Angler’s Sports Center:
Capt. Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing Charters:
Two Boat Limits of Mahi (plus one of the worst days in a decade!) A Habitat Investigation & Artificial Reef Monitoring Trip. I’m going to continue to run mahi or sea bass trips with a light rail so everyone can fish going away from the boat. (Depends on what’s biting! Had boat limits of mahi last two days. If you only want sea bass? Wait. If you only want mahi? Pray!) Opening through September Ninth.
Maryland DNR:
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Cooling weather with limited rain predicted will make for comfortable fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. As a result of the recent warm spell, main Bay surface water temperatures have warmed to the low 80s. Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. Larger areas with suitable amounts of oxygen – greater than 3mg/l – have continued to be available again this week. For finding the best combination of well oxygenated, cooler water preferred by many Bay gamefish, focus on fishing deeper during the daylight hours.
Expect average water clarity for most of the Maryland portion of the Bay. However, expect reduced but improving water clarity in the lower Susquehanna River and upper bay from recent rains. In addition, expect reduced water clarity in the Bush, Back, Rhode and West Rivers due to algal blooms. To see the latest water clarity conditions on NOAA satellite maps, check Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps.
Expect average flows for the Susquehanna River and some other Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal currents Thursday through Tuesday as a result of the new moon on September 3.
As always, the best fishing areas could be further refined by intersecting them with underwater points, hard bottom, drop-offs, and large schools of baitfish. For more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast.
The water releases from the Conowingo Dam have returned to normal flows following the previous heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby. The water releases are now on more of an evening power generation schedule. Water clarity has improved in the immediate area but some spots in the upper bay region may still see cloudy water conditions. Water temperatures had dropped to below 80 degrees for the first time this summer, down to 77 degrees at the Patapsco NOAA buoy, but the temperature recently rose back up to about 80 degrees. Temperature should fall again after the current warmer weather passes.
Anglers fishing in the Conowingo Dam pool, the lower Susquehanna River, and the waters near the Susquehanna Flats are catching a mix of largemouth bass, Chesapeake Channa (northern snakeheads) and a mix of blue and channel catfish. The largemouth bass can be caught in the river and the edges and in the grass on the flats, and the Chesapeake Channa are usually entrenched in the thick grass. There has not been much reporting of good fishing for striped bass in the general area.
Now that water temperatures in the middle Bay have fallen to the upper 70s, fish are responding in a big way in the shallower waters. Casting a mix of paddletails, spinnerbaits, topwater lures, and soft plastic jigs in the shallower waters is still best during the early morning and evening, but fishing success has greatly improved from a few weeks ago. Puppy drum, striped bass, and speckled trout can be found in a wide range of locations. Eastern Bay, Poplar Island, the Choptank, Little Choptank and South River are just a few spots where anglers are having good success. More than a few anglers are also learning that spin jigs can be a great asset when fishing for striped bass, puppy drum, and large white perch.
Bluefish are in the middle Bay and anglers getting most of the action are trolling Drone spoons and surgical tube lures behind planers. The channel edge from Buoy 83 south to the Diamonds has been a good place to troll. A few Spanish mackerel are also being reported in the mix with faster trolling speeds.
Live-lining spot is another option this week at Thomas Point, the Clay Banks and the Calvert Cliffs Power Plant Discharge to name a few. Live spot will work well for striped bass, slot size red drum, and large speckled trout.
In the lower Bay, anglers are enjoying excellent catches of Spanish mackerel and bluefish while trolling. Higher trolling speeds of 7 or 8 knots with small Drone or Clark spoons behind planers has been the best way to fish for the Spanish mackerel. The main channel edges in the Bay, the mouth of the Potomac River, and Tangier Sound have been excellent places to fish for them. Anglers may be lucky enough to come upon breaking fish of Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Casting metal jigs into the fray, allowing the jig to sink, and then speed reeling can be a fun way to catch Spanish mackerel.
Trolling small Drone spoons and medium-sized surgical tubing lures at slower speeds is a great way to fish for bluefish. A few anglers have also reported catching cobia and large red drum on the surgical tube lures. Casting into breaking bluefish with a moderate retrieve is another fun way to catch bluefish. Some anglers are setting up chum slicks focused on bluefish or cobia and catching bluefish on cut bait and a few cobia on live eels or cut bait.
Once again, the shallow water fishery for puppy drum, striped bass, and speckled trout is good this week in many locations. The lower Potomac and tributaries that feed into it are providing fun light-tackle fishing. The Hoopers Island area along with Tangier and Pocomoke sounds are also great places to fish. A mix of topwater lures, paddletails, soft plastic jigs, and spin jigs provide popular choices for casting. Other anglers are enjoying excellent fishing by drifting peeler crab baits in areas of strong tidal current movement. Peeler crab baits are also popular when fishing near the Target Ship for sheepshead.