5/20/07
HARRISONS ROCK THE STRIPER HIGHWAY

The striper highway running through Maryland's Chesapeake Bay is alive, well and full of big rockfish. With the 2007 season still in its opening months, anglers can count on a great season right through the late fall. Excitement abounds in catching big rockfish and continues to thrill many anglers with opportunities for big fish still out there. While the spring trophy season was a different kind of fishing when compared to the past several years, there was no wanting for hook-ups with big stripers. Catch and release of rockfish between 35 to 41 inches made for some tired anglers, but that exercise is now over. The current 2007 Maryland recreational striped bass season continues through December 15 with a daily creel limit of two striped bass from 18 to 28 inches, one of which can exceed 28 inches.

    Harrison Hub on the
       Striper Highway

Harrison's Chesapeake House on Tilghman Island is on the hub of striper highway. Their eastern shore location puts them within reach of several key fishing grounds, including some of those along the bay's western channel on the Southern Maryland side. During a May 10, 2007 trip we took aboard charterboats docked at Harrison's we soon found ourselves fishing productive Chesapeake Bay waters within sight of Cove Point on the western side and Taylor's Island to the east. Coupled with the great overnight accommodations and some of the best food and hospitality anywhere, our fishing trips that day were among the best we can remember.

                                       "TK" and Rock It

Steve fished aboard the charterboat, Rock IT with Captain Tim "TK" Kastel with the hearty fishing crew of Allen Hudson, Dave Jones, Robin Beard, Bill Lescallett and Kevin Beard. All aboard the Rock IT that day caught a keeper rockfish and enjoyed lots of catch and release action with stripers between 35 and 41 inches in length. Our keeper rockfish ranged from 33 ½ to 35 inches and from 41 ½ to 43 inches. During the course of our fishing, we released 10 hefty stripers between 35 and 41 inches. More than once, we had two fish on at once and one time we even had three hook-ups going simultaneously! With all the action, TK never had a tangle or a line twist, even though we fished 12 lines at one time. Planer boards were his primary strategy as he fished four lines each on the port and starboard sides. The hot lure aboard Rock IT on May 10 was a 6 ounce chartreuse and orange stripe Alien lure rigged on an umbrella with a large double hook chartreuse sassy shad. The flat lines fished with no added weight got all the action. We fished channel waters from 60 to 70 feet deep, south of Parker's Creek and North of Cove Point.

                                      Dawn Marie Rockers

Chelly fished aboard the Dawn Marie, another of the famous charterboats docked at Harrison's Chesapeake House. Captain Johnny Motovidlak showed Chelly, John Swinton, Robert Brunner, Randy Reynolds, Carl Engleman, Charlie Evans and Bud Wood a great day of fast fishing action with big stripers. Everyone fishing aboard the Dawn Marie on May 10 caught a keeper rockfish. Two of these, caught by Randy Reynolds and Carl Engleman, each measured 42 inches. Captain Johnny expertly set the lines and steered the boat into signs of big stripers and bait in deep channel waters from offshore of Calvert Cliffs and east of Taylor's Island on the eastern shore.

                                    Food, Fun and Great Fishing

Harrison's Chesapeake House offers some of the best fishing access available on Chesapeake Bay via a fleet of large, comfortable charterboats. Coupled with great food, warm hospitality, and overnight lodging, their options are among the best. These include the Buddy Plan Fishing Package that provides breakfast, fishing and a boxed lunch for only $145 per person. Another option at Harrison's is the Super Fishing Package which for $249 per person provides overnight accommodations (based on double occupancy), dinner, breakfast, fishing and boxed lunch on the boat. There is some great fishing action available from Tilghman Island, right through the summer and into late fall. Call Harrison's Chesapeake House at (410) 886-2121 or visit their website at www.chesapeakehouse.com and see what they have to offer.