Mid-Chesapeake Weekend

[Mikebe]

Ok, this weekend on the Chesapeake is looking good. Sunny Saturday and Sunday, highs in the upper 60's, winds 5 - 10 knots. Perfect weather for the new Mac owners on the Chesapeake to get out and have some fun after all the bad weather we've had.

I'm planning my first expedition this weekend...not far, couple of hours sailing in a light breeze to a marina called Pirates Cove. 36 bucks for an overnight transient slip, and I've heard the resturant is nice. Also heard the Rock fishing season starts on the bay this weekend, so the activity should be picking up all over the place. Never fished for Rock fish before, not even sure what a Rock Fish is...but I'll be fishing for one this weekend!

Have a great weekend, all...

[kmclemore]

Is this the place, Mike?

[Mikebe]

Yes, that's it.

Check it out

[blueskiesup]

First off I'm super jealous! We plan to get our MacX into the water for our first season on the Bay this year also. We keep it in Rock Hall, MD (across from Baltimore just north of the Bay Bridge). We're still doing some initial overhaul work, bottom paint, electrical system, etc. I'm going to push to get in the water by late May!!! That is terrible, it almost makes me cry… I’ve been putting in some work over the winter but I'm almost always out of town for work, and I’m heading to China for 6 days tomorrow afternoon…

You're right it's "Tournament Rock Fish Season" on the Chesapeake! The big boys are heading back down to the Bay for the summer season. By the way, a Rock Fish is a Striped Bass or a Striper or a Sea Bass...

In late April you can get the big ones, 45" or so. You're only allowed one per person during the tournament season but they sure are fun to catch. You need to troll to catch them this time of year, if you see the fleet of charter boats trolling a certain spot you can be sure the migration of Rock Fish is near that spot. They love to feed early... in my experience they quit by 8 or 9am every day.

Later in the summer you can "chunk" (pole in the water, chunk of fish on the end and wait) for smaller Rock Fish in the 20" range but the big guys won't return until the fall.

Last year I went out the last weekend of April and caught some monsters, we hit our limit in 2 hours (6men = 6fish) and we were home before the women were even out of bed...

I've got a trip chartered out of Rock Hall, MD for the last week of the month again. I'll land at Dulles at 8PM on Friday night after my 13 hr. flight, then drive to Rock Hall (2hrs.) to meet my buddies for a 4am wakeup call. I'll be on Beijing time so I'll be wide awake until noon!

Please share your first experience. I plan on doing a week down and back up the Bay this summer and Pirate's Cove is on the plan... Let me reiterate... I'm so jealous! Have fun this weekend!

Respectfully,

Greg

[DAVEWVU86]

I'm supposed to go pick up my "new" 2005 M in two weeks! Hopefully I'll be on the water by either the 11th or 18th. I'm heading to the Northern Neck to do some fishing this evening. Planning on kayaking and fishing some creeks tomorrow and hopefully chasing some strippers on Sunday. I've gotta go talk one of the neighbors into taking me out as I'm boatless until I pick up my Mac

I'll be sailing out of Wicomico Church, VA if any of you will be around in mid or late May I'd love to meet up. The Mac is my first boat and any pointers will be great.

Dave

[c130king]

I hear ya! Norfolk weather this weekend is perfect.

I am sailing this 4-5 hours this afternoon as soon as my bud gets over here.

Then 5-6 hours tomorrow when my brother and his wife drive down from DC. Probably sail them to downtown Norfolk where we can dock and walk to a restaurant.

And then 7-8 hours Sunday when a couple of other buds and I go out into the lower Chesapeake for the first time and then make the turn in towards Langley AFB. Call this a practice run for next weekend when we will go up there and watch the big Airshow from the water.

Can't wait.

Jim

[Frank C]

Good on ya, Jim! We've watched the Navy fliers over Golden Gate 3 years now, during Fleet Week. If you're going to anchor-out, remember to try using a bridle on your anchor line. It will hold the boat in a dramatically shorter swing arc, from 130 degrees down to 35 or 45. You can search on "bridle" for earlier threads.

Unsure about the 26M, but a 26X anchored among keelboats looks like a colt in a paddock of mares.

[Mikebe]

Weather report keep getting better...now mid 70's Saturday and possibly low 80's Sunday. 10-15 knot winds Sunday. Don't know know how it could get any better than that.

Greg, sorry you had to go to China and miss this weather, but heck, a trip to China doesn't sound that bad...rent yourself a junkboat while your over there an go out and harpoon one o' them 600 lbs chinese catfish...send pics.

If I catch a decent rockfish I'll post a pic...but what I'd really like to do is get down to the James river and snag one of those big blue cats. I hear their up to 60+ lbs now.

[c130king]

Mikebe,

If you get down to the James River in the next 8 weeks or so let me know. That is where I am doing most of my sailing. I return to Georgia (so that I can then move to London) on 15 June.

Today we had great winds. Sailed about 5 miles on a broad reach averaging 5-6 mph for an hour right down the line of all the ships of the Atlantic Fleet in port at Norfolk. We were being overtaken by a naval vessel so we did a quick box pattern to allow it to pass us. It was the DDG-81 USS Winston Churchill. It went right by us. Very cool.

I plan on sailing up the James River about 25 miles during one of the coming weekends to go sail around the ship "bone yard". You can see them on Google Earth. Probably 20-30 ships moored in the river in "mothballs". Should be pretty interesting.

Also plan on a weekend trip up the Chesapeake to spend the night at Tangier Island. Maybe weekend after next. If anyone has been there before and has any tips about where to dock let me know.

Thanks,
Jim

[JJ]

Jim,

Really sounds good. The wife has got me on the honey-do list so I won't be out this weekend.....maybe next.

[c130king]

JJ,

Let me know. I plan to sail every weekend weather permitting. Sometime in here I have to write my paper. But those things always seem to work out better if I wait until the very last minute.

Jim

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

But those things always seem to work out better if I wait until the very last minute. Jim

I don't believe in put-ing things off until the very last minute if they can be put off longer than that.

[JJ]

Jim,

Will do! I woul dlike to get out with the family to see the airshow too. Sounds great. I will check with the Admiral this week.

[c130king]

Does anyone have any info on any marinas in the inlet off the lower Chesapeake where Langley AFB is located? There are none listed on the BoatUS website. I can see some on Google Earth but I can't find any info on any of them.

I am motor/sailing over there tomorrow. I have heard that the Langley AFB Marina is closed for some repairs or something.

Just looking for a place to refuel, bathroom break, get some snacks, etc...

Sailing today on the James River was phenomenal. I am much more comfortable now with heeling around 15 degrees and maintaining 6 mph for long stretches of time.

Maybe a little too much time in the sun today...got a little sunburned. Might actually have to use sunscreen tomorrow.

Thanks,
Jim