BEGINNERS GUIDE to KAYAK FISHING the CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE TUNNEL
For a full list with purchase links of all the gear I use go to: www.southernreels.com/fishing...
In this video I sat down and put together every thing that I have learned in the past 3 years on fishing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, also known as the CBBT.
This in mainly a guide for people that have not fished this bridge before. This is a video that I wish I could have watched before I started going out there myself.
In this video I talk about how I plan my trips out there and what Websites I use to plan with. I talk about the proper equipment to go out there and my preference on kayaks. I also talk about where you can launch from and where you can park.
This video covers both the North and South sides of the Bridge as far as Kayak fishing. I tried to be thorough so the video is kinda long but worth a watch if you plan to venture out to the CBBT.
Website I use for Wind Forecasting: www.windy.com/?36.487,-76.115,5
Website I use for Tide Information: tides4fishing.com/us
My Facebook Page: facebook.com/southernreel...
My Favorite Local Tackle Shop: www.fishoceanseast.com/
Something I already realized I forgot to mention. You really have to be careful in the colder months of the fishing season. When water temps get below 70 degrees there is always a chance of Hypothermia if you end up in the water. In these colder months at the least wearing a wetsuit under you clothing is a good idea. And even better is wearing a drysuit over your clothing. This is the best option because if you end up in the water you can survive for quite some time if you get separated from you kayak, or you can just crawl right back in and keep fishing. So be careful when water temps are low out there.
This has got to be one of the best videos on KZhead about a specific area and the considerations you need to take into account when fishing it. Great work man!
Thanks! I took some time putting this one together
^^^^ AMEN to all the above. Great Job Jesse!
I was about to say the same thing. By far the most informative video on fishing the cbbt
This world need more men like you! Thank you!
Lol thanks!
Biggest thing for ALL newbies before venturing out............SELF RESCUE. Flip your kayak and get back in! Do it in deep water ( deeper than you are tall ). This could be 6-8 feet deep. Do this 3-4 times in a row. Being tired and getting frustrated will happen. Now amplify that when wind, current, tide, waves, and so many other variables come into play.
Very true, hopefully they all practice this as soon as they get their kayak
What are the chances of your kayak flipping in calm waters?
@@Outdoor_Don Depends on the current, wind, and tide. Waves catching you off guard and a quick loss of balance can happen at any time in any waters.
talk about a knowledge bomb! notes taken, this will help alot of people man
Including you, rook....lol
haha yeaah
I hope a lot of people watch it lol
Thank you so much for your great information I've been looking for a video like this for a while
A lot of good advice. Don't forget tho that kayak kevin, rob choi, and others are what made that bridge famous for kayak fishermen. With paddle kayaks.
Thanks! And no worries I know those guys well. They definitely put it on the map. Most of their fishing was done during slack tide, which definitely helps with having more time to fish instead of having to paddle constantly.
Awesome info great video going to be my go to when I get a kayak
Super informative - thanks man
So helpful and informative! Thank you!
I truly appreciate this video as someone considering kayak fishing. Thank you!
really appreciate all the info. have always wanted to come down and fish the CBBT, been driving it my whole life living in NOVA. well thanks again and good luck out there!
Great videos keep up the good work
Your wind speed and direction advise is spot on and even applicable when fishing from a motor boat. In motor boats the advice is not always applicable from a safety stand point but it is very applicable from a fishability stand point.
Super video, I have subscribed. Although it's outside of our territory, it was a pleasure to watch such thorough information.
Very good video containing the key important points to consider when fishing the bridge. Windy is a great app, and not many people have a basic first aid kit. A small tube of superglue will close a bad laceration,...and does not sting at all. I recently added two pieces of safety gear to my inshore and bridge fishing equipment; it is a "rescue step" and a "throw bag." Yesterday, I removed all my gear, took it to a quiet beach, and purposely rolled it in order to try out the rescue step. "Up-righting" a rolled fishing kayak, so that it is right-side up is not easy, and I am so glad that I tried out this piece of gear. The really hard part was trying to climb back into the kayak. The step helps to upright the kayak and climb back into it. I did it four times and so glad that I did, .....besides,...it really helped to clean out the inside, and I found a dollar bill,.....LOL!
That is a very important thing to practice for sure. Hopefully most people practice it as soon as they start taking their kayak out! Congrats on the dollar! You can buy 1 Gulp Shrimp lol!
Great video. Well researched and presented. Very informative and I love the emphasis on safety and what to expect depending on launch location. This information obviously comes from a lot of experience. Thanks for sharing.
Super dope video, thanks for this. Hopefully I can take my pa14 there in the coming weeks and I'll be re-watching this vid.
Very nice tutorial, Jesse! I have not said thank you enough. You have given us so many good information without charge. I have followed all your video and once we met at CBBT. - John Kim
Awesome vid with a wealth of info. Thank you. Tight lines
Thanks for watching!
Very informative video brotha! I’ve never been kayak fishing in CBBT cause I really don’t know what to expect cause of the weather change and to be honest I’m skeptical about going out there by myself on a kayak. Thank you the great information!
Perfect video, great information. Thanks for your time and info with your videos!!
Thanks!
Thank you for the great info, we are moving to the area at the end of this year, one of my goals is to kayak fish the bay bridge, tunnel, bucket list item you might say.
Great info man thanks! I'm planing a trip down in the late spring
Do it man, but please be careful. That bay there is no joke
3rd time I have watched this video. Great source to remind me of conditions to watch and plan for. Thanks again.
Thank you for watching and for the nice comment
Man that’s some great info that a lot of people need to hear before ever going into the bay. Iv seen people get into trouble out there around Kiptopeke and fisherman’s island first hand. Great video with a ton of good info. You did a very good job of explaining the dangers of the high-rise 18 foot boats can get in tousle there
THanks and yes that area can get pretty scary
Great tips. I'm planning to go down and try my luck next weekend on the south side. Watching this now gives me some great info to check before going.
Good Luck!
Really appreciate the info on wind and tidal websites. These will undoubtedly be a big help to me when going to wise point or kiptopeke to fish.
No problem, and thanks for watching!
Great info man! Thanks for educating us noobies 👍
Thanks and hope it helps!
Southern Reels Fishing it will. I’ve been kayak fishing long time, but new to the area. The good conditions for the CBBT just haven’t seemed to line up with my schedule yet.
Thanks so much! I don't have a kayak, yet! But a 15 1/2 Spectrum w a 9.9. Your info is excellent for a small boater! Love ur videos!
Glad you like them!
Very good information
Thanks
Good info cause I just got into the sport. I am lost. I have been fishing all my life but the kayak is a whole new ballgame. I would only go to the Bridge with someone like you that has been and done it. Best way to learn is listen too the ones that have already done it!
great video
Great video!!! This will really help me out on my first kayak trip to the bridge next year. Thank you! If I didn't watch this I would have been in some big trouble. I had my trip planned "ALL WRONG"! Love your channel
Thanks and good luck on your eventual trip out there!
Omg man I would kill to come out with you. New to fishing the bay and no boat. Just moved from obx and it's so different
Liked and subscribed! Excellent video. Thank you very much! I’m in Alexandria … I wish I was down near you!
Thanks for the sub!
Thank you for doing this video, i found it helpful in my trip planning. I may leave the yak at home and take the jon boat instead!
i've heard jon boats aren't great out there though. I could be wrong. Especially the regular flat bottom ones.
Great tips! Just got my first yak, but it's a cheapie--no pedals, 10' long, and light (56 lb.). Doubt I'll be fishing the CBBT, but I might try some inshore saltwater like Rudee or Lynnhaven Inlets or the jetty near the Little Creek channel. Going to make our maiden voyage this Sunday if all goes according to plan...
Great info...thank you
Anytime
Excellent information. Thanks for sharing. I''ll be spending a fair amount of time n the area in 2021 and am interested in fishing the CBBT from a kayak (and somewhat intimidated by it as well - have never tried big, open tidal water like this before). This video was extremely helpful. Thanks again.
Glad it helped and be very careful out there.
Great info Jessie! Now time to do one on your favorite spots 😂
Maybe one day lol
Great video ,can you make one like this on fishing the cement boats
Nice job!
Thanks
Very informative video. The ocean, bay and inlets in this area are nothing to play with. I know you fish there some as well but Oregon Inlet NC can be a sketchy place at times also
Thanks Jessie for the helpful tutorial. New kayak youtuber here from VB, been wanting to try out cbbt, but was too intimidated.
Those who are weary are often better prepared for most incidents. It's better to be scared and runaway because you can come back another day.
Your welcome and good luck out there!
Sounds like you have been there done that and got it figured out 👍🏼
A few times yes lol. Still learning though
Great video. Very informative and had some great information even if you're not fishing the bay bridge tunnel. Puzzled why 3 people downvoted your video.
Thank you! And I don't worry about the downvotes, it is natural for some people to hate on others. There problem, not mine.
If you want to save yourself some time and hassle, you can launch at the Lynhaven boat ramp right by the Lesner bridge. That's where we launch our boat to fish the CBBT and oceanfront. It's a lot closer to the first island than going our from the oceanfront.
I launch at chics beach right by the foot of the Cbbt. Bouy 44
What a great summary of the safe way to do it. I do agree that a pedal kayak is much better to fishing fixed spots. Does that area have the potential for drift fishing or trolling for us old fashioned paddle kayakers?
Yes of course, but resetting the drifts is gonna entail a lot of paddling against current. The currents will move you along at 3 mph at times
Thanks for great info. Can you tell me how to get there from wise points? Best way and safe point to fishing?
I don't use a kayak, but I have a little 12 foot Jon boat with an 8 Hp motor. Your advice sounds applicable to my situation. One thing I always do before going on the boat is check the weather. If the wind speeds reach 10 mph, I don't go out in big water. At 15 mph I usually don't go out at all.
Yeah at 15 mph its usually pretty rough out there, not fun at all
Great Job! Do you ever launch from the yak (free) launch area of Wise point or do you always use the boat ramp (pay) area?
I always use the pay area, that free area can dry up at low tide
Where would you recommend launching a kayak from to reach the 1st island? Chicks beach area?
Thanks for the awesome video! I'm coming into Kiptopeke next weekend. How far is it from there? You want to go fishing?
Kiptopeke to the high rise is about 5 miles. The out going tide runs surprising fast at times. I could not imagine fighting it back for a 5 mile trip. The Wise point ramp is a 10 minute drive from Kiptopeke. It is clearly the best option if you plan to fish the bridge.
@@dann5268 okay. I need to look up the tide chart to see when tides are coming or going. Thanks for the heads up. Any other info? Again, not a local and will be learning while I'm there.
@@Hunter-bf9zt You should enjoy it. I just spent that past weekend there Yak fishing for the first time. Except for small croaker and crabs, the bite was slow but I still had a blast. If you are into bird watching, the concrete ships are a wonderland. If you have time consider fishing the area around the Wise point launch. I haven't fished it, but it looks fishy.
My mom lives in kiptopeke and I'll sometimes launch an 18 foot boat over there. It can get sketchy near the bridge to where it always spooked me and I didnt feel comfortable fishing up there
Yeah it even feels sketchy in my Bay Boat, its a dangerous area for sure
@@SouthernReelsFishing I'm glad you commented on the dangers of the area. It definitely helps validate my instinct haha. Safety first out there! Hope to meet you one day
When do you start fishing the CBBT in your Yak. The winds seem to be brutal this time of year.
I was able to get out there on a couple calmer days already this year looking for tog. Went solo and just gauged the situation as I travelled to the first island in case conditions picked up. Always wanna drive over the Lesner and get a bit of a gauge for the conditions before you commit to going out.
Don't forget the 120 rule too. Add air temp and water temp and wear some sort of wet or dry suit if less than 120 total. I went out on those few random 70 degree days we had.
It is good there for tog and Drum now, just got to find those rare days that the wind is right. There are not many of those days
Do you think an Aero Bote rover with an outboard would be good there?
Not sure...
about how far towards the first island do you start seeing sheepshead?
1st boat channel is where I usually start
Don’t want to tell you what a fish is called because I haven’t caught a lot but call it what it is....... it’s sheepShead, with an S, not sheephead, that’s a west coast fish in the wrasse family. Extremely different type of fish!!!! Anyway love your vids!
I always wondered that. To me Sheepshead sounds plural, and Sheephead sounds singular. I guess thats why I say it like that lol. Thanks for the clarification
I’ll stick to the boat for the bridge but I do wanna get me a yak for the inlets
Good video! I sent you a DM on Instagram!
Can we be friend I got pro angler 14 .very want fishing with you .
Maybe one day
cool
I never understood why youtubers willingly destroy every fishing spot. Fish numbers are in such decline that there are new regulations every year, yet we wonder why.. it’s because of KZhead. For what? A little money from views. Unbelievable. There was a reason 10% of people caught fish and 90% didn’t. It’s called survival of the smartest. Don’t worry though, soon we won’t be able to fish at all, so, enjoy the few dollars your making.
A fair opinion. And to be honest I don't do it for the money. I do it because I like teaching and sharing knowledge. I also love fishing and have a great respect for the sport. I love seeing people go out and catch fish and witnessing the joy it brings them. I also teach that respecting the rules is important and to only keep enough of your legal catch for your immediate needs. I believe firmly in this. That is why I release almost every fish I catch and encourage others to do so as well. Now, blaming KZhead for the decline in fish numbers is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a while. To an observant person it would be apparent that the leading cause would be the overfishing of the waters by the commercial industry. Second would most likely be the local guides and charters that go out everyday with paying customers bringing in full boat limits sometimes twice a day. Third would be the recreational anglers that pay no attention to the rules or bring in way more than they need just for a sweet picture. Fourth would most likely be pollution from mankind making the waters unfit for fish to live in. I could keep going here... I respect your opinion, and you as well. I hope you learned something from watching