I have been spending some time in back bay or shipps bay proper, we all grew up calling the whole body of water back bay, when there are several different names of the bays. I am catching crappie, but they are thick fat shorts, 7 to 8" stunted? High water or wind blowing for several days from the south pushes in higher saltwater so the fish are way up the creeks, low water they move back out into the bay. This bay is so alive with fish jumping everywhere. Have to go through a ton of white perch to catch few crappie. I did get a 13" white perch yesterday but most were 3-4" which is good bait for catfish. seeing a lot more people fishing the bay now and lots of water bugs and kayaks. Bass are about like the white perch they seem to bite anything. Water has been like coffee most of this spring, better fishing is finding clear tea water.
Good report. I have a lot of fond memories of Back Bay
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va