As of October 26, 2024, the Chesapeake Bay is buzzing with activity, making it a great time to get out on the water. Here’s what you need to know:

**Weather and Tides:**
The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-60s, perfect for a day of fishing. Tides are moderate, with high tide around 9:30 AM and low tide around 3:30 PM, which should provide good conditions for both shallow and deep water fishing.

**Sunrise and Sunset:**
Sunrise is at 7:24 AM, and sunset is at 6:04 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to fish your favorite spots.

**Fish Activity:**
Yesterday saw a lot of action across the Bay. Striped bass, also known as rockfish, were active in several areas. Anglers reported good catches at the Conowingo Dam pool and the lower Susquehanna River, where water temperatures have dropped into the low 60s. The mouth of the Patapsco River and the inner harbor around Baltimore were also hot spots, with fish biting on umbrella rigs and soft plastics.

In the lower Bay, speckled trout and puppy drum were biting well inside Lynnhaven Inlet. Striped bass, bluefish, and flounder were also active, with many anglers using standard two-wire bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp or jigs with paddle tails.

**Best Lures and Bait:**
For striped bass, using eels or soft plastics like 5-inch diesel minnows on jig heads has been very effective. Popping corks with shrimp lures and topwater baits like twitch baits are also working well, especially around structure and shallow waters.

For speckled trout and puppy drum, jerkbaits and Mirr-o-lures are top choices. Fresh shrimp and bloodworms on two-wire bottom rigs are also producing good results.

**Hot Spots:**
- The mouth of the Patapsco River: This area is seeing a lot of striped bass action, especially with umbrella rigs and soft plastics.
- Lynnhaven Inlet: This is a great spot for speckled trout and puppy drum, using jerkbaits and fresh shrimp.
- The inner harbor around Baltimore: Structure like piers and pilings are attracting striped bass and other species.
- The lower Susquehanna River: Good for striped bass and blue catfish, especially near the turbine wash areas.

Overall, it's a great time to be out on the Chesapeake Bay, with a variety of species biting and plenty of opportunities to catch some impressive fish.