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 fishing reports and more at reelchesapeake.com.
We’re in the thick of December fishing and with the Christmas holiday approaching, it seems anglers in the middle Chesapeake Bay have already been given an exceptional gift. A massive school of ocean migrating striped bass have made their way far up the Bay, which is a bit early. But more unexpected is that they’ve made their way as far north as the Annapolis area already.
We’re talking about 40-plus-inch fish being jigged up from the channel edges in droves this past week. The charter fleet and recs have lit up social media feeds with their catches. Though not apt to give exact locations, captains are generally reporting from as close to home as the Severn River’s mouth down to the Chesapeake Beach area. Your best bet at locating these fish is to seek living, hard bottom (oyster beds), wrecks, and major depth changes near main-stem points, river mouths, and, as mentioned, the shipping channel edges. Jigging with 1- to 3-ounce heads tipped with 5- to 10-inch soft plastics (white/chartreuse!), diamond jigs, or large ‘n heavy flutter spoons, is working. The fish are usually holding deep near bottom, but some reports have spoken of a sub-surface bite when the bunker wash through an area, so keep some SP minnows in your bag or, for a fun challenge, your 9wt fly rod with sizable sinking Clousers handy. Keep an eye on your electronics for baitfish, another eye on your binoculars for any remaining birds, and good luck at getting your catch-and-release trophy striper.
Many anglers have also turned their attention to areas even further south—the Solomons and Point Lookout areas to target the migrating stripers. This is the time of year to intercept the larger fish well ahead of their spawn. The fish are still feeding on the bunker moving down the Bay to the ocean. During an extreme cooldown, like we’ve had this week, the bite can be a bit more challenging. So, look forward to the weather warming slightly next week, as well as the full moon on Tuesday, to kick-start the bite again.
Chain pickerel are active and several anglers—myself included—are seeing more fish in shallow grass beds than around deep structure (e.g. laydowns). Seems the pickerel are holding in the dying weeds and picking off the yellow perch and minnows that also congregate there. The best rivers are the Patapsco, Magothy, Severn, and Choptank/Tuckahoe. If you find the bite difficult, absolutely change your presentation to something wholly unique. Example: last Saturday I worked a jerkbait around a shallow cove to no avail, only having a couple chasing fish. I switched to an inline spinner/paddletail combo and scored two nice pickerel on back-to-back casts. Throwing them a different look can make all the difference between getting chased and connecting.
Jumbo yellow perch are also very active. If you can find a school, hang on and have fun. I’ve had success finding the perch around the same grassbeds as pickerel, but also in the water just ahead of shallow, creek-end coves. In other words, some fish will hold in water that’s 5 to 7 feet ahead of the 2- to 3-foot flats. Micropaddletails on 1/8oz jigheads or #3 Mepps have been two excellent options for me this season, so far.
In many of the Baltimore-region rivers and those on the middle Eastern Shore, you also have a shot at good crappie fishing right now. Target deeper sitting wood cover. The Marshyhope near Federalsburg is a good option to try for them. One angler we know fishes the creek almost daily and rarely goes home without a full stringer.
I also gave fallfish a targeted approach this week, just for giggles. Unfortunately, I believe the overnight freeze we’ve had the past three nights, shut down anything biting in the way upper Patuxent. At least for me.
And we continue to hear and see reports of blue catfish being caught in the Potomac watershed from D.C. south and the Jug Bay area of the Patuxent, although the species should be starting to hunker down in the deepest holes now, making shore-bound fishing a bit more difficult. Heavy bottom rigs do cast far and hold deep though, and as long as you have fresh bait on stout 7/0 to 10/0 hooks, you have a shot at hooking into a behemoth. Good luck!
View the full Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report, written and compiled by writer and media professional James Houck, at reelchesapeake.com.
From West Ocean City, Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing Charters is still hammering the sea bass grounds, however, only a few anglers per trip have been limiting out. The skipper thinks that the sea bass fishing may return to stasis after this week’s blow. They plan to do some sea bass fishing on the mornings of Friday 12/22 and Saturday 12/23, as well as a shorter tog fishing trip on Christmas Eve. For anglers planning a feast of seven fishes, grabbing some last-minute sea bass or tog fillets is a great idea.
Late last week, the Captain kept his tog charter close to the beach for a productive day of tautog fishing. The action wasn’t lights out, but it wasn’t slow either; better fishing than they could have hoped. They didn’t boat any jumbos, which the skipper attributes to increased angling pressure, but plenty of keepers were caught for a quick turnaround.
Earlier this week before the storm, the Captain reported slow fishing upon arriving to his “local” sea bass spots, but as the current changed direction, the fishing noticeably improved. Anglers began hauling in limits of sea bass on baited rigs, which proved more productive than jigs that day, and a couple anglers even kept their limit of bluefish. Still, the fishing was a shadow of what it was in the weeks prior.
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
Exciting times for anglers as trophy-sized striped bass make their seasonal appearance! While the typical depth for successful catching is around 30 feet, there’s a twist this year – some monsters have been unexpectedly reeled in from super shallow waters, ranging from 2 to 6 feet deep. The mystery of their unusual behavior adds an extra layer of excitement to the pursuit of these magnificent fish. Striped bass continue to be a target around flocking birds, signaling the presence of migrating baitfish. The favored methods for successful catches are jigging and trolling. Using either an umbrella or tandem rig while trolling has proven to be the preferred and effective approach for anglers aiming to capitalize on the excitement in pursuit of a trophy fish.
Blue catfish are proving to be an excellent alternative for anglers facing challenges with the striped bass bite. These invasive and hard-fighting fish not only offer an exciting battle but also provide a generous amount of meat to stock up your freezers. Targeting blue catfish is particularly straightforward, especially in the winter months with dropping water temperatures. While catfish, in general, are known to go for various lures and baits, blue catfish have a preference for cut soft crab or cut bunker. Armed with this knowledge, anglers can enhance their success and make the most of the winter fishing season.
Great news for anglers seeking pickerel action! The pickerel bite is at its prime, with these predatory fish actively hunting smaller prey. Given their nature as ambush predators, anglers can maximize their success by targeting pickerel around shallow grass beds or submerged structure. For those looking for a tried-and-true lure recommendation, the Z-Man Willow Vibe paired with a 3.75-inch plastic has proven to be a favorite among our staff here at Anglers. This winning combination is a surefire way to entice and hook some good-sized pickerel.
South Bay
Excellent insight for white perch anglers: these fish are currently staging deep, starting at around 30 feet with a hard bottom. Given their inclination to move and stage in warmer, deeper waters, traditional spinners may not be as effective. The go-to solution is a bottom rig, and Anglers recommends the Chesapeake Sabiki Rig for its depth-reaching capabilities and regulatory compliance with Maryland waters, boasting only 2 hooks. To enhance your success, tipping these rigs with live or artificial bait proves to be the perfect strategy. Prepare for a rewarding day of white perch fishing and a cooler filled with these tasty catches!
Trophy striped bass action is picking up! These prized fish are displaying a wide variety of depth preferences, with the most common being around 30 feet. However, an unusual winter pattern is creating unique opportunities to catch trophy-sized striped bass in as little as 3 feet of water—a deviation from the norm that adds an extra layer of excitement to the angling experience. While flocks of birds typically signal the presence of migrating baitfish pursued by striped bass, there’s been a recent decline in the frequency of feeds signaled by our avian indicators. Nevertheless, anglers are finding success through two favored methods: trolling and jigging. Trolling, in particular, has been most popular, offering exceptional opportunities to connect with rockfish.
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 fishing in the put-and-take areas is a wonderful way to introduce anglers of all ages to fishing with some success. During the winter many marginal trout waters in community areas provide cool enough water conditions for stocked trout to survive until the early summer. These sites can usually be reached by most Maryland without too much driving and they are relatively easy to fish. A simple bobber, hook, and bait – either an earthworm or artificial such as a Powerbait – is all that is needed within easy casting distance. There are also some trout management waters that are set aside for our young anglers under the age of 16.
The catch-and-release and gear-specific trout management waters offer plenty of fun for those using fly fishing gear or using artificials. Many of these trout management waters are located in the western region of Maryland, offering solitude and a picturesque setting of mountain streams. In the central region there are a few similar trout management waters, with the upper Gunpowder River being one of the more popular locations.
The upper Potomac River is providing good fishing for smallmouth bass and walleye for the coming months. Water levels can change and cause hazardous conditions at times so caution should be taken after heavy rainfall. U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets must be always worn when on the upper Potomac and its tributaries from November 15 to May 15. Deep Creek Lake and the lower Susquehanna River also have populations of smallmouth bass and walleye and Prettyboy Reservoir has a healthy smallmouth bass population.
Fishing for crappie remains good during the winter, and they can be found holding close to deep structure. Bridge piers and marina docks are good places to look for them in tidal and nontidal waters. The tidal Potomac River near the Wilson Bridge is a popular crappie fishing area.
Anglers fishing in the tidal creeks of the Chesapeake are starting to catch yellow perch in some of the deeper areas. Small minnows on a bottom rig or jig head are great ways to catch them.
Largemouth bass can be found during the winter in a variety of waters, tidal and nontidal. One thing they will all have in common is deep water. The largemouth will be holding deep near channel drop-offs and structure. Blade lures and soft craw jigs are good choices for lures, but they must be worked slowly and close to the bottom.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Striped bass are moving through Maryland’s offshore waters this month, unfortunately they are large fish above the 31-inch limit and are in the U.S. exclusive economic zone beyond Maryland jurisdiction. Some will move along the beaches and anglers are out in force this week hoping to hook into one even if it is catch and release.
There are plenty of smaller striped bass in the inlet and the Route 50 Bridge area as well as near the Route 90 Bridge. Most fail to meet the 28-inch minimum but are providing plenty of fun catch-and-release fishing for anglers casting soft plastic jigs and paddletails. Anglers are catching tautog around the inlet jetty rocks and the bulkheads and bridge piers near the Route 50 Bridge on sand fleas and pieces of green crab.
Excellent fishing for black sea bass continues at the offshore wreck and reef sites this month. Maryland’s black sea bass season will close on December 31. The daily creel limit is 15 fish per day with a minimum length of 13 inches. Tautog fishing is improving at the offshore wreck and reef sites this month. The daily creel limit is 4 fish per day with a minimum length of 16 inches.
Bluefin tuna are moving south through Maryland waters inside of the 30-Fathom Line to as close as a few miles of the coast. Many are pushing water in small schools and can be hard to entice to bite. Anglers have been catching a few bluefin by trolling skirted ballyhoo. It only takes one to make a fishing trip a success.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.