Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
An important message from Maryland DNR regarding changes to recreational striped bass seasons in the Chesapeake Bay:
“The Department is considering modifying the recreational and charter boat spring (trophy) season and early summer/fall season for striped bass, modifying the “no targeting” period for striped bass to include those times and locations, extending the summer closure through August 7, and closing the commercial hook-and-line season for striped bass during the summer closure. The modifications to the spring and early summer/fall seasons and the associated “no targeting” provisions have previously been requested as an emergency regulation but the Joint Committee on Administration, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) has not yet taken action on that request.”
Comments can be submitted using the link to the form below and must be submitted by February 6.
» Submit Your Comments for Proposed Changes to Striped Bass Here!
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.
Below freezing one week; 60-plus degrees the next. This is Maryland weather and it’s having a profound effect on the entire Chesapeake Bay fishery. Last week, the region experienced iced-over creeks, snowfall, and significant winds in the mid-Bay, which all-but-entirely shut down the bite (if not anglers). And now…a warm up, with consecutive days of above-average temperatures, which has melted everything and opened angling access to everyone. That said, the snowmelt has flushed a mix of fresh and salted (road salt) water into every tributary. Water levels/flows in the upper reaches of most rivers have peaked, so extreme care and precaution are necessary when accessing/fishing these waters.
Though air temps have increased, there remains thick cloud cover and spits of rain today/tomorrow. Water temperatures are in the mid-30sF and we don’t expect much warm up until the sun shows itself early next week.
In the main stem of the Bay, vessels have been drawn to the shipping channel, searching for large striped bass hugging bottom anywhere between 30 and 70 feet of water. Jigging them up with heavy heads (about 1.5 to 3 ounces) and plastics up to 10 inches long has worked, as have spoons. A few captains have shown off their clients’ catches, some as close as the Annapolis vicinity of the Bay with more reports from the Potomac’s mouth on south. Additional hot spots (literally) include the power plant discharges at Brandon Shores up north or Calvert Cliffs down south. Popular departure points to access the Bay’s channel include Fort Smallwood, Sandy Point, Chesapeake Beach, Solomons, and Point Lookout on the west side, and Matapeake, Kent Narrows/Eastern Bay, Cambridge, and Crisfield on the east side.
A few brave souls have also tried kayaking for the big stripers, trolling deep diving cranks with some success in water up to 30 feet or jigging around bottom structures like oyster beds and artificial reefs. Angler David Rudow pulled up two 40-inch class stripers off sunken concrete in the past several days with the bite coming within the last hour of the outgoing tide. All anglers would be wise to refer to the multiple reef/shellfish maps available at Maryland Department of Natural Resources before planning your next outing.
Of note, the ASMFC has dictated new 2024 regulations for the Atlantic’s striped bass fishery, approving Addendum II to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Striped Bass. States must submit implementation plans by March 1, 2024 for Board review and approval, which will take place at a special Board meeting to be scheduled for later in March. All Addendum II measures must be implemented by May 1, 2024. For the ocean recreational fishery, the Addendum implements a 28- to 31-inch slot limit, 1-fish bag limit, and maintains 2022 season dates for all fishery participants; this maintains the same ocean recreational measures adopted under the recent emergency action. For the Chesapeake Bay recreational fishery, the Addendum implements a 19- to 24-inch slot limit, 1-fish bag limit, and maintains 2022 season dates for all fishery participants. For the commercial fishery, the Addendum reduces commercial quotas by 7% in both the ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Reactions have been mixed, and we’ll report more on this soon.
Anglers are eagerly anticipating the bite to fire up for yellow perch as the species prepares for its late-winter/early-spring spawn. As soon as water temperatures hit 40 degrees and above, it should ignite. Right now, you can still catch them by deep jigging stingers or a tandem rig (1/16-ounce spoons and darts). Tipping them with grass shrimp or small minnows can help improve your catch rate. Popular places worth exploring include the upper Patuxent, Tuckahoe at Hillsboro, and Marshyhope at Federalsburg. (And a reminder of the sections closed to yellow perch fishing within the Magothy and Severn watersheds during February, March, and April. In the Magothy, from the base of Lake Waterford downstream for 3,300 feet; and in the Severn, or Severn Run, from the Route 3 Bridge downstream for 2,400 feet.)
With the water temps still in the mid-30s, the chain pickerel bite has become more challenging for this aggressive species. Jerk baits can entice bites (with a slow retrieve and long pauses), but lively bull minnow lip-hooked under a bobber moreso. This is winter fishing. And minnows are possibly the most-effective offering right now.
With the recent snowmelt, fishing for trout and other creek dwelling species in the Central and Upper Maryland tribs may be difficult due to high water and flows. Expect conditions to improve by next week with mostly dry weather and colder temperatures returning.
The good news? Overall, the current warm up coinciding with a full moon could fire up fish and fishing this weekend! So give it a try and let us know what you hook into. 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 reported a solid day of tautog fishing in the deep on Tuesday after a long stretch of high winds and high seas. The skipper says conditions were very calm, and any sediment or algae that was disrupted with the turbulence of large swells had settled, which made for a pleasant day and few, if any, fouled up rigs. They faced a bit of a challenge in anchoring at first, with a gentle 10 knot wind moving against the tide, but eventually the skipper got the boat positioned and anglers began swinging away at a good mess of short tog.
According to his report, the Morning Star captain was pleasantly surprised with the amount of short life around the deep wrecks; while uncommon to find so many short tautog in the area, it’s a possible indicator of management efforts working in real time. Overall, they experienced a decent bite. There weren’t a ton of “jumbos” in the mix, but the largest fish of the day—a 26.5-inch, double-digit male—was tagged and released before they headed for the dock early on account of a passenger falling ill and in pain. Sign up to receive emails from the Captain on their website to book a tautog fishing trip this winter. But be aware beforehand, the Captain adheres to more stringent regulations than the state of Maryland places on recreational charters. While the state regulations allow anglers to possess 4 tautog each, the Captain’s regulations are a 3-fish maximum, and only one of those 3 keepers can be a female (in the interest of maintaining healthy tautog populations for the future).
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
As anglers eagerly await spring striped bass action, pickerel remain a popular target, showcasing consistent activity. These feisty fish can be found in abundance across various tidal rivers around the Chesapeake Bay. Anglers are employing diverse lures and baits to entice pickerel, particularly around shallow structure like piers, reefs, and fallen trees. Pulling an inline spinner or using a willowvibe paired with a 3.75-inch soft plastic trailer proves to be a reliable strategy; however, if you prefer the live bait approach, a minnow under a slip bobber is also an extremely effective method!
Winter fishing enthusiasts are finding blue catfish to be an exciting pursuit during the colder months too. This invasive species, prevalent in most tidal rivers along the upper and middle Bay areas, present an enticing challenge. With no creel limit, anglers can enjoy the thrill of the catch, and the reward is substantial—these catfish provide delicious, firm meat when handled and filleted correctly. Typically dwelling in the deeper parts of channels, blue catfish are proving to be resilient to cold water, adding an extra layer of excitement to winter angling.
The areas located just outside of Chesapeake Beach remain incredible hotspots for landing trophy-sized striped bass. Numerous anglers are reporting noteworthy catches throughout the day, highlighting the mornings and evenings as the prime time for a bite window. Employing the traditional jigging technique proves to be more than sufficient for an exciting and bountiful fishing experience. Anglers are using plastics that range from 5 to 7 inches in pink or chartruese colors, rigged on a jighead best suited to the depth of the fish. Large flutter spoons with a teaser are another highly effective lure for enticing bites as well.
South Bay
The striped bass bite remains consistent and robust around the mouth of the Potomac River. Anglers are finding success with the two most effective techniques: jigging and trolling. For those facing challenges with striped bass, exploring other species in the Potomac River is a rewarding alternative. Deeper waters harbor white perch that are staging to evade the cooler temperatures. White perch are often found in dense schools, ensuring that if you catch one, there are plenty more to follow. Any form of bottom rig will suffice, however the tried and true Chesapeake Sabiki rig tipped with live or artificial bait proves to be a white perch slayer!
The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.