Sawyer Fishing Charters & Chesapeake Bay Tours
Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reports & Maryland Fishing Information

Hoopers Island, MD - (410) 397-3743 - sawyercharters@yahoo.com

Chesapeake Bay Fishing With Capt. Dave Schauber!

Enjoy the finest in Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters on Maryland's Eastern Shore!Read on to find out all you ever wanted to know about Chesapeake Bay fishing on Maryland's Eastern Shore! Learn about where we fish, our Chesapeake Bay fishing methods, and fish species that we target on the Chesapeake Bay!

Just 40 minutes south of Cambridge, MD! Fishing the Chesapeake Bay in the areas of Hoopers Island, Taylors Island, Poplar Island, and Kent Island! We go where the fish are!

For fishing charter booking information, please click here.

Contact us at
(410) 397-3743

Reserve your date now for the best Chesapeake Bay fishing that Maryland has to offer!!!
sawyercharters@yahoo.com
 

 

Easy access from the Ocean Gateway (Rt 50) from Annapolis, Baltimore, Ocean City,

Pennsylvania, Virginia or Delaware

Don't have your own group?

E-mail us your name and phone number to join our make-up charter list!

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Chesapeake Bay Fishing With Sawyer Fishing Charters

 

Do you ever wonder where we fish on the Chesapeake Bay, what fish are available on the Chesapeake Bay, how we fish on the Cheasapeake Bay, or what you should bring if you book a Chesapeake Bay fishing charter? Well, you've come to the right place!! Below, we will discuss all of these items and so much more!

Where Do You Guys Run Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters?

We usually fish right out in front of Hoopers Island, on the Chesapeake Bay. This is especially true in the spring and late fall seasons, when we troll for those BIG striped bass on the bay. Directly across the bay from us is the Patuxent River, which leads into Solomons Island. While we usually stay fairly close to home on Hoopers Island, we will go where the fish are, even if it involves moving the boat. Sometimes, we fish out of Taylors Island to be closer to that summertime rockfish bite that goes on further up the bay in the areas of Poplar Island and Kent Island. During the late fall months, we might fish further down the bay, toward Point Lookout and Virginia.

Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore!

Map of the Middle Chesapeake Bay - From MD Dept. of Natural Resources

What Fish Do You Guys Target On The Chesapeake Bay?

Most of our Chesapeake Bay fishing charters involve the pursuit of Maryland rockfish, also known as striped bass or stripers. These fish can range anywhere from 18 inches on up to over 50 inches, depending on the time of year and the fishing method being used. We may also pursue other species such as bluefish, white perch, and spot. A lot of times, if we catch our limit of Chespeake Bay striped bass early, we will change things up and pursue some of the other species that are nearby.

What Chesapeake Bay Fishing Methods Do You Guys Use?

Trolling

We use several different fishing methods on our Chesapeake Bay fishing charters, depending on what is most effective at the time. When we fish for the BIG trophy striped bass in the spring and late fall, trolling is the most effective fishing method. We will troll back and forth across the Chesapeake Bay with the use of planer boards, which allow us to pull up to 24 lines at one time as well as cover not only the water column under the boat, but also the water on each side of the boat out to 200 feet! We use heavy-duty rods and reels with 80-pound test fishing line, along with artificial baits and umbrella rigs. When pulling so many lines, the baits in the water resemble a large school of bait fish, which is what Chesapeake Bay rockfish will go after when they're hungry!

Sometimes, we will also troll in the summer months. In the summer, the striped bass tend to be smaller (18-28 inches). We use the same kind of tackle, except that the baits are a lot smaller. We also don't pull as many lines, for the sake of mobility. A lot of times during the summer, you will see schools of striped bass breaking the water in the midst of bait pods, with clusters of birds gathering on the surface. When you see this, you have to get over there fast. So, in these instances, not pulling the planer boards works in our favor.

We also use trolling when we fish for bluefish, generally between the months of August and October. The bluefish that we catch in the bay are anywhere from 1 to 5 pounds, and they usually school up just like the stripers. When we troll for bluefish on the Chesapeake Bay we use the same rods and reels, but we use spoons and hoses for the lures. When you get into a school of bluefish, it is not uncommon to have every rod on the boat hook up!

Trophy Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Caught While Trolling - Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore!

Trophy Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Caught While Trolling

Live-Lining

As its name implies, live-lining involves the use of live bait to catch fish. We use this technique during the summer and early fall to catch striped bass. The bait that we use are known as spot fish. You insert the tines of a treble hook into the back of the spot. The hook is on 30-pound test line that is spooled on a spinning reel. You toss the spot overboard, and allow the line to spool out. Striped bass cannot resist the presence of spot fish, and will chase after them with a vengeance. When there are plenty of fish around, you can catch your legal limit of Chesapeake Bay rockfish in a hurry, especially if there are a lot of spot in the area. It is also quite fun, as you actually get to hook the fish before reeling it in. You don't have this luxury while trolling.

We also will live-line for bluefish when they are mixed in with the stripers. When doing this, we will often use metal leaders on the hooks in order to keep from losing tackle. Bluefish have razor-sharp teeth and will bite through any line.

For more details about live-lining, check out my article on it here!

Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Caught While Live-Lining - Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore!

Striped Bass Caught While Live-Lining

Bottom Fishing

We also do bottom fishing on the Chesapeake Bay, when we are in search of white perch, spot, and croakers. Just like when we live-line, we use light tackle and spinning reels. On each line, we use a bottom rig that has two hooks and a 3-ounce sinker, depending on how hard the current is moving. When we fish for spot, which is what most of our Chesapeake Bay fishing charters do before live-lining for rockfish, we use bloodworms for bait. Our fishing parties sometimes have more fun fishing for spot than they do for the striped bass! When fishing for white perch, we will generally use peeler crabs. While fishing for croakers, we often use pieces of squid.

What Are Your Chesapeake Bay Fishing Seasons?

Here is a breakdown of our fishing seasons on the Chesapeake Bay!

May 1 through May 15

During this stretch of time, we are exclusively trolling for those BIG trophy Chesapeake Bay striped bass. We pull up to 26 lines at a time, using heavy-duty tackle. The stripers this time of year range anywhere from 28 inches on up to over 50! The legal limit on these striped bass for 2022 is one per person, and every fish has to be at least 35 inches in length.

May 16 through July 15, and August 1 through December 10, 2022

Once we get into late May, the trophy Chesapeake Bay migratory rockfish are leaving town, and we start catching the smaller resident fish. These fish are typically between 18 and 24 inches, but can range up to 32 inches or more. In late May and early June, we will usually troll just like in the spring, except that we use smaller tackle and pull fewer lines. The legal limit on striped bass during this time of year for 2022 is two fish per person with a 19" minimum length. Of these fish, only one per person can be longer than 28 inches.

Once we get into June and the spot start showing up in the Chesapeake Bay, we'll switch over to live-lining. During this time of year, we take our Chesapeake Bay fishing charters out bottom fishing for spot prior to live-lining for rockfish. Hey, somebody's got to catch the bait! The bulk of our Chesapeake Bay fishing customers have a blast with this type of fishing and come back to us year after year. Live-lining will usually go on through October.

We also do quite a bit of bottom fishing during the summer months, especially when fishing for spot and white perch.

November until December 10

When the weather cools off in November, the spot will usually leave town, requiring us once again to resort to trolling in order to catch our fish. Early in November, we usually troll with 6 to 8 lines with smaller baits. Then, later in November and into December, those BIG migratory fish sometimes make their way up the bay. When and if that happens, we will break out the planer boards, and troll with the full spread. Our season then ends on December 10.

What Are The Limits For Chesapeake Bay Fishing In Maryland?

Here's a breakdown of all of the legal limits in Maryland for fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.

Striped Bass

Until May 15: One per person. Fish must be at least 35 inches in length.

May 16 through July 15, and August 1 through December 10: Two per person, fish must be at least 19" long. Only one per person can be over 28".

Bluefish Minimum Length: 8". Limit: 5 per person.
Croakers Minimum Length: 9". Limit 25 per person.
White Perch No minimum length and no limit, as long as they're caught with hook and line!
Spanish Mackerel Minimum Length: 14". Limit 15 per person.

What Do I Need To Bring With Me On My Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charter?

If you plan to join us on a Chesapeake Bay fishing charter, then there are a number of things that you should think about bringing with you to help you enjoy the day. The table below discusses some of what we provide and some of what you should bring.

What We Provide
  • Bait

  • Tackle

  • Ice on the Boat

  • Fishing License

What You Need to Bring
  • Food and Beverage

  • Cooler to Take Fish Home

  • Sunglasses, Sunscreen

  • Proper Clothing (long pants)

During the summer months, sunscreen is a "must", as the sun's reflection off the Chesapeake Bay can wreak havoc on your skin. For the same reason, sunglasses are also a "must." You need to bring a cooler to take your fish home in, but leave it in the car. For some reason, empty coolers on the boat are just bad luck. We have enough cooler capacity on the boat for your catch.

Note that we provide the bait, tackle, rods, and reels. However, if you have a "lucky rod" that you would like to take along, then you are more than welcome to use it. Just be sure that the rod and reel are appropriate for the type of fishing that we are doing and that the reel is spooled with appropriate line (no "spider" line, "firewire", or braided line).

There is no need to buy a fishing license, as you will be covered by the fishing license that we pay for every year. And, boy, that ain't cheap!

You are welcome to bring alcohol on board, and consume within moderation. Whatever you do, DO NOT SHOW UP INTOXICATED, or you'll be left at the dock!!

NO BANANAS! Bananas are generally bad luck on a charter fishing vessel. This has its origins dating back to the 1500s, when ships carrying bananas across the ocean constantly encountered trouble, such as running aground, getting lost at sea, crew members getting sick and dying of disease, and sinking. While not much evidence of that exists today, it's best to leave the bananas at home in order to ensure that we have a good day on the Chesapeake Bay!

Anything Else I Should Know?

This page is certainly not an exhaustive list of all of the things you might want to know about fishing on the Chesapeake Bay with us. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to call us at (410) 397-3743, or shoot us an email at sawyercharters@yahoo.com! We'd love to hear from you!

 

Enjoy the finest in Chesapeake Bay fishing charters off of Maryland's Eastern Shore!
In addition to Maryland fishing charters, we offer Chesapeake Bay lighthouse tours, nature cruises, and other Chesapeake Bay tours, as well as Chesapeake Bay crab feasts! Regardless of the size of your group, or the uniqueness of your occasion, there is nothing that we can't handle!

Come join us for a memorable Maryland charter fishing experience on the Chesapeake Bay! 

Contact: Capt. Dave Schauber at 410-397-3743 or email: sawyercharters@yahoo.com
___________________________________________________

Fishing Information from Capt. Dave
Seasons
May to Early June:  Trolling for Trophy Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass (Maryland rockfish) (to approx. 40 lbs.)  
June and July:  Light tackle. Great fishing for croakers, bluefish, and Maryland striped bass (Chesapeake Bay rockfish).
August to October:  Light tackle fishing for bluefish, Chesapeake Bay striped bass (Maryland rockfish), and Spanish mackerel.
November and December: 

Trolling for Maryland Striped Bass (Chesapeake Bay rockfish).  

 

 

Capt. Dave Schauber - Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore! 
 

Enjoy the finest in Chesapeake Bay Sportfishing  with Capt. Dave

  • Trolling for Trophy Striped Bass

  • Bottom Fishing with light tackle

  • Chumming for Striped Bass & Blues

  • Live-lining spot for Stripers

  • Trolling for Spanish Mackerel and Blues

Spot - Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore!

Capt. Dave Schauber is a native to Maryland's Eastern Shore. He has fished on the Chesapeake Bay his entire life. From the late 1970s to the late 1990s, he operated sawmills for a living. After relocating to Dorchester County in 1981 to operate another sawmill, he quickly became known in the community as simply "The Sawyer", and is still referred to by that title to this day. It is often confused with his last name. This is the origin of the business name, and hence the boat name. After moving to Dorchester County, he fished the lower and middle Chesapeake Bay, in addition to the Honga River, Fishing Bay, and other local bodies of water for years. He started out with small, center-console boats and worked his way up to eventually owning a 42-foot Bay-built vessel. He obtained his Captain's License in 1992, and began to run fishing charters on the weekends and his days off. After building his business for several years, he made the decision to leave the sawmill and begin running charters full time in 1999. His business continued to grow, leading to the construction of our new boat in 2002.

Another great day of fishing on the Chesapeake Bay!! Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore!

Red hot summer fishing on the Chesapeake Bay!!! Sawyer Chesapeake Bay Fishing Charters From Maryland's Eastern Shore!

 

 

We offer full and half-day Maryland fishing charters on the Chesapeake Bay, fishing for Chesapeake Bay rockfish (stripers or Maryland striped bass), bluefish, croakers, Spanish mackerel, and other species. We also offer Chesapeake Bay lighthouse cruises, nature cruises and other Chesapeake Bay tours, floating crab feasts, and cruises to various destinations along the Chesapeake Bay. We are located on Hoopers Island, about 40 minutes south of Cambridge, Maryland. Regardless of the size of your group, or the uniqueness of your occasion, there is nothing that we can't handle! Come join us for a memorable Chesapeake Bay charter fishing experience!

 

Reserve your date NOW for some of the best Chesapeake Bay fishing that Maryland has to offer!!!
Contact Us

Sawyer Fishing Charters and Tours

Hoopers Island, MD

 

Capt. Dave Schauber
1345 Hoopers Island Rd.
Church Creek, Maryland 21622

 

Marina Address:

1747 Hoopersville Road

Fishing Creek, MD 21634

 

410-397-3743
email Sawyer Fishing Charters

   Email:  sawyercharters@yahoo.com

 

Updated: 04/15/2022