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 middle Chesapeake Bay continues to experience one of the best runs of large migrating striped bass it’s seen in nearly a decade. This catch and release fishery has produced PB catches for many anglers and provided full bookings for captains. The best action has occurred on the eastern side of the shipping channel. Most boats run to at least Channel Buoy 86 just north of Bloody Point to start picking up the action, which continues down to the Bay toward the Potomac River’s mouth. There have been a few western channel-side reports too, mostly in the Chesapeake Beach vicinity and south. Look for contours of gradual depth change from 35 to 65 feet; catch a drift, and jig deep along the bottom. Bouncing 2-ounce jigheads with 5- to 10-inch plastics or large/heavy spoons, rain minnows, and the like, have produced. Pay attention to your sonar and radar. The stripers will cluster to feed on bunker and sometimes you can find big gulls feeding above, signaling where the fish are. It was an amazing December, a fantastic first week of January, and we hope the bite continues well into this new year. (And because of this, most tackle shops have sold out of their heavier lures!)
Anglers are also reporting a very good resident striped bass bite occurring along the deep channel edges from the Patapsco River’s mouth down to the Bay Bridge and beyond. Getting on these fat fish in the 18- to 28-inch range is quite similar in terms of approach, tackle, and technique. Perhaps downsize your offering a touch (think 5 to 7 inches for plastics).
Because the region’s weather heading into the weekend will be below freezing (with a chance of snow), we may see some ice start to form around boat launches and creeks. Next week, temps rise a touch, even possibly hitting 50F by Tuesday, and there’s a new moon occurring Thursday. This may get sluggish fish moving a bit. And cloudy/rainy weather is predicted most days.
Winds will fluctuate severely day-to-day (8 knots one day, 30+ the next), so many anglers may turn to the more protected rivers and creeks for the pickerel and yellow perch bite, which is predictably good this time of year. Light gear and a variety of lures—from small chatterbaits, inline spinners, paddletails on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigs, jerkbaits, and small square bill cranks, among many others—will catch both species. Think smaller for the perch, larger for the pickerel. Look for both species around dying grassbeds and structure, especially late in the day along southern facing shorelines.
Blue catfish are a popular winter fishery and we’ve seen good reports coming from the Bush River, just north of Baltimore. Catching a slight drift or anchoring, and then employing bottom holding rigs in open water near the mouth was key. Fresh bait preferred. Apply this technique to almost any river’s lower channel/mouth in the mid-Bay (the deepest water you can find) and you may catch blue cats. Good luck!
View the full Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report, written and compiled by writer and media professional James Houck, at reelchesapeake.com.
Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing from West Ocean City has been fishing (almost) daily for tautog or sea bass depending on conditions. On December 29th they squeezed in one last sea bass trip before the season closed on the 31st. The skipper said the action wasn’t as solid as it was weeks ago, when sea bass were taking bare circle hooks on bottom rigs, but several anglers had their limit in just forty minutes of fishing.
A few days later, the Morning Star crew started the new year with some decent tautog fishing in calm conditions. The day started slow with one angler losing a drag-ripping tog, abut as the current picked up, the fishing steadily improved. They ended up releasing more keeper tog than they kept. According to the captain, any tog caught and released was first marked with a quick, painless tear of its third dorsal fin to serve as a future indicator of successful catch and release practices.
The Morning Star sailed again on January 3rd and although it wasn’t a stellar bite as they had hoped, there were some solid keepers landed. The captain noted a lack of short life to keep anglers busy. One angler caught nine keepers and released them all, and in total, the boat only kept 17 fish for the table. Check out their website or Facebook page to book your spot and get in on the action this week!
In other news, the trophy striper bite inside Chesapeake Bay is on fire right now. Local anglers are capitalizing by finding blitzing fish beneath diving birds, with soft-plastic jigs and topwater plugs doing the heavy lifting. The guys from Ocean City-based fishing crew Always Bent Fishing OC (@alwaysbentfishingoc), have enjoyed lights out action this week. They said there are still some bigger fish out front in the ocean, but the bulk of the activity has been in the Bay. You can follow along with their year-round fishing escapades here.
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 current bay temperature is 41 degrees, signaling heightened activity from blue catfish this week. These invasive brutes are being successfully caught in and around the Susquehanna River. Anglers are finding catfish near shallow water grass beds, hard structure, and channel edges—prime locations for a rewarding angling experience. Blue catfish are known to have a versatile palate, making them responsive to various types of bait, but cut bait stands out as the most effective choice. With no creel limit on these fighters, anglers can enjoy a fantastic fight and fillets for the table, providing an excellent substitute for the winter absence of striped bass.
Changing water temperatures are not only influencing the activity of catfish, but also sparking increased activity among pickerel. These ambush predators are currently in full swing feeding mode, actively on the prowl, particularly during the mornings and evenings. Pickerel are being successfully caught all around the upper Bay area, inside tidal rivers, and most freshwater locations. Pickerel serve as a great alternative angling target until the white perch return in the spring/summer months. Anglers are finding these aggressive predators around shallow water structures such as piers, rocks, and submerged fallen trees.
The striped bass bite remains stronger than ever, creating a buzz among anglers with one of the most unexpected yet exceptionally good jig bites in the Chesapeake Bay. From the Bay Bridge south, massive 40- to 50-inch rockfish are being successfully caught as they chase baitfish around both the upper and lower Bay areas. Anglers are primarily targeting these trophy-sized striped bass by chasing birds. However, there’s an intriguing twist—plenty of swarms of baitfish are being marked on anglers’ electronics, revealing a plethora of striped bass holding in deeper water. The behavior of striped bass is keeping anglers on their toes as these prized fish continually transition between being suspended and lingering near the bottom. Some bass are even taking topwater lures, adding an extra layer of excitement to the angling experience!
South Bay
The scenario with striped bass in the southern Bay area mirrors the excitement in the upper Bay! Anglers are strategically following flocked birds that dive for migrating baitfish, creating opportunities to land trophy-sized rockfish. While trolling is proving successful, the favored and most thrilling method among anglers is jigging. A crucial reminder for all anglers: abide by the regulations set by DNR. Currently, no rockfish may be kept, and the fishery is open for catch and release only. Also be sure to release your catch shortly after catching it! Keep them wet!
Anglers are noting limited catches of white perch in deeper waters as these fish migrate towards the open bay’s deepest parts to escape the dropping water temperature. To target these tasty fish, anglers are deploying bottom rigs near deeper structures with hard bottom surfaces. Remember, where there’s one, there are likely plenty more, as white perch tend to school. For optimal success, consider using bottom rigs, particularly the Chesapeake Sabiki rig, known for its effectiveness and regulatory compliance with only 2 hooks, making it approved for use in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.