Chesapeake Bay Amberjack Fishing Tips

Seek amberjack around structures and underwater formations, such as shipwrecks and submerged debris, where baitfish congregate. The best amberjack fishing in Chesapeake Bay is southeast of Rudee Inlet, which is south of the city of Virginia beach, a resort area with accommodations to suit every angler's budget. Any charter boat captain can take you there, or follow nautical charts if bringing your own boat.



Depth finders and fish finders are essential when hunting amberjack in the Chesapeake. These deepwater fish congregate in tight schools when young and under 10 pounds. The big amberjacks, some weighing up to 40 pounds, cruise in smaller, scattered groups.

Live bait, such as small croaker fish weighing less than a pound, work well on Chesapeake amberjack. Hook the croaker behind the dorsal and under the spine to avoid paralyzing the fish. You'll also need a fair amount of sinker weight, between 6 and 12 ounces, to get the bait down to the Amberjack. Rig an egg sinker Carolina style by sliding the sinker about 2 feet above the line and tying a swivel at the end. On the other end of the swivel you'll rig a 2-foot leader rated at least 40 pounds tied to a 2/0 or 4/0 hook, depending in the size of your live bait. On the water, pay out enough line from your reel to get the bait down to where your fish finder shows the amberjack to be cruising.



For artificial lures, jigging works best in the Chesapeake because Amberjack tend to be bottom feeders. Rig your line with an egg sinker as outlined above, then tie off a 2-foot leader with a jig head and hook weighing 1 to 2 oz. Slip on a plastic jig bait resembling baitifish or shrimp. For baitfish, choose a color such as chartreuse, which is about halfway between yellow and green. Grey works well for jigs resembling shrimp. With either jig, you'll want to let the jig head hit bottom, then twitch it upward with the tip of your rod, allowing the lure to settle again.

Amberjack fishing in the Chesapeake Bay peaks between June and September. Since this also coincides with the peak tourist season around the nearby Virginia Beach resort area, you'll want to book accommodations well in advance to get the best rates and availability.



Boat charters can be booked in advance and your days on the bay locked in, although many captains require substantial, non-refundable deposits in advance. Make-up charters are also widely available. With a make-up charter, several people who want to fish on a particular day sign up the night before. If enough people show up the next morning at the dock, the make-up party of strangers goes fishing, with each angler sharing an equal cost of the charter.