Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Monday morning fishing report for the Chesapeake Bay region. December's here and it's prime time on the water.

Let's talk conditions. We're looking at water temperatures dropping into the 40s, which concentrates our fish around structure. Today we've got decent tidal windows—check your local tide charts, but expect high tides around mid-morning and evening in most spots. The Bay's been productive, with cooler temps firing up our best gamefish.

Speaking of gamefish, December is absolutely lights out for trophy rockfish. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel's been holding concentrations of 20 to 40 pounders, especially around those pilings and the deep holes in the lower bay. Troll artificial spoons, bucktails, and swimming plugs near structure, or bottom-rig eels in 30 to 50 feet of water. Locals are reporting solid catches along the CBBT right now.

Tautog fishing's heating up too. Hit the artificial reefs off Virginia Beach and lower bay structures with green crabs or fiddler crabs on a fish-finder rig. You're looking at steady picks of 3 to 8 pounders if you can wrench them from the rocks.

Speckled trout are still available if you know where to look. Focus on protected inlets and creeks like Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Cast MirrOLures or soft plastics over grass flats on outgoing tides. As water temps drop, they're moving deeper, so target 18 to 25 inchers around deeper holes.

Bluefish are pushing through the bay and surf. You'll find snappers in the one to five pound range, with bigger choppers up to 10 pounds offshore. Spoon fishing works great.

My hot spots? The Bridge-Tunnel for rockfish without question. And if you want mixed bag action, head to the artificial reefs off Virginia Beach for tautog and sea bass.

Bundle up out there—daylight's short and wind's picking up. Thanks for tuning in and make sure you subscribe for daily updates.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI