Pete Robbins Andy Gavin bluefish 1970s Solomons Islands Chesapeake Bay

My first fishing memory – the one that spawned or at least unearthed this obsession – was on the Chesapeake Bay. It was the summer of 1976, and my dad and two of his friends decided to charter a boat for bluefish and bring along the three 6 year-olds. At some point during the day, everyone else stopped to eat, but I couldn’t stop fishing. Yes, that jug-eared, emaciated kid on the right is me.

I rarely fish the Bay itself anymore, but I spend plenty of time on its tributaries, and if you live within a hundred miles of DC or Baltimore you can’t help but be influenced by “Chesapeake Culture.” I couldn’t (didn’t?) drink in 1976, but if you want a taste of the bay today below are some options.

For those who know, Natty Boh is the “official” beer of Baltimore. They now make a “Crab Shack Shandy”

National Bohemian Natty Boh Crab Shack Shandy Beer Baltimore Bal'mer

Another crab-themed beer comes from Fin City Brewing Co., a frequent Half Past First Cast entrant, with Backfin Blue Crab Stout

Fin City Brewing Company Backfin Blue Crab Stout Beer Chesapeake

Old Bay seasoning wafts through the air around here, and Flying Dog Brewery has come out with Dead Rise, Old Bay Gose

Flying Dog Brewery Dead Rise Old Bay Gose seasoning beer Chesapeake

Stripers are the bay’s most prized sportfish, and Devil’s Backbone Brewing offers Striped Bass Pale Ale

Devil's Backbone Brewing Striped Bass Pale Ale Chesapeake Bay Foundation citrus beer

Around here stripers are referred to as “Rockfish” so consider a Rockfish Wheat from Blue Mountain Brewery

Blue Mountain Brewery Rockfish summer wheat beer

Maine’s Shipyard Brewing Co., another frequent entrant here, offers up a beer in honor of my 6-year-old gateway fish: Blue Fish Brut IPA

Shipyard Brewing Blue Fish Brut IPA beer chesapeake

And Reformation Brewery in Georgia brews up Blue Fish Blue Raspberry Kettle Sour

Reformation Brewery Georgia Blue Fish Blue Raspberry Kettle Sour

Finally, if fishing ain’t your thing, celebrate the “national sport” of Ball’mer with Duckpin Pale Ale from Union Craft Brewing. No rainsuit, GPS or umbrella rigs required.