Maryland DNR Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
The warm weather has done much to improve fishing for hickory shad at Deer and Octoraro creeks and in the Susquehanna River near the Conowingo Dam pool. Increasing numbers of American shad are being caught and released by anglers in the dam pool and Susquehanna. Most shad catch-and-release anglers are using a tandem rig with a shad dart and a small silver spoon tied in above.
Smallmouth bass are also providing some exciting fishing in the Susquehanna River a short distance below the dam pool. Soft plastic jigs and grubs are popular baits when fishing in the deep eddies and pools. White perch are becoming more common in the lower Susquehanna and are being caught on small jigs and bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm.
Flathead catfish are being caught in the dam pool by anglers using surf fishing spinning outfits and casting into the turbine wash with large pieces of cut bait, with just enough weight to get down to the fish. A little farther down the river, blue and channel catfish can be found in large numbers in the deeper parts of the channel near the railroad bridge and down to Havre de Grace. Many anglers are also jigging with soft plastic along channel edges and having some light tackle jigging action.
The nearby Elk River and other tidal rivers in the upper Bay all have blue and channel catfish. They can also be found in the Bay in many locations. Fresh cut bait of menhaden, gizzard shad, chicken liver, chicken breast meat, or wild table shrimp all work well. The Chester River contains a large population of blue catfish.
White perch are found in the middle sections of most of the region’s tidal rivers. The channels are the highway they are using as they head down to their summertime haunts near the mouths of the rivers. Bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm are the most popular way to fish for them in these deeper waters.
Middle Bay
Chesapeake Bay anglers are patiently waiting for May 1, opening day of the trophy striped bass season, by tuning up gear and putting finishing touches on boats. Others enjoy fishing for catfish, white perch, and hickory shad in the tidal rivers.
A mix of channel and blue catfish can be found in the Bay and all the region’s tidal rivers. The channel catfish are widespread and blue catfish are showing up with increased regularity. The Choptank River holds the highest concentrations of blue catfish, from the Dover Bridge upriver to Denton. Fresh-cut bait of menhaden or gizzard shad is a very popular bait, but chicken liver and breast pieces work. If on a low tide you happen upon some rangia clams, which are common in the brackish water sections of the Choptank River, they make excellent bait when shucked. Blue catfish will routinely eat rangia clams whole.
White perch in the tidal rivers are steadily headed for the lower sections where they will reside until the fall. Most anglers are using bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm to reach the white perch as they move along in the deeper waters.
Hickory shad have reached the upper parts of the Choptank River at Red Bridges between Greensboro and Goldsboro. Small shad darts rigged in tandem with small silver spoons are a popular choice for this catch-and-release fishery.
Lower Bay
The tidal rivers of the lower Bay are offering plenty of fishing action for blue catfish this week. The tidal Potomac River from the Wilson Bridge south to the Route 301 Bridge holds great numbers of blue catfish, some of which are very large. Anglers are drifting baits into the channels or jigging with soft plastics. Cut bait of menhaden, gizzard shad, chicken liver of breast, wild grocery store shrimp, and a variety of scented baits work well.
The Patuxent River from Benedict to Jug Bay holds large numbers of blue catfish, and the Nanticoke River near Sharpstown also holds a large population. Increasing numbers of blue catfish are beginning to show up in the Wicomico and Pocomoke rivers.
Hickory and American shad are providing fun catch-and-release fishing this week in the upper tidal Potomac at the Fletchers Landing area and Mattawoman Creek. Shad darts rigged in tandem with small silver spoons are the most popular rig to cast with light spinning gear. Small colorful weighted flies are being used by those using fly casting rods.
White perch are being found in the tidal creeks and middle sections of the region’s tidal rivers this week. Most of the perch are deep as they use the channel waters to move down the rivers. Using bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm are one of the best ways to fish for them.
Northern snakeheads are becoming more active as water temperatures warm. Look for them on the sunny side of creeks in shallower waters. Catch them by casting white paddletails rigged in a weedless manner and working the lure through spatterdock fields and near shoreline brush. The tidal creeks of lower Dorchester County, and the Nanticoke, Wicomico, Patuxent, and Potomac rivers all have large populations of northern snakeheads.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Along the beaches of Assateague Island, anglers are catching black drum in the surf. Sand fleas have been the most popular bait. At the Ocean City Inlet and Route 50 Bridge area, tautog are being caught on sand fleas fished close to the rocks, bulkheads, and bridge piers. Striped bass are also being caught in the area by working soft plastic jigs close to the bottom. This is mostly a fun catch-and-release fishery.
Flounder are being caught in the back bay channels; those leading away from the inlet have been some of the most productive. Drifting Gulp baits, minnows, or squid is the most common tactic. At the Route 90 Bridge anglers are catching and releasing sub-legal striped bass on soft plastic jigs and paddletails.
At the offshore wreck and reef sites, large tautog continue to entertain anglers. Most anglers can catch a limit of tautog, and some are treated to pulling up a tautog in the double-digit weight category.
Freshwater Opportunities
Trout fishing in the put-and-take trout waters is taking center stage for many anglers. The trout hatchery and regional biologists are busy replenishing areas so anglers can continue to enjoy a good fishing experience for those that wish to keep the trout they catch.
There are also wonderful trout fishing opportunities in many of the catch-and-release and gear-specific waters. The upper Gunpowder and western region waters such as the Savage provide world class trout fishing experiences.
The upper Potomac River is running clear this week and water temperatures are about 70 degrees. Smallmouth bass can be found near submerged ledges, eddies, and large boulder fields. Casting topwater lures at dawn can offer some exciting topwater action; as the sun climbs in the sky and the waters warm, grubs, small crankbaits, tubes, and soft plastic craws are good choices. Walleye are holding in some of the deeper pools and eddies. Minnows, jigs, and jerkbaits can be good choices to fish for them.
Largemouth bass are spawning in most areas of Maryland except the far western waters. The females will be found in the shallow spawning areas along with the male largemouth bass, protecting their eggs and fry from marauding bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish looking for a tasty snack.
Fishing for crappie remains good this week, and they can be found holding near structure in medium depths. Marina docks, fallen treetops, sunken wood, and bridge piers are all good places to look for crappie. A small minnow or marabou jig under a slip bobber are excellent choices for baits.
Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Angler’s Sport Center Video Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
Upper and Middle Bay
South
Crabbing
Coastal
Additional Info.
The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.
Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report Summary – Annapolis, MD
The Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report is written and compiled by writer and media professional, James Houck. Find the full report here, at reelchesapeake.com.
Though hickory and American shad have been on the move since the early part of this month, exactly when and where the fish head to their spawning grounds occurs at different times and locations through the first week or so of May. The Upper Mattawoman (off the Potomac River) was hot last week with hickory shad. On our Friday morning visit to the Upper Patuxent, however, shad were a no-show. But by Monday, American shad had arrived.
Topwater has been the name of the game for largemouth bass and northern snakehead in the tidal fisheries, with reports of snakehead catches exploding this week. Both are hitting frog and mice imitators in several vibrant colors (pink, white, yellow, orange), and some of the snakehead have been in the 30-inch range.
Additionally, crappie and bluegills are staging around cover and eager to nibble small offerings, such as stingers on a jig, Gulp minnows, and tiny spinners. If you aren’t eating these panfish, you could try your hand at using them as bait for larger fish, especially catfish. Multiple species of cats have been reported this week. Blue, white, channel, and flathead catfish have been caught from the deeper waters of creek and river mouths. The Patapsco and Magothy rivers have been particularly active.
And though blue crabbing season officially opened on April 1st, we’re still not hearing of many being caught. It’s still very early in the season.The crabs are only beginning to move from their overwinter mudholes. As water temps climb, so too will the crabs into the Bay’s tributaries.
View the full Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report, written and compiled by writer and media professional James Houck, at reelchesapeake.com.