News of Justin Riley’s Maryland state record 11-pound, 2.88-ounce largemouth bass from the tidal Potomac’s Spoils Cove area has local bass fanatics buzzing. If you missed yesterday’s account, Riley used a shiny blade bait to hook the tidal water record Saturday.
With the fish’s weight exceeding even the freshwater state record bass of 11 pounds, 2 ounces, Riley’s bass is the biggest largemouth ever caught in the state and proves tidal water bass can grow as big or bigger than their freshwater cousins. Perhaps it’s time for the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries bosses to get rid of the separate tidal water and freshwater categories for bass because when it comes to establishing fishing records that kind of categorizing only confuses people. If someone hooks a record largemouth bass anywhere in the state — I wouldn’t care whether it were in the Atlantic Ocean, even though that can’t happen — it should be recognized as the biggest ever. Period.
Meanwhile, you can bet the Spoils Cove and the trashy metal rip-rap on the main river’s shoreline above Wilson Bridge, as well as the Fox Ferry rockline and the adjacent sand and gravel piles in the immediate area, now will see bass boat traffic as if it were summer. Riley, 26, of Woodbine, Md., had been competing in an Anglers Choice winter tournament when the record fish “bit” his lure.
Elsewhere in the feeder creeks of the tidal Potomac, crappies have been taking live minnows or smartly jigged darts and grubs fished under a plastic float. It can happen in the upper parts of Aquia Creek (not far from Aquia Harbor) and the gravel pockets behind Alexandria’s Belle Haven Marina, where bass also lurk.
The chance of seeing a fat yellow perch on the business end of a drop-shot bait, such as Berkley’s Emerald Shiner or a jigged 1/4-ounce Silver Buddy and other metal blade baits, is getting better with every passing day. Check out the Occoquan River around the I-95 bridge, Maryland’s Mattawoman Creek or even some of the deeper holes in the Chicamuxen Creek. The perch are beginning to prepare for their annual spawning run into shallow, upper headwaters.
A few yellow perch have been found in the tidal Rappahannock, Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers in Virginia’s Northern Neck country, as well as Maryland’s Patuxent River in Prince George’s County, but be reminded that the spawning run has not yet begun.
Outside the Chesapeake’s mouth — Ken Neill of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association reported, “Striped bass are still the fish on most anglers” minds, especially now that a true monster was caught [last] week.”
Angler Fred Barnes caught a 73-pound rockfish in the vicinity of the 4A Buoy. Neill said the Corolla area has been delivering the most consistent striper action, but a bit north of there stripers jumped on trolled lures just outside Wachapreague.
Around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, catch-and-release rockfish are the order of the day, while speckled trout are hooked in the Hot Ditch. Neill said tautogs are available on the ocean wrecks, with a few boaters venturing offshore where the water is warmer. They’re finding false albacore and sharks. Around the 50-fathom curve the chance is good for some big blueline tilefish.
Washington Boat Show coming — The Washington Boat Show returns to the Convention Center on Mount Vernon Place in Northwest on Feb. 14-18. It is billed as the Mid-Atlantic’s largest boat show with 500 boats of every style and price range. In addition, there will be hundreds of booths displaying the latest marine electronics, foul-weather gear and various marine services. Admission is $10 (5-12, $5; under 5 is free). Go to www.washingtonboatshow.com for additional details and downloadable discount coupons.
• Look for Gene Mueller’s Outdoors column Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, only in The Washington Times. E-mail: gmueller@washingtontimes.com.
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