Tactical Angler: Fishing Tactics

Fishing tactics and techniques used on the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and surrounding freshwater fishing areas are covered in depth.

February 3, 2021
Spring largemouth bass fishing is right around the corner, and rainy days can trigger awesome bass bites in freshwater venues - especially if you tweak your tactics to fit the bill. What’s the number…
January 12, 2021
Rigging for tautog can make the difference between success and and empty cooler, and if you want to take home some big tautog for a fresh winter fish dinner, a snafu rig should be in your arsenal. …
January 10, 2021
As long as the fresher headwaters of tidal creeks and tributaries doesn’t freeze solid, a mixed bag of crappie, perch, pickerel, and bass awaits. One under-utilized method of prospecting for winter…
December 7, 2020
One target that can be depended on to bite right through the winter months is catfish, including those monster blue catfish found throughout our region. You’ll catch them by putting cut fish, chicken…
November 20, 2020
Many of us cruise down the DelMarVa peninsula on a regular basis during our fishing endeavors, whether it’s to hit a Chesapeake Bay fishing hotspot or reach the beach for some saltier action. But…
November 13, 2020
Slow trolling at walking speed is a great way to pick up pickerel, which are one of the few species in our area that’s sure to get more and more active this month as the water temps get chillier and…
November 11, 2020
One of the great things about late fall for shoreline anglers near the coast is that at this time of the year, you don’t necessarily need to have a boat to target tautog. True, bayside tog are…
October 26, 2020
Back in October of 2019, Ethan Dhuyvetter, a young angler-outdoorsman from Minnesota, began making the Mule Jig. With a name based on his grandfather’s love for the toughness and dependability of the…
October 20, 2020
If you enjoy Chesapeake Bay fishing during the fall, there's no doubt you've heard some fact and some fiction about when and where those stripers will bite. Fact: when it goes from “chilly” to “…
October 15, 2020
As the water chills out this fall, LTT (light tackle trolling) in and around the tributaries, and trolling open Bay water with heavy gear, are tactics many anglers who want to go striper fishing …
October 13, 2020
Pounding is a great tactic to use when fish are hugging super-tight to structure, and a prime example is when perch are staging right next to pier pilings but won’t move away from them to take a lure…
October 11, 2020
October is usually the month when peanut bunker migrate out of the rivers, and rockfish move into tributary mouths to ambush them. It’s also a time of year when blustery winds can keep you off the…
September 21, 2020
Trends come and go in fishing, and every year new fishing gear comes out that offers something different for the fish to like as older lure styles go out of fashion. Much like the cyclical nature of…
September 3, 2020
The wacky worm may look a bit silly, but it’s a proven way to get largemouth biting. If you haven’t tried fishing a wacky just yet, follow this basic procedure. Hook the worm right in the middle;…
August 26, 2020
Cobia season may be drawing to a close, but it’s not too late to get in some last licks on this challenging fish. If this September is anything like last September was, at this point in the run…
June 19, 2020
If your regular method of fishing for speckled trout is not working one day, don’t be afraid to reevaluate your strategy and step outside the comfort zone. On days when it’s tough to generate a bite…
June 15, 2020
When you hear about fly fishing, most people automatically think of rainbow trout. Visions of Norman Maclean and Izaak Walton (though the latter didn't actually fly fish) wading in a scenic stream or…
June 1, 2020
Lying at the bottom of the ocean in 600 to 800 feet of water, golden tilefish are a worthy target for any offshore angler. But the standard-issue method of dragging a “meat rig” with multiple baited…