Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report- December 28, 2023

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.

The amazing run of inbound ocean stripers to the middle Chesapeake Bay continued well into Christmas week and charter captains are happily filling their boats with anglers through the New Year’s holiday. This is a fantastic time to target brute-size striped bass in the 40- to 50-inch class with light-tackle techniques. The winter catch-and-release fishery is very good and most boats are hovering in the lower-80s and 70s buoys from Chesapeake Beach south. Some anglers got into a good bite in the North Beach vicinity, but by-and-large the bite has been south of there. The mouth of the Potomac River/Point Lookout has also produced good reports this week. 

Boats outfitted with radar are using it to track large swaths of feeding birds and running to those spots. During periods of heavy fog this week, radar was a key tool. This is open Bay fishing, so care and consideration is important on the approach. You’ll likely encounter a number of other vessels. There has been action from top to bottom of the water column, so everything from topwater plugs to heavy jigs are catching fish. 

Some boats, however, are staying outside of the fleet and catching on a drift over wolf packs away from the frenzy. Most of the sonar screens I’ve seen this week are showing the fish hugging bottom in water that’s 45- to 60-feet deep. Bouncing 2- to 3-ounce jigs tipped with 4- to 7-inch plastics along bottom is most folks’ preferred technique.  

With all the striper action this week, I haven’t seen much reporting on other Bay species, such as black sea bass or white perch, both of which provided good action around the Bay Bridge pilings and mid-Bay reefs recently. Baited Sabiki rigs worked deep around structure could probably pull up some good fish though. 

In the north Bay, anglers have targeted walleye in the Susquehanna vicinity, as well as blue/channel/flathead catfish. Bottom baits and lures can entice the fish. We’re also seeing pre-season trout stocking and angling success in a number of areas. There’s been a few rainbows pulled from the Middle and Little Patuxent and western Patapsco, and some holdover stockers (rainbow, golden, brown) from the lower Western Shore ponds. 

Most of my own fishing has been in the Severn and Patuxent rivers, targeting yellow perch, chain pickerel, and other small species. This week I found most of my fish at either shallow grassbeds in 2 to 3 feet of water, or 4- to 5-foot depths just ahead of shallow flats at the ends of creeks.

Anything with flash has gotten the most bites for me (inline spinners especially). A few fish bit micropaddletails on 1/8-ounce jigheads, and a couple larger fish hit 4-inch jerkbaits.

There are still resident schoolies in the systems but most have moved downriver to the deepest water. Two New Year’s ago, I completed a Severn Slam (yellow perch, pickerel, striper) and here’s hoping for a repeat this weekend. May your own fishing also be productive. Good luck!

View the full Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report, written and compiled by writer and media professional James Houck, at reelchesapeake.com.

As of yesterday (Wednesday), Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing Charters from West Ocean City said they’ve got one more sea bass trip before the season closer on January 1, then they start winter tog fishing. He expects the tog fishing to be challenging due to the sheer amount of fishing pressure. Another reason it will be tough for anglers is that they’re not adhering to Maryland tautog regulations. Instead, they are following the fishing boat regulations, which is 3 tog at 16 inches, and only one can be a female (Maryland’s winter regulations allow 4 tautog, male or female). The skipper encourages releases of all sizes, and while he supports keeping a few for dinner, loading up to feed friends or neighbors is not appreciated, and not so good for the fishery’s future.

On Christmas Eve, the Morning Star went out for a quick tautog trip and found sunny, glass-calm conditions with light current, which made for a pleasant day of fishing. Despite the nice conditions, the bite wasn’t anything to write home about. A couple of anglers could have boxed their limit of keepers, but instead opted to release the fish for another day.

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

The striped bass bite remains robust across a diverse range of water depths, spanning from 4 to 60 feet. Anglers are strategically targeting the edges of shipping channels and shallower, warmer waters in pursuit of trophy-sized stripers. The trolling approach has been particularly successful. Additionally, jigging soft plastics or metals around flocked birds or drop-offs is proving to be an extremely effective method.

With lower water temperatures, blue catfish are at peak activity! These invasive fighters can be found throughout the Chesapeake Bay, with a notable presence in the upper Bay areas where the salinity is lower. Certain rivers, such as the Susquehanna River, are teeming with these strong-fighting fish. Blue catfish are known for their voracious appetites, subjecting them to various angling techniques. Anglers have the advantage of using different methods to catch them, whether using artificials or various types of cut bait. The preferred bait(s) for blue catfish are either cut alewife or soft crab.

Chain pickerel are currently in full-fledged feed mode, exhibiting their hunting prowess in almost every tidal river along the Chesapeake Bay. These ambush predators can be spotted in shallow waters around hard structure or grasses, providing a thrilling angling experience. As a tried-and-true recommendation, the Z-Man Willow Vibe with a 3.75-inch plastic trailer continues to prove itself as an absolute killer for catching pickerel. These aggressive fish make for a reliable substitute when the white perch and spot head out for the winter. Just a word of caution—mind those teeth!

South Bay

White perch are still being caught in the South Bay area! Currently, these fish are staging in deep waters, beginning around 30 feet with a hard bottom. Due to their preference for warmer, deeper environments, it will be more difficult to target these fish with your typical Perch Hounder or other types of spinners. The recommended solution is a bottom rig, and Anglers suggests the Chesapeake Sabiki Rig for its impressive depth-reaching abilities and compliance with Maryland waters, featuring only 2 hooks. Enhance your chances of success by tipping these rigs with live or artificial bait.

Catch-and-release trophy striped bass fishing is still going strong! These prized fish are exhibiting diverse depth preferences, with the most common depth being around 30 to 60 feet. However, an unusual winter pattern is creating unique opportunities to catch trophy-sized striped bass in as little as 3 feet of water—an unexpected deviation from the norm that adds an extra layer of excitement to the angling experience. While flocks of birds traditionally signal the presence of migrating baitfish pursued by striped bass, there has been a noticeable decrease in the frequency of diving birds this season. Nevertheless, anglers are achieving success through trolling and jigging. Trolling, in particular, has been the standout approach, providing exceptional opportunities to connect with impressive rockfish!

The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.