Chesapeake Bay (Maryland)

Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, delivers unmatched striped bass (rockfish) fishing across its 200-mile expanse. The fall striper run produces fish over 40 pounds, creating surface blitzes as they chase bunker schools. Light-tackle jigging makes this one of the most accessible trophy fisheries in America, outperforming #8 Boundary Waters for trophy accessibility—you can catch a 30-inch fish within sight of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The bay also hosts over 350 species, including blue crabs, and the fall migration yields 40% more large stripers than the average East Coast estuary. Anglers consistently report 20+ hookups per trip during peak season.