Outdoor writer Gary Caputi hoists a big striped bass. Photo by Ken Freel.

Four hundred years ago while exploring the Chesapeake Bay, Captain John Smith turned into the mouth of the Rappahannock River to do some fishing. The first angler known to file a fishing report for the area, he recorded in glowing detail his experiences using swords and frying pans to battle various species of game fish. Today, visitors to this northernmost peninsula on Virginia's western shore come armed with more efficient tackle. But they still go home amply impressed by the prolific and diverse fishery of the Northern Neck.

Conveniently sandwiched between the Potomac River to the north and the Rappahannock River to the south, the Northern Neck offers a multitude of fish habitat and species to choose from throughout the summer. Admittedly, the area often has to concede top billing to bay hotspots farther south that enjoy higher salinity and longer seasons.

Summer and early fall, however, is payback time for anglers farther north. Striped bass -- arguably the most popular game fish in the entire Chesapeake Bay -- cannot be legally kept in Virginia waters from June 16 through Oct. 3, limiting anglers in other parts of the state to catch-and-release only. Thanks to their location just across the Potomac River from Maryland, anglers fishing out of the Northern Neck have other options.

A reciprocal license agreement between Virginia and Maryland allows anglers with a license from either state to fish anywhere in the Chesapeake Bay. As luck would have it, a short run across the state line will put Northern Neck anglers in the middle of some of the bay's very best summer and fall striped bass fishing. As a bonus, the striper-rich waters of the lower Potomac River are also open for business to anglers with a Virginia license. Can it get any better than that?

As a matter of fact, yes, it can. It just happens that this entire interstate region of the bay, encompassing both sides of the Potomac River, is also home to good numbers of the largest Spanish mackerel to be found in the bay. Throw in a generous supply of spunky bluefish, plus the tendency of all three species to be feeding on the same school of baitfish, and you have the makings of a busy day on the water.

Much of this three-pronged action takes place in an area known as the "Triangle," a large mass of fish-holding real estate off the mouth of the Potomac River. This area can be delineated on a map by drawing a line from Smith Point across the river to Point Lookout, then from Point Lookout southeast to buoy 68, and then back to Smith Point. The entire area, along with the nearby Southwest Middle Grounds, provides outstanding opportunities for all three species throughout the summer and early fall.

WAYS AND MEANS
Anglers fishing in this region not only have the option of targeting any one or all three of these species, but can also choose from various ways to fish for them. Each method has its advantages and adherents, but prudent anglers will go equipped to alter their game plans to suit conditions and the whims of their quarry.

Trolling is usually the choice of those fishing for all three species at once, often producing the largest specimens of each. It is a clear favorite when specifically targeting Spanish mackerel, which have been larger and more plentiful the last couple of years. Last summer, many of them ran in the 4- to 6-pound range.