Chesapeake’s etiology comes from the word Chesepiooc, which technically means “at a great river”.  That great river may pertain to Chesapeake Bay. Yes, it is great for it covers 64,000 square miles and is a habitat to an immense ecosystem but it’s definitely not only a river. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States.  An estuary is the transition from the river to the ocean. It is where the fresh water and the salt water meet. This kind of environment generates an excellent environment for a whole ecosystem to thrive. It includes 350 species of fish and dozens of species coming from shellfish and crabs. But an estuary that’s remarkable as this can’t fail to magnetize and support a growing population. As of now, Chesapeake Bay population as of now is an estimated 16.6 million with a projection of 150,000 growths per year. With the human race part of the ecosystem, as early as 1948 the health of Chesapeake Bay deteriorated. The whole domino effect happened and Chesapeake Bay was no longer a sanctuary for a diverse species.

But it is never too late, Maryland created fishery management plans and a Chesapeake Bay Program in an effort to save and revive the greatness Chesapeake Bay once possessed. The program was able to spread awareness and the plans were able to include passing of bills that prevented further descent of its underwater inhabitants.

Commercial fishing and oyster harvesting is not as dynamic as before but tourism on the other hand lifted Maryland’s and Chesapeake Bay’s economy. Many tourist come for boat chartering where everything is set by the boat chartering operators where the only thing tourist will worry about is the food, sun block, attire and the sea sickness brought about a day of boat chartering. There are a lot of boats chartering services that can be availed on the port and also at towns around the Chesapeake Bay. But there are also boat chartering services that can be booked earlier using the net if you want your day to be well-prepared and hassle free.  Availing these services will save you more time and energy and it will give you a good day of Chesapeake Bay fishing because not only will they prepare your baits and spot your catch but they will also advise you if it is a good time for fishing, which will surely avert you from disappointment and boredom on deck.

As an estuary the species of fish is widely diverse. Fishes may be a fresh water fish or an estuarine. Estuarine are fishes that can settle on coastal and fresh water while fresh water fishes can only penetrate the fresh water. Thus, the fishes you will encounter will greatly depend on the area you would be throwing your bait.  Among the popular fresh water fishes, you can encounter bluefish, trout, perch, croaker, large mouth and small mouth bass, menhaden and the striped bass or popularly known as the rockfish. And for the estuarine fishes you can encounter the flounder and the finfish.

However, fishing season is only from April to December only allowing April, May and December to catch big trophy rockfishes weighing an average range of 20-50 lbs. Aside from Those months, March is also sought after by anglers. At this time, they are allowed to catch and release big stripers. Even so, throughout the year, it is very well appreciated if everyone would show concern for the Chesapeake Bay and spread awareness on how to protect and save the resources left.