Memorial Day Fishing Update Chesapeake Bay VA Stripers, Spot, Mahi and More 18w2d

Good morning folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay Virginia fishing report for Monday, May 26, 2025. We rolled into Memorial Day with pleasant weather. Early morning started calm and cool, warming up fast by midmorning. Expect highs in the upper 70s, light southwest winds around 7 to 10 knots, and mostly sunny skies. The sunrise came at 5:47 am, and sunset will be at 8:19 pm, giving us long, prime fishing hours today. Tidal conditions are in your favor this morning, with an incoming tide peaking late morning and slack water mid-afternoon, making for a solid bite window. That incoming tide has been pushing bait into the shallows and around structure, drawing in the predators. Fishing has been picking up steadily. Striped bass action remains strong, especially since the season opened earlier this month. Best reports keep rolling in from north of the Bay Bridge, especially at Love Point and around the bridge pilings. Boat anglers are doing well trolling with smaller tandem rigs in tan or chartreuse, with four to six inch baits bringing most of the action. If you prefer jigging, 6-inch BKDs on half to one-ounce heads, adjusted for depth and tidal current, have been hot tickets near deeper structure. There’s plenty of spot to be had in the area, with some nice perch starting to show but not quite in big numbers yet. Bottom fishing with bloodworms or fishbites around Hacketts and nearby river mouths is producing steady catches of spot, with the occasional white perch added in. Further out, reports of big mahi and yellowfin tuna are coming in strong for those heading offshore, and king mackerel are starting to make a showing in the lower bay. If you’re targeting flounder, action has improved in the coastal bays as the water temps warm up. For bait, bloodworms and live minnows are still top picks for spot and perch. Soft plastics in white or chartreuse remain the go-to for stripers, while cut bunker or peeler crab can tempt catfish and the occasional drum moving into the bay. A couple of hot spots worth your time today: Love Point for stripers, especially on the outgoing tide, and Hacketts Bar for bottom fishing with the family. If you’re after something bigger, consider running out to the lower bay reefs for king mackerel or a quick offshore trip if the weather holds. That’s your bay report. Tight lines and stay safe on the water. 57156q