Chessie: The Chesapeake Bay Monster

For nearly a century, residents along the Chesapeake Bay have reported encounters with a large, serpentine creature swimming through America’s largest estuary. Named “Chessie” as a playful nod to Scotland’s famous Loch Ness Monster, this cryptid has become an icon of Mid-Atlantic folklore - and the subject of serious investigation.

Early Sightings

Pre-Modern Reports

Indigenous Algonquin peoples had legends of large serpents in the bay, though specific documentation is limited. The first widely reported modern sighting came in 1936 when a military helicopter crew reported a serpentine creature in the bay.

Sightings remained sporadic through the mid-20th century, with fishermen and boaters occasionally reporting unusual creatures.

The 1978 Wave

In 1978, sightings increased dramatically:

• Multiple witnesses from different locations
• Consistent descriptions of a dark, serpentine form
• Estimates of 25-40 feet in length
• Sightings concentrated in the upper bay near the Potomac River

The Frew Video

May 31, 1982

The most compelling evidence emerged on May 31, 1982, when Robert and Karen Frew of Kent Island, Maryland, videotaped something unusual in the bay near their home.

The footage shows:

• A dark, serpentine shape moving through the water
• Humped appearance with multiple coils visible
• Estimated length of 30-35 feet
• Smooth, deliberate movement

Analysis

The Frews submitted their video to the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History. Scientists examined the footage but reached no definitive conclusion:

• The object appeared animate
• Size was difficult to determine without reference points
• It could not be positively identified as any known species
• The video quality limited detailed analysis

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory also examined the footage, confirming the object was “alive” but unable to identify it.

Physical Description

Across hundreds of sightings, witnesses consistently describe:

• Shape: Serpentine or eel-like
• Length: 25-40 feet
• Color: Dark brown, gray, or black
• Body: Rounded, with humps visible above water
• Head: Football-shaped, sometimes described as snake-like
• Movement: Undulating, smooth swimming motion
• Behavior: Generally indifferent to boats; sometimes follows vessels briefly

Unlike aggressive lake monsters of legend, Chessie appears docile and curious, occasionally approaching boats before submerging.

Notable Sightings

1980 - Love Point

Four charter boat operators reported a 30-foot creature with a humped back swimming parallel to their boats near Love Point.

1982 - Multiple Witnesses

Beyond the Frew video, 1982 saw an explosion of sightings:

• Over 78 reported encounters
• Witnesses included police officers, scientists, and boaters
• Sightings spanned from the Potomac to the lower bay

1984 - Former CIA Officer

A retired CIA officer reported observing Chessie for several minutes through binoculars, describing a 25-foot serpentine creature with a rounded head.

Recent Sightings

Reports continue into the 21st century, with periodic sightings by boaters, fishermen, and shoreline residents. Social media has enabled faster reporting and information sharing among Chessie enthusiasts.

Possible Explanations

Giant Eel

Some researchers suggest Chessie could be an unusually large eel:

• American eels are native to the bay
• Under exceptional conditions, eels could grow larger than normal
• Body shape matches descriptions

However, no eel approaching 30 feet has ever been documented.

Manatee

Occasional manatees wander into the Chesapeake:

• Their body shape could be mistaken for a serpent
• They are warm-water animals, limiting bay presence
• Manatees don’t match the serpentine description well

Anaconda or Python

Released exotic pets could survive temporarily:

• Large constrictors could match descriptions
• The bay’s temperatures would be challenging
• No specimens have been recovered

Unknown Species

Cryptozoologists suggest:

• An unclassified species of large marine animal
• A prehistoric survivor
• An as-yet-undocumented form of giant eel or fish

Misidentification

Skeptics propose witnesses may be seeing:

• Logs or debris
• Schools of fish moving together
• Large sturgeon (which can reach 14 feet)
• Optical illusions on the water

Cultural Impact

Chessie has become a beloved symbol:

• Conservation Mascot: Adopted to promote bay environmental protection
• Tourism: Chesapeake communities embrace Chessie lore
• Merchandise: T-shirts, stuffed animals, and books
• Events: Chessie-themed festivals and tours

In 2003, the U.S. Navy even used “Chessie” as the name for an autonomous underwater vehicle used for oceanographic research.

Investigation Continues

Unlike many cryptids, Chessie inhabits a heavily populated, well-studied body of water:

• Thousands of boats traverse the bay daily
• Scientific research is ongoing
• Conditions favor documentation

Yet despite this accessibility, Chessie remains unidentified. If the creature exists, its apparent rarity and ability to remain submerged have protected its mystery.

The Question

The Chesapeake Bay covers 4,479 square miles with depths reaching 175 feet. Its murky waters and rich marine life could conceivably harbor an unknown species.

Is Chessie a prehistoric survivor, an oversized eel, a wandering tropical visitor, or simply a series of misidentifications? The Frew video and hundreds of eyewitness accounts suggest something unusual swims beneath the bay’s surface.

For now, Chessie continues to make occasional appearances - a reminder that even in our well-explored world, mysteries endure in our own backyard waters.