Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report – 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.
What a difference a few days make! Heading into last weekend, we experienced sunshine and temperatures that approached 70…80 degrees. Then a cold front blew across the region with high winds and we’re waking up to temps in the low-30s. How does this affect the fishing? Depends who you ask and what you’re fishing for.
Generally, the front offered excellent fishing for many species just ahead of it and will hopefully offer great fall fishing after. The fish could take a few days to settle into these decreasing temperatures. The swing on the water has seen surface temperatures go from mid-60s to near-60 and should keep dropping with the cold nights we expect for the week ahead.
The tide cycles are mild this week as we approach the last quarter of the moon, with the largest swings occurring overnight. And the solunar forecast is generally average—the best major times for at least the next 8 to 10 days actually occur this weekend during morning hours, so consider this variable when planning your outings.
Striped bass fishing has remained consistently good in the middle Chesapeake Bay with many anglers still focused on chasing birds near the larger river mouths of the Patapsco, Chester, Choptank, South, and West/Rhode. Eastern Bay is still a go-to area in this regard with good action between Bloody Point and Poplar Island. The downside—these popular spots have the most boat traffic, so you may want to hang back from the crowds and search for schooling bass along channel edges, reefs, and wrecks. Now is a good time to set up a few trolling outfits (umbrella and tandem rigs) and ply a target region while keeping an eye on the sonar for big schools. Perhaps have a few jigging spots picked out ahead of time and troll from spot to spot, then reel in your spreads before jigging the area with your light tackle.
Right now, the peanut bunker continue moving down the rivers and into the main Bay, so the lower river sections and mouths are seeing good striper action. I jigged the Route 50 bridge across the Severn River a couple mornings this past week. I connected with what was likely my largest striper of the season before it broke me off. That one stung but proved to me that the bigger fish are sitting low-river waiting to intercept bait.
Upriver, there are still some schoolies in the teens and low-20” inch range hitting a variety of lures. My go-to is a light 1/2-ounce banana head bucktail worked under and around deep water docks, especially when the sun reaches a few fingers above the horizon. I found a nice pod of them around one of my Severn spots this week, with fish up to 22 inches.
The cold weather has activated the pickerel bite and anglers are increasingly targeting the species. Target large fields/patches of SAV, especially any adjacent to creek mouths. The grass congregates minnows and this is where pickerel love to hang out. In the Severn River, most of my pickerel follows came along the weedline. I connected with a couple fish, had a couple more come unbuttoned at the boat, and some turned away. They are active now. I like throwing a variety of small lures this time of year—Rapala countdown minnows, micropaddletails, inline spinners—before upsizing to larger jerkbaits when the water temp dips below 55. In the month ahead, the yellow perch bite will also improve and the two species will offer excellent side-by-side action.
There’s also angler focus on blue catfish, with the species feeding hard right now. The reports I’ve seen are coming from the upper/middle Patuxent River and the Potomac River in the D.C. vicinity. The mouths of the Choptank and Patapsco rivers remain viable options too. Of note, the eastern portion of Fort Smallwood Park in Pasadena (Patapsco River) is closed for maintenance through spring 2024, so the popular riprap shoreline from which many anglers fish for blues is currently off limits. The fishing pier on the western side of the park is still open. No matter where you go, fresh, cut bait on bottom rigs casted near dropoffs and holes could get you on the fish. Good luck!
View the full Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report, written and compiled by writer and media professional James Houck, at reelchesapeake.com.
Angler’s Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.
Upper and Middle Bay
Anglers are discovering striped bass in numerous locations, thanks to the cooler water temperatures that encourage the fish to move more freely. One of the key determinants for these areas is the abundance of forage. As water temperatures drop to around 60 degrees, menhaden begin their migration out of the tidal rivers. Consequently, striped bass are strategically positioning themselves near the entrances of tidal rivers and along the steep channel edges within the Bay, poised to intercept their migrating prey.
Fishing for striped bass during the fall offers anglers various techniques. Jigging with soft plastics or metal jigs is a popular choice for light-tackle enthusiasts. Additionally, trolling is another effective and widely used method for targeting these fish. The preferred jig size typically falls within the ¾-ounce range, with braided line adding sensitivity, and a fast taper fishing rod aiding in the process. For those opting to troll, deploying umbrella rigs behind heavy inline weights along deep channel edges is a favored approach for striped bass fishing at this time.
Catfishing for both blue and channel catfish is currently at its prime. The drop in water temperatures has stirred the catfish into heightened activity, making them readily available in shallower areas. For an ideal catfishing experience, the lower Susquehanna and Chester rivers are exceptional locations. Nevertheless, the region’s tidal rivers, as a whole, host thriving populations of channel catfish and blue catfish.
This week, white perch continue to occupy the tidal rivers and creeks of the region, providing anglers with an enjoyable, leisurely fishing experience. Many are having a great time casting spinnerbaits near shallow-water structure to catch these feisty fish. Another fun method is to use small firefly jigs or grass shrimp beneath a bobber, especially when casting near old pilings or structures.
South Bay
The lower Potomac River is a sought-after location for striped bass fishing. These fish are currently positioned along the channel edges, extending from the mouth of the Wicomico River to St. Clements Island State Park, as well as the steep channel edge from Piney Point to St. Georges Island. These areas present excellent opportunities for trolling or jigging this week. Should fortune favor you, you may spot diving gulls—a potential sign of striped bass driving small menhaden to the surface. In the absence of such surface activity, be vigilant for perched gulls, the presence of slicks, and keep a close eye on your depth finders, as these indicators may lead you to striped bass located in deeper waters. When you encounter concentrations of striped bass, soft plastic or metal jigs offer an exhilarating and effective approach, particularly when employing light tackle. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that black sea bass and toadfish have been making appearances on some of the reefs, occasionally intercepting jigs originally intended for striped bass.
As of this week, shallow water fishing for white perch continues to be a productive option. However, it’s essential to note that with colder weather anticipated in the coming week, these perch are expected to transition to deeper waters. To target them effectively during this period, consider employing bottom rigs. These rigs can be baited with a variety of enticing options, including grass shrimp, minnows, or pieces of bloodworm. This approach provides an excellent way to continue catching white perch even as they make their move to deeper and cooler waters due to the changing weather conditions.
Blue catfish are on the move and feeding aggressively this week in several of the lower Bay’s tidal rivers. The tidal Potomac from the Wilson Bridge south to the Route 301 Bridge and the tidal creeks that feed into it are full of hungry blue catfish. The upper Patuxent and Nanticoke rivers also have large populations of blue catfish. The catfish can be found along the channel edges and generally shallower waters than during the hot summer months. For anglers targeting blue catfish, a selection of fresh cut baits has proven effective. Options such as bunker, soft crab or even jigs with soft plastics have been successful in luring these formidable fish. This dynamic movement and feeding activity offer an exciting opportunity for those looking to engage with blue catfish in the lower Chesapeake Bay’s tidal river systems.
The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Freshwater
Trout anglers continue to enjoy good fishing in many put and take trout management waters this week and some of the catch-and-release designated waters. The trout will spread out as time goes by, so anglers can benefit from exploring areas away from the sites that were stocked this month. Using small lures in the form of spoons, spinners, and flies is a great way to cover a lot of water when looking for that trout that has found a spot to its liking.
Anglers are enjoying good fishing for a mix of species at Deep Creek Lake this week. Cooler water temperatures have spurred smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and northern pike to feed more aggressively. Fishing for smallmouth bass on the upper Potomac is also good due to cooler water temperatures.
Largemouth bass are perhaps one of the most popular freshwater fish pursued by anglers and fishing for them this week is providing excellent opportunities. Cooler water temperatures and less hot sun has the largemouth bass out roaming and feeding throughout most of the day. A wide variety of lures can be used but lures that imitate crayfish and small baitfish will top the list. Small crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, craw jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits are all good choices when covering open water or near diminishing grass beds. Wacky rigged stick worms are always a good choice when fishing near structure.
Northern snakeheads are seeing their coveted thick grass beds decline and can now often be found near shoreline brush or treetops that have fallen into the water. Sunny shorelines where the water will be slightly warmer is a good place to target. White paddletails and chatterbaits rigged with soft white plastics are two of the best lures to use. If you’re fishing from a boat and casting to shoreline structure, dead sticking a large minnow under a bobber in open waters can reap rewards.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Surfside anglers are enjoying good fishing for kingfish this week, and anglers using larger baits are catching striped bass and a few large red drum. At the Ocean City Inlet, striped bass are being caught by anglers casting soft plastic jigs. Sheepshead and a few tautog are being caught along the jetties and near the Route 50 Bridge on sand fleas and crab baits. Fishing for flounder has been good in the inlet and the channels leading towards the inlet. Some larger flounder are being caught on liver finger mullet, small menhaden, large silversides, and Gulp baits.
Outside the inlet, fishing for black sea bass has been excellent at many of the reef and wreck sites, with limit catches being common. Farther offshore at the canyons, a mix of dolphin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and white marlin are being caught by trolling. Those fishing deep for swordfish are being rewarded with a few notable catches. Deep drop anglers are catching a mix of golden and blueline tilefish.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.