Harold Hunt caught this big striper on April 27 while fishing aboard Beach Bum with Capt. Bobby Higgins.
PHOTO COURTESY Steve Scala

Buddy Harrison's Chesapeake House
is the Best for a Rockfish Trip
By Steve and Chelly Scala
ST. MARY'S TODAY
Outdoor Life Editors
Tradition continues and rocks at Harrison’s Chesapeake House on Tilghman Island. Captain Buddy and his crew are again enjoying a tremendous striped bass season with big rockfish being caught within short distance of their charterboat fleet dock. Timing for this year’s trophy striper season in Maryland could not have been better. Those fishing the Lower Eastern Shore and Tilghman are at dead center for some of the best action. Great food and beautiful surroundings top off a stay with the Harrison family. Walking the island before or after an evening meal provides an experience and view that we never pass up. Tilghman is a unique mixture of a waterman community that blends history into everyday life. Our annual trip to visit the Harrison’s and their island home is never a disappointment, especially when it comes to the fishing, food and scenery.
Buddy Plan
The Buddy Plan or Super Fishing Package are among the favorite choices of those who come to stay and fish at Harrison’s. These offer combinations of a great dinner and a good night’s sleep followed by a hearty breakfast before embarking on one of several charterboats berthed at the Harrison Family docks. Box lunches are provided. There is a wide variety of options available but you can also choose to just come and go fishing. Groups of anglers or whole families continue to return each year to Harrison’s throughout the fishing season to partake in all around outdoor fun. In addition to fishing, the Harrison’s also offer some of the best waterfowl hunting opportunities along the Eastern seaboard flyway.
Beach Bum on the Boards
On April 27, 2006 our annual gathering at Harrison’s found Steve fishing aboard the Beach Bum with Captain Bobby Higgins. Also in the crew were Bud Wood, Bill Gormley, Lon Campbell, Harold Hunt and Al Silverstein. As he guided his boat into the open water of the Chesapeake Bay, Captain Bobby told about an area near the channel edge he wanted to try before going further west. That location ended up being the best place to be and soon after Higgins got the planer boards set and the lines in the water, the first fish was on. Bill Gormley pulled in the first striper, a hefty 36 inch fish which hit a white 6 ounce parachute fished on the starboard side planer board. Harold Hunt soon followed with the second fish which measured 35 inches. Harold’s fish also hit a planer board bait, a large chartreuse banjo-eye bucktail. After releasing the undersized striper of the morning that measured 26 inches, Al Silverstein landed the largest fish of the day aboard Beach Bum; a big 40 inch rock. Al’s fish was one of the few that didn’t hit planer board baits and was on a deeper running line with some weight. Lon Campbell brought in a striper measuring 35 ½ inches. Steve followed with a 34 inch rock and it was all the crew could do to get Bud Wood away from the helm to help us with the fishing. Bud showed he was an able helmsman that could really handle a boat in tight quarter turns. He was helpful in spelling Captain Bobby, when he was working with getting the big rockfish in the boat, or releasing undersized fish.
Pamela Lee Rocks
During the April 27, 2006 Buddy Harrison’s Invitational, Chelly fished on the Pamela Lee with Captain Justin Firth. She joined the crew of Mike Ackerman, Tim Kiley, Tom Settefrati, Jeff Jackson and Eric Pratt. The Pamela Lee headed for waters near Buoy 82 and the captain quickly put over sixteen lines without a mate. In no time at all, Jeff Jackson pulled in the first fish. This 41 ½” rockfish soon proved to be the largest catch for the Pamela Lee that day. The second fish, a 35 ½” rockfish was pulled in by Mike Ackerman. Eric Pratt hauled in a 36" and Tom Settefrati pulled in a 35". Tim Kiley and Chelly each pulled in 38" rockfish. Parachutes fished on the starboard side planer board and umbrellas brought much success with no weights. Hot lures proved to be the “Alien”, “Skip Jack” and the Captain’s secret lure. In less than 90 minutes the limit of one fish per person was reached. The saying for the day was heard by over and over aboard the Pamela Lee; “It doesn’t get any better than this!” Tom Settefrati said, “You know what I like best about Harrison’s….Everyone is so nice and the food is so good.”
Season is Young
Both Captain Buddy and Buddy Harrison Jr. had great catches during the April 27 fishing aboard the Pleasure Merchant and Brooks Hooks. In fact all of the charterboats that fished out of Harrison’s that day caught their limit of trophy rockfish. The weather was beautiful and the fishing even better. Fishing action during the 2006 season is still young and there are many opportunities available at Harrison’s Chesapeake House on Tilghman Island. In addition to the fall striper run, there are guided waterfowl hunting trips available through the Harrison’s. Visit their website at www.chesapeakehouse.com or call (410) 886-2121 or 886-2109 for information about fishing, waterfowl hunting, great food and a pleasant stay with some of the best people you will ever meet.