May Worms
 

Can someone give me a description of a May Worm, or better yet can you give me a web site that has a picture of a May Worm. I have heard that the rock bite will almost stop for trollers when the May Worm hatch is in full bloom.

SommerTime

Try a search on the DNR's web site, I know Keith did a piece on them in May one of the last couple years in their reports and had pictures.

Found a link to the fishing report with a pic.
http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/fi...52009index.asp

I am thinking of trying short red hoses when trolling that time of the year this year and see if I have any luck.

Small, bright red worm - I believe it's the same worm that you will find in oysters on occasion. When they (the worms) are spawning, the rockfish gorge on them all night to the point where they are so stuffed they stop feeding. If you catch a fish during this binge, they normally spit the worms all over the deck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_clam_worm

http://chesapeakelighttackle.com/200...n-the-mid-bay/

Thanks everyone-now I am educated.

www.google.com :)

They are a non existent, legend...kind of like Chessie and the Loch Ness Monster. We tell people the rock are full of them in late April Early may so they stop fishing and miss the best bite...I hope noone flames me for giving the secret away

Nah, since you're already a flamer, not much we can add to it.

A lot of the guys trolling who have trouble catching Rock during the May worm time do not change their rigs.

The Rock are eating small 1 to 3 inch red worms that mass up very close to bottom.

Now - you troll mid depth with 6 to 9 inch shads - not many Rock will bite.

Small surge hoses 3-6 inches long fished with 20 ozs almost on the bottom - two bounces - will catch them. A downrigger with a tube umbreela is killer. Adjust the cable so the weight is close to bottom.

Going very early helps as the worms spawn at night. A very good finder tuned high will show a fuzzy cloud if the mass of worms is thick enough.

25 to 35 feet of water seems best. You can catch Rock in the worm hatch - just need to change lures.

When the Mayworms are hatching you gotta get stuff down deep.......small surgical hoses on a long leader from a dropper weight....20oz, 18" long.....bounce the weight off the bottom at trolling speed, the lure will be just above the bottom in the worms.
Like Skip said, 25-30 feet is best, muddy bottom.......the hatch will be on for maybe 2 weeks max.

Best thing we have found to do during the mayworms is to chum with FRESH bait.