[BigRed56]

Ahoy popye, avast there Big Red the pirate of Pine Island says the Chesapeake is for the most part considered a calm inland venue north of the Patuxtent anyway. Sure the wide sections can get nasty in a T- storm or when a front moves through but other than that it''s not really a "swell" kind of place. On the other hand I''ve seen tornados come down and hurricanes waste the last of thier energy stormming up the bay so anything is possible. St. Mikes is nice but touristy, the Chester and Wye are pocked with mud banks and oyster bars, Oxford is much better The Choptank is more usable,and South to the Potomic is more prone to rough beats and heaver chop. Annapolis is the underbelly of it all with way too much traffic though like all such necessary ports there are things to do here like no other and everyone should visit at least once or twice to get the real feel for the place. Swimming ain''t much fun with the jelly fish about but they come and go some years good some bad. Compared to where we are now in SW Fl where the water temp in winter is like the Chesapeakes summer you''d better like it cool to dive in at least till later in the summer anyway. Of course I wouldn''t call the area''s you mentioned exactly fertile fishing grounds or even very clean north ot the bay bridge but the crabbing is good. So pick you weekend or whatever with you eye on the weather and you''ll have a great time. Big Red 56 the Pirate.