Eastern Bay and the smaller creeks looking for nervous water as baitfish try to elude hungry rockfish and blues.
In the fall there will be top-water action in the open Bay. The blues and rockfish will be feeding before heading south, and the action can be outstanding.
To find out all about restaurants, lodging, and charter boats simply type Kent Island, MD, on your Google page. Everything you need to plan a fishing trip will be right there.
by Eric Burnley
Tuesday, August 29, 2017 - 17:16
Kent Island is best known for the traffic jams that build up on the weekends as people try to get back to the Western Shore after a vacation on the Eastern Shore, Ocean City, or Rehoboth Beach. Perhaps you have noticed all the boats tied up at several marinas under and alongside the Kent Narrows Bridge. Some of those are charter boats, and they can take you on an exciting fishing adventure.
One of the best trips I have had out of Kent Island was on Tuna the Tide with Captain Grasso. We departed the dock and ran down the Chester River past Love Point to the mouth of the Magothy River. There the captain put out a spread of trolling lures, and we began to pick at the rockfish.
At this point Captain Grasso saw a large school of rockfish under the boat. The trolling lures were quickly brought in, and we broke out soft plastic jigs. Being naturally contrary, I used a two-ounce Stingsilver. I never claim to be a better fisherman that anyone else, but my Stingsilver was catching a larger class of rockfish. There is no question I caught the pool-winning fish, but unfortunately for me, there was no pool.
While we enjoyed a steady catch of rockfish, the boats around us continued to troll. Why none of them started jigging I will never know. We put a limit of rockfish in the box and headed back to the dock in time for the old folks to take a nap before lunch.
Speaking of lunch, there is no lack of good restaurants on Kent Island. I have eaten at a half dozen or more and never had a bad meal. One of my favorite meals is a big plate of steamed soft clams. Of course I am also partial to soft crabs, steamed crabs, and crab cakes.
On another trip from Kent Island I accompanied a charter captain along with his paying party. This time we trolled near Baltimore Light with the usual charter boat gear. This is heavier than what we used on the Tuna the Tide because when you have a party of inexperienced anglers, you want to make sure any fish you hook makes it to the boat. We had a decent pick of rockfish and blues on this trip, and the party was all smiles when we hit the dock.
Then there was the trip with a few local captains and mates who were fishing in a dealer-sponsored tournament. We set up to chum near Love Point, and once the fish started to come onboard, the trash talk began. I was laughing so hard because they weren’t directing their barbs at me. I was just the poor reporter they offered to take along.
While we were catching a steady pick of rockfish, one of the guys connected with a seven-pound bluefish that ended up being the largest blue in the contest. I tried to convince them that having me along was good luck. I don’t think I succeeded.
While charter boats are the best way to assure catching some fish, there are six boat ramps on Kent Island should you decide on a do-it-yourself trip. You will need a parking permit from Queen Anne’s County that is available at several bait and tackle shops in the area.
Two fishing piers on Kent Island also provide fishing access. Matapeake Pier is on the western side of the island with access to the Chesapeake Bay. This is also a launch site for boaters. The Romancoke Pier provides access on the eastern side of the island and has a launch ramp for kayaks and canoes.
If you are the kind of angler who doesn’t mind losing a bit of sleep, there are some good light-tackle and fly fishing opportunities all around Kent Island. The key to success here is being on the water at sunup. Most top-water lures will draw strikes along with soft paddle-tail swimmers. Work the shoreline in Eastern Bay and the smaller creeks looking for nervous water as baitfish try to elude hungry rockfish and blues.
In the fall there will be top-water action in the open Bay. The blues and rockfish will be feeding before heading south, and the action can be outstanding.
To find out all about restaurants, lodging, and charter boats simply type Kent Island, MD, on your Google page. Everything you need to plan a fishing trip will be right there.
by Eric Burnley
One of the best trips I have had out of Kent Island was on Tuna the Tide with Captain Grasso. We departed the dock and ran down the Chester River past Love Point to the mouth of the Magothy River. There the captain put out a spread of trolling lures, and we began to pick at the rockfish.
At this point Captain Grasso saw a large school of rockfish under the boat. The trolling lures were quickly brought in, and we broke out soft plastic jigs. Being naturally contrary, I used a two-ounce Stingsilver. I never claim to be a better fisherman that anyone else, but my Stingsilver was catching a larger class of rockfish. There is no question I caught the pool-winning fish, but unfortunately for me, there was no pool.
While we enjoyed a steady catch of rockfish, the boats around us continued to troll. Why none of them started jigging I will never know. We put a limit of rockfish in the box and headed back to the dock in time for the old folks to take a nap before lunch.
Speaking of lunch, there is no lack of good restaurants on Kent Island. I have eaten at a half dozen or more and never had a bad meal. One of my favorite meals is a big plate of steamed soft clams. Of course I am also partial to soft crabs, steamed crabs, and crab cakes.
On another trip from Kent Island I accompanied a charter captain along with his paying party. This time we trolled near Baltimore Light with the usual charter boat gear. This is heavier than what we used on the Tuna the Tide because when you have a party of inexperienced anglers, you want to make sure any fish you hook makes it to the boat. We had a decent pick of rockfish and blues on this trip, and the party was all smiles when we hit the dock.
Then there was the trip with a few local captains and mates who were fishing in a dealer-sponsored tournament. We set up to chum near Love Point, and once the fish started to come onboard, the trash talk began. I was laughing so hard because they weren’t directing their barbs at me. I was just the poor reporter they offered to take along.
While we were catching a steady pick of rockfish, one of the guys connected with a seven-pound bluefish that ended up being the largest blue in the contest. I tried to convince them that having me along was good luck. I don’t think I succeeded.
While charter boats are the best way to assure catching some fish, there are six boat ramps on Kent Island should you decide on a do-it-yourself trip. You will need a parking permit from Queen Anne’s County that is available at several bait and tackle shops in the area.
Two fishing piers on Kent Island also provide fishing access. Matapeake Pier is on the western side of the island with access to the Chesapeake Bay. This is also a launch site for boaters. The Romancoke Pier provides access on the eastern side of the island and has a launch ramp for kayaks and canoes.
If you are the kind of angler who doesn’t mind losing a bit of sleep, there are some good light-tackle and fly fishing opportunities all around Kent Island. The key to success here is being on the water at sunup. Most top-water lures will draw strikes along with soft paddle-tail swimmers. Work the shoreline in Eastern Bay and the smaller creeks looking for nervous water as baitfish try to elude hungry rockfish and blues.
In the fall there will be top-water action in the open Bay. The blues and rockfish will be feeding before heading south, and the action can be outstanding.
To find out all about restaurants, lodging, and charter boats simply type Kent Island, MD, on your Google page. Everything you need to plan a fishing trip will be right there.
by Eric Burnley