Located about an hour south of our Nation's Capital, and an hour and one-half from Baltimore, the Potomac River meets the mighty Chesapeake Bay at the historically renowned Pt. Lookout. Prime fishing begins in our waters, in mid-April and continues through May, as thousands of trophy Striped Bass (or Rockfish) migrate from their spawning grounds.
Chumming with light tackle for bluefish, striped bass (rockfish), and bottom fishing for weakfish, sea trout, croakers (hardhead), and spot dominate the catch during June and July. Flounder and Spanish mackerel also enter the Middle portion of the Chesapeake Bay as August approaches.
Croakers, or hardhead, the past several seasons have become fantastic! Last year's catch, averaging about 16 inches with many of these bottom dwellers approaching 20 inches and 3 pounds. With a creel limit of 25 per person croakers are fun to catch, delicious eating and freeze well. They are an ideal quarry for novice and veterans alike! Night fishing for croakers on the Chesapeake Bay is a unique experience under the beautiful summer skies of Southern Maryland.
MARICA II is a 42-foot fiberglass vessel built by Hulls Unlimited of Deltaville, VA . Her Deltaville Deadrise was created by retired Naval architect Harry Bulifant. His many designs have been proven by generations of watermen who work along the Chesapeake Bay to withstand its waters.
The 19-foot open deck provides an excellent fishing platform with plenty of space for fly-fishing, trolling, bottom, chumming or light tackle fishing. The comfortable cabin seats six persons and is heated for the cooler days.
She is powered by a 2001 330 HP Cummins diesel. Cruising speed is approximately 22 mph thus enabling us to reach the fishing grounds in and around the Lower Potomac and Middle Chesapeake Bay area in most cases in less than an hour. This of course translates to more fishing and less travel time.
Equipped with the latest navigation equipment we can easily & safely navigate to & from wherever the fish may be located.
Captain Gary Sacks has been fishing the Chesapeake Bay for over 30 years. He is a Licensed U.S. Coast Guard Marine Officer, maintains a 50 Ton Master's License, a Maryland Commercial Tidal Fish License, Chesapeake Bay Resident Fishing Guide License, Potomac River Commercial Charter Boat License, and a Virginia Chesapeake Bay Striped bass permit. Capt. Gary also holds a General Class amateur radio license, WA3BOP as well as a Private Pilot's License.
As a retired Elementary and Middle School teacher/administrator he has the patience and understanding of children as well as adults. "Once a teacher, always a teacher", he enjoys talking to his clients about Chesapeake Bay history, marine life, waterfowl, and environmental issues. Capt. Sacks has also turned his knowledge and enjoyment of fishing toward teaching others techniques so they can get the most from angling on the Chesapeake Bay.
Mate Buddy Schuh begins his fourteenth year with Capt Gary aboard Marica this season on Mondays & Tuesdays. Buddy is an avid outdoorsman who has fished from Alaska to Australia. His biggest thrill is the Trophy Striped bass, or rockfish ! The excitement that exudes from him each time we have a hook up is contagious. You will find Buddy to be an excellent teacher with lots of understanding and patience as he and Capt Gary do their best to assist you in catching fish and ensure your charter on the Chesapeake Bay to be an enjoyable and memorable one.
Mate Capt.Warren Keister, starts his fifth year working weekends aboard the MARICA II. Capt. Warren has been on the water not too long after he was a four year old school student of Capt.Gary's. Capt. Warren's easy going methodical way makes him a great asset to you the party.
Working Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as the mate is Rodie Langley.
Mate Rodie comes from a long family of local waterman. He is a high energy young man whose thirst for and about nature is unparalleled. Rodie eats ands sleeps fishing. His previous experience working in a seafood market has given him lots of experience in fish preparation.
My clients pay hard earned money to fish, not watch someone fish for them. You are welcome to assist the mate in as many chores as you would like such as preparing baits, baiting lines, setting out trolling lures and netting fish. It's your charter and we will let you become as involved as you want to be.
Located about an hour south of our Nation's Capital, and an hour and one-half from Baltimore, the Potomac River meets the mighty Chesapeake Bay at the historically renowned Pt. Lookout. Prime fishing begins in our waters, in mid-April and continues through May, as thousands of trophy Striped Bass (or Rockfish) migrate from their spawning grounds.
Chumming with light tackle for bluefish, striped bass (rockfish), and bottom fishing for weakfish, sea trout, croakers (hardhead), and spot dominate the catch during June and July. Flounder and Spanish mackerel also enter the Middle portion of the Chesapeake Bay as August approaches.
Croakers, or hardhead, the past several seasons have become fantastic! Last year's catch, averaging about 16 inches with many of these bottom dwellers approaching 20 inches and 3 pounds. With a creel limit of 25 per person croakers are fun to catch, delicious eating and freeze well. They are an ideal quarry for novice and veterans alike! Night fishing for croakers on the Chesapeake Bay is a unique experience under the beautiful summer skies of Southern Maryland.
U. S. Navy Target Ship
Located approximately 7 miles East of Pt Lookout in the Central Chesapeake Bay ( 38.02.439 North Latitude and 076.09.208 West Longitude) lays the Joseph Holland. Built in 1898, a Collier, by J. Blumer and Co., Sunderland, Great Britain. She was acquired by the U.S Navy 16 April 1898 and commissioned USS Hannibal, 7 June 1898. Decommissioned, 15 August 1911; Re-commissioned, 16 October 1911; Decommissioned in 1920 at Philadelphia, PA; Re-commissioned, 9 February 1921 as USS Hannibal (AG-1), Decommissioned, 20 August 1944 and struck from the Naval Register (date unknown). Final disposition, sunk as a bombing target, March 1945.
Specifications: Displacement 4,000 tons; Length 274' 1"; Beam 39' 2"; Draft 17' 7"; Speed 9 knots; Complement 244; Armament one 4" gun mount, two 3" guns, 8 .50 cal. machine guns.
On October 21, 1966, The American Mariner was sunk in 20 feet of water in the Chesapeake Bay next to Hannibal to be used as a target ship for Navy pilots flying from Patuxent River Naval Air Station. She remains there today.
American Mariner began construction in Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore, MD, as S.S. George Calvert, U.S. Maritime Commission hull number 20. Immediately upon launching, the standard construction and outfitting contract with Fairfield was cancelled, and she was towed to the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Key Highway plant in Baltimore for completion as a cadet training ship. At that time, her name was changed to American Mariner to become a companion to American Seaman and American Sailor as cadet training vessels. She continued in service as a training ship until 1950, when she was laid up at Kings Point, NY. She was still used for training even though laid up until December 1953 when she was transferred to the Hudson River Reserve Fleet at Jones Point, NY. Here she remained until June 1958 when she was towed out of reserve for conversion into a missile tracking platform for the Army. She began her new duties on the Atlantic Missile Range in January 1959. She continued as a missile tracking ship for various agencies until 1965.
Specifications: Displacement: 4,023 t. (lt); 14,250 t.(fl); Length 441' 7"; Beam 57' 11";
Draft 24' 7"; Speed 11 knots; Propulsion, reciprocating steam engine, single propeller, 2,500shp.
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