A little help here.....im skunked!*****FISH ON!!!******

[JRA]

I just started salt fly fishing and In 2 trips I have yet to catch 1 fish......im skunked! I am fishing the Chesapeake bay area. Ive tried 20 ft to 3 ft of water , drop offs , night time with bait fish everywhere. Ive been using Chart and white dna Clousers , white and glow in the dark orange , surf candy, decievers , etc.
Can some pass along a little advice to a newbie?? My current line in a sinking tip.

[dudley]

Hard to catch anything if there's no fish around.
Around here the water is just recently cooled enough for stripers to make a return.
Albies, bonito, and blues are around in good numbers but travel in pods and schools
Fishing blind works in the early season but this time of year, game fish are schooled up and following schools of bait fish.
You need to find bait that's being harassed by predators
It's usually pretty obvious.
I always keep an eye on the birds this time of year, gulls in particular
The presence of terns and cormorants will show you that there's bait around.
Gulls on the other hand usually rely on game fish to do their dirty work
If I see 5 or 6 gulls just sitting on the water, I'll hang around and wait too.
Something either just happened or they're waiting for something to happen
When I see a few gulls flying low in the same direction I'll follow.
I'll watch single gulls while they're scouting. Often they'll hover and give and area a good look. They might be looking at a crab or a piece of flotsam, then again they may be looking at a game fish.
In the late season it's feast or famine, there's either fish or there's not
In the spring it's "find the bait and you've found the fish".
In the fall there's more to it.

[rookie]

What part of the Bay are you fishing, Upper, middle or lower? If you are fishing middle and have access to a boat, I may be able to offer some tips, not sure though.

[JRA]

What part of the Bay are you fishing, Upper, middle or lower? If you are fishing middle and have access to a boat, I may be able to offer some tips, not sure though.

Id consider the area I fish the Middle bay and Ive been fishing the Tanger area - Manokin River & Coulbourne creek . Yes I have a boat ,its a old beater but it gets the job done.

I might try tommorrow on the Manokin again at Teagues Creek perhaps around 6 -7 am if the tides right and I get off work early

[rookie]

Are you anywhere close to Solomons Island?

I just looked. Are you between Salsbury and Ocean City?

[JRA]

Are you anywhere close to Solomons Island?

I just looked. Are you between Salsbury and Ocean City?

Yep Im between Oc and Salisbury. Salomons Island is across the bay .

[rookie]

I am going to feel bad about this. Most of my Bay fishing has been done around the Solomons area. I don't know if this will help much but my luck this time of year and later has been on the main part of the Bay and closer to channels. You will never go wrong fishing a medium to fast sinking line and also using a Clouser minnow. I am sorry I can't be of more help. Hopefully someone from that area will come along and give you better advise.

[JRA]

What depths do you think the rock are hanging when not busting bait fish? Im thinking the end of the month may draw them into shallow water.

[rookie]

JRA, Somewhere in the 30 + or - range. A little later, even deeper. It doesn't mean there wouldn't be some in the shallows but you nailed it when you said things had to be right, tide as well as other factors.

[mdram]

i think its just bad luck