Change Preferences | Sign Out
SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives
Page 2 of 3   <       >

Fall's Arrival Brings Rise of Rockfish

Dick Franyo of Annapolis fights a rockfish off Tangier Island. Fishing improves as water temperatures cool.
Dick Franyo of Annapolis fights a rockfish off Tangier Island. Fishing improves as water temperatures cool. (By Angus Phillips For The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
Resize
COMMENT
0 Comments 
Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging
» Links to this article

It wasn't nonstop and sadly, no speckled trout showed up, but the action on rockfish up to 24 inches long was exhilarating. The fish were hungry, struck decisively and put up a good fight, and only a few wore the depressing red spots of disease. Healthy or sick, we released all we caught.

Franyo, 61, a retired Baltimore investment banker who owns the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Annapolis, was high rod by a lot, having honed his skills over years fishing with Josenhans. He also wins the award for most enthusiastic hook-setter. Every time a fish struck, he'd let out a yelp and jerk back on the rod with an exuberance that grew downright unwelcome to those of us not sharing his level of success. "If I ever do a fishing video," said Josenhans, "I'm going to make sure Dick is in it."

The harder the tide ran the better the bite got, and we probably had brought 30 rock to the boat by quitting time at 4 p.m. "That's nothing," said Franyo. "I've had days when we stopped counting at 100."

Josenhans reckons those days are yet to come. With water temperatures lingering in the mid-70s, the fall run is late, he said. "It doesn't get really good till it's in the 60s." Slomski, up in Baltimore, shares his optimism about angling prospects over the next month and a half. "It's just starting to get right," he said.

Twenty years ago, it was hard to find a light-tackle or fly-fishing guides like Josenhans and Slomski on the Chesapeake, but these days more and more outfitters keep their boats on trailers and go where the action is. Following is a list of 21 such guides who specialize in the middle bay, as provided by the Chesapeake Guides Association ( http://www.chesapeakeguides.com ):

Bo Toepfer, Chesapeake Bay Fly Fishing, 410-535-6259

Norm Bartlett, Saltwater Fly Fishing Guide Service, 410-679-8790

Richard Borneman, Twilight Zone Charters, 410-939-2948

Mike Critzer, Coastal Fly Fishing Charters, 301-253-5605 or 240-876-6915 (boat)

Tom Cross, Fast Break Charter Service, 410-827-6687

Steve Culver, Check Your Fly Charters, 410-476-3342

Pete Dahlberg, Four Seasons Guide Service, 410-586-8340 or 703-395-9955


<       2        >


© 2005 The Washington Post Company