Looking to the Future
The 2025 season was an eye-opener for many anglers in Chesapeake Bay. Many changes occurred in various fisheries throughout the Chesapeake, from the lackluster white perch fishing in the middle to upper Bay, to new cobia regulations that impacted the fishing at the mouth of the Bay and, of course, the striped bass fishery. In some cases, typical patterns did not unfold as expected, which can be partially attributed to the ever-changing weather, most notably increased wind and rain in late spring and early summer. Other changes were positive, like the return of large bluefish to the middle and southern portions of the Bay, which kept anglers happy for most of the summer into early fall.
January/February
For the past two years, migratory striped bass have made a comeback in the southern and middle Bay areas, and we are anticipating that trend to continue in 2026. During the cold winter months, the area from Chesapeake Beach down to the mouth of the Potomac River has been the most consistent place to find big migratory striped bass feeding on bunker schools in open water. Casting 7- to 8-inch paddletails paired with 1.5- to 2-ounce jigheads is the go-to presentation. Occasionally, the bass come to the surface, which is prime time to break out 6- to 8-inch walking surface plugs.
In February, migratory striped bass are still an option, but frigid and foul weather can hinder anglers from targeting them. It can get quite cold at times, and boat ramps may freeze over (as they did in 2025), making it challenging to get out on the water. Anglers often switch to fishing in tidal creeks, where there is moving water, to target panfish like crappie and yellow perch. For the 2026 season, there might be adjustments to yellow perch regulations in Maryland to maintain the health of the fishery.
The Eastern Shore tidal rivers and creeks offer the best yellow perch fishing, with the Pocomoke, Nanticoke, and Choptank rivers being standouts. Using a live minnow under a bobber or on a bottom rig produces the most fish, but casting small jigs with 2- to 3-inch plastics can also yield great results.
March/April
We can only hope for another good open-water bite for striped bass in March. They’ll begin to move into their spawning areas in waves, which continues until mid-April, depending on water temperatures. As they head toward their spawning areas, the upper Bay becomes the prime area to find them. Some of the more productive locations are the mouth of the Choptank River, Eastern Bay, and just south of the Bay Bridge, where anglers primarily encounter smaller schools of bass feeding on bunker as they make their way to the Susquehanna Flats or other spawning rivers.
In 2026, most anglers would like to see regulatory changes that will reopen catch-and-release striped bass fishing in April. It used to be one of the best times to target migratory fish, but April has been closed for striper fishing for several years.
Another fishery that keeps anglers busy during the early spring is the annual shad run that occurs in most rivers and creeks in our region, with the most popular runs being the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers. Casting tandem rigs with two shad darts or small jigheads tipped with 2- to 3-inch plastics works great, though don’t overlook small Kastmasters or spoons, which are also very effective.
One fishery that has struggled recently is the white perch. Most tidal rivers receive a perch run that spawn from late March to early April. Smaller tributaries experience shorter runs, while bigger rivers—like the Patuxent, Choptank, and Nanticoke—host the largest, most consistent annual spawning runs. Last season, it was hard to predict the timing due to unseasonably cold weather, but a good strategy during the spring run is to find a deep hole and cast bottom rigs baited with grass shrimp or live minnows, which tend to produce good results.
May/June
May and June of 2025 brought excellent fishing, especially for our early summer striped bass season. It typically opens on May 15, though that may change in 2026 pending regulatory updates by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. From mid-May to early June, there was a great bite of 20- to 30-inch striped bass in the upper Bay, particularly from the Bay Bridge to Pooles Island. Live-lining spot was the most effective method to catch striped bass when fishing around structure, but casting lighter jigs ranging from ½ to 3/4 ounces paired with 5-inch paddletails was very productive, too.
We also have the return of big bluefish to look forward to. They made an early appearance last season, with most in the 3- to 5-pound range, and Bay anglers hope for a repeat this year.
July/August
The 2025 bluefish bite was outstanding in the southern portion of the Bay and kept us busy throughout the summer. While some schools of bluefish made it as far north as the Patuxent River, the mouth of the Potomac River and the Target Ship were the most fruitful areas.
The summer striped bass closure occurs from mid-July to early August but, again, that is subject to change this season. During the closure, the blues kept the action going through August with some bull reds in the mix, which kept things interesting. Casting metal jigs and trolling planers with Clark spoons were the most efficient tactics for summer bluefish.
September/October
September and October were busy on the striper front, with anglers looking for bass in shallow-water areas during the early morning hours and, later, switching to chase leftover bluefish that had migrated to the middle Bay area. While steady striped bass action could be found throughout the region, notable hot spots were the Choptank River, Poplar Island, Patapsco River, and Eastern Bay. Walking surface plugs are the preferred lure for shallow-water stripers this time of year.
November/December
Come fall, Bay anglers are hopeful that migratory striped bass will continue to show up from late November to mid-December, solidifying this run as an annual event. Many new anglers have only recently experienced this; it used to happen in the early 2000s but slowed down for several years. Now it’s happening again and has extended our season into the early winter months. For two consecutive years this phenomenon has occurred, and we hope to see it happen for a third year while also securing a positive outlook for the future of the fishery.
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