Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Sailing out of West Ocean City, Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing reported bluefin, bluefin, and more bluefin this week! They’ve been able to get out just about every day since last week’s report, and with each trip they’ve landed at least one fish. On Friday the 13th, they got one bite and that fish was loaded with sand eels. On Saturday the crew managed to land three more on the troll, and on Sunday, they went 4 for 4 while trolling diving plugs. They had a light crew for Monday’s last-minute open boat trip with just 3 anglers on board after a late start to avoid the poor early-morning conditions, and on their first bite, they pulled in a 49 incher in a matter of 8 minutes. The second fish on on Monday’s trip ate way behind the boat and pulled a fair amount of line, and that fish took nearly 45 minutes to get to the rail. Finally, on Wednesday, they got out well before sunrise and were able to capitalize on two bites, landing both fish, which measured 63 and 64 inches. They’ve got one more tuna trip on the books for tomorrow, 12/20, which is already sold out, but the skipper plans to run one more tuna trip before breaking for Christmas. After that, they’ll be finishing the month off with sea bass before switching over to tautog on January 1. Give them a shout to book a trip!
In Ocean City, Taylor Bakke from Always Bent Fishing OC reported: “The bluefin bite continues, boats are still catching them daily, water temps are beginning to play a bigger role, with the bluefin liking the water temps in the 50- to 53-degree range which is right around that 15- to 20-fathom line, from Jackspot to Masseys and everywhere in between. With the colder water temps the migratory striped bass are here as well! We have been using our radar to find clusters of birds, and every time we’ve found birds there has been bass under them. Trolling still seems to be most effective for bluefin. For the striper we were jigging and casting artificial paddle tails and straight tails on spinning gear. We’re hoping to see the bass come in thicker—they’ve been tricky to find, at times, but once you do, it’s game on! Remember you need to be inside the 3-mile line to target stripers, and handle them with care. Don’t hang them by their jaws—instead, cradle them like a baby, and get them back in the water quickly as possible. Good luck and tight lines to everyone fishing this week, and Happy Holidays!” Check out alwaysbent.com for local updates, fishing videos and more.
Anglers Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
The Anglers Sport Center fishing report is written by Anglers Fishing Manager & OTW Columnist, Alex Gallardo-Perez.
The striped bass bite over the past week has been good with the first wave of big migratory fish showing up. It wasn’t that all the fish being caught are giants, but there are lots of fish in the upper 20-inch range with a few 35- to 40-inch fish mixed in. The bite seemed to be good across a wide area, from Solomon’s Island to Chesapeake Beach just on the edges of the shipping channel between 40 and 50 feet of water. There are lots of peanut bunker around, so 5- to 7-inch baits, like the 5-inch NLBN and 6-inch paddletails, have been the best producers. White seems to be the hot color. Flutter spoons are also a good option when fish are suspended all throughout the water column.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Lower Bay
Striped bass anglers who are not ready to hang up their fishing equipment are treated this week to an influx of large ocean migrant striped bass in the lower Bay. Much of the action has been on the eastern side of the shipping channel in the region of Buoy 72, but these large fish are bound to show up anywhere along the steep edges of the shipping channel. Jigging with soft plastics and heavy spinning gear will be the best way to target them and they should do well in regards to catch and release if fight time is kept to a minimum. Cold water temperatures and sufficient saline water conditions are key factors in their speedy recovery.
Striped bass anglers can still fish the main stem of the Potomac River (downstream of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge) through December 31 and keep one striped bass measuring between 19-24 inches. Anglers are advised that Maryland’s tributary rivers feeding into the Potomac are closed to possession of striped bass. Trolling umbrella rigs down deep at 35 feet or more with heavy inline weights and heavy tackle are tools that are needed. Chartreuse trailers of bucktails dressed with sassy shads are the most popular offering.
Anglers can look for white perch holding in the deeper channel waters out in the Bay and often near the mouth of several of the region’s tidal rivers. The white perch will often be in water depths of 35 feet or more and hugging the bottom. A good depth finder is important to locate the schools and once found jigging with metal jigs is a good way to target them.
The Patuxent, Potomac, and Nanticoke rivers hold large numbers of blue catfish, and the winter months are a good time to target them. They will be found concentrated in the deep channel waters. The tidal Potomac from the Route 301 Bridge to the Wilson Bridge is a good area to cover and the deep channels off Fort Washington are noted for holding some of the largest blue catfish. The Patuxent River from Benedict to Jug Bay is a good place to target as is the area near Sharptown on the Nanticoke. Cut bait of gizzard shad, menhaden, or eel are good oily baits to attract blue catfish. The DNR website has more information about blue catfish and how to catch them.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Reports from the beaches have been quiet this week; anglers are soaking baits in hope of intercepting striped bass moving down the coast. So far dogfish and clearnose skates have been providing all the entertainment.
Inside the Ocean City Inlet is a different story. Anglers are catching striped bass by casting soft plastic jigs near jetty rocks, bulkheads and dock piers. Most of the striped bass being caught fail to meet the 28-inch minimum, but there are some being caught that fit the 28-31 inch slot. Tautog are providing plenty of good fishing in the inlet and Route 50 Bridge area. Sand fleas and pieces of crab are the most popular baits and a fair portion of the fish being caught exceed the 16-inch minimum. The creel limit is four fish per day for each angler.
Fishing for bluefin tuna has been the biggest show in town for the Ocean City fleet this month and it is unknown how much longer the action will last. Most of the bluefin are being caught within about 20 miles of the inlet and trolling ballyhoo rigs behind planers has been a popular way to troll.
Fishing for sea bass at the offshore wreck and reef sites has been good; anglers report that sometimes the bite can be tough, but anglers are going home with fish. Flounder and porgies can be part of the mix. The 2024 black sea bass season is open through December 31, and closes on January 1, 2025. Some anglers headed offshore are targeting tautog and doing well with limit catches.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.