Irregular weather and cold water temperatures continue to make fishing challenging for Maryland anglers. The best bites going in the Chesapeake region right now are for striped bass and yellow perch, with the most reliable action for both fish coming from deep water. Most anglers chasing striped bass are catching them around the mouths of tidal rivers and in pockets of warm water, where baitfish are congregating, with 5- to 7-inch soft plastics. However, anglers plying the salt marshes around Ocean City are also finding some action, despite water temps hovering between the upper 30s and low 40s. Yellow perch, on the other hand, have begun running the rivers feeding into the bay, and the bite has been red hot. The better action has been reserved to deep water, so grab your jigs and sinkers and get out there while the getting is good.
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC reported that the fishing has been tricky as of late with water temperatures in the 40s—it’s still chilly enough to make getting bites a challenge. He and Captain Jeff of Bad Habit Sportfishing did manage to find a few stripers while fishing the local sod banks and marshes with soft plastics. A few fish here and there is keeping things interesting, but Bakke is hopeful that they’ll be able to dial in the bite a bit once we get some consistent weather in the 40s and 50s. In the meantime, check out alwaysbent.com for local fishing reports, 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 talk of the town is the yellow perch bite and the new Maryland state record for tidal yellow perch, which was caught last week, breaking a 46-year-old record. Most anglers are finding the yellow perch at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in about 30 to 60 feet of water, either holding bottom or suspended just a few feet off the bottom. Live minnows on a high-low rig or bottom rig with a 1- to 2-ounce lead sinker is the key to getting to the perch in such deep water. Small metal jigs, two-hook sabiki rigs, and small tandem rigs with micro plastics will work as well.
Other anglers have been chasing the striped bass that are holding south. Most are finding them staged around the Calvert Cliff Power Plant while some have been caught out in open water just outside the mouth of the Choptank River.
Captain Walt of Light Tackle Charters in Crisfield runs winter ultralight tackle trips in the Upper Pocomoke River in the Bald Cypress Swamps for crappie, yellow perch and pickerel. He shared the following report from last week’s outings: “The yellow perch spawning run into the rivers of the Chesapeake is underway, and we’re catching our share of them. Mixed into the catch are the ever so delicious crappie. We’re catching them on ultra-light spinning gear with line in the 6-pound-test range. That gear makes the bycatches of large pickerel an awful lot of fun. Add in the wintertime beauty of Bald Cypress Swamps, and you have a great way to spend winter days fishing. This fishing should be good into the early March time frame.” Contact Capt. Walt for availability to book an ultralight trip before winter’s end.
After being frozen in for several weeks, Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters in Chester is back on the water! The skipper said water temperatures are beginning to warm up a bit and as a result, they’ve been able to find sporadic schools of striped bass by bouncing around to different areas that are holding bait. Electronics have been a big help in locating those baitfish. A few recent trips yielded good results with plenty of plump, school-size bass and a few big ones mixed in. Jamie added that fishing on the incoming tide has been most productive for them. Give them a shout to inquire about upcoming availability by visiting their Facebook page for contact info.
Chesapeake Bay Fishing Forecast
Overnight temperatures will be dipping back into the 20s and even the teens in some portions of Maryland over the next week, which may temporarily shut down the improving striped bass bite in the Bay. The good news is, winter weather is not here to stay. After the short-lived cold front moves through, striped bass fishing is likely to pick up right where it left off. Perch fishing should remain steady through the cold conditions, but fishing deep water with small, slow-moving jigs or live minnows will remain the best approach. With temperatures climbing back into the 40s by the middle of next week, water temperatures will continue to steadily rise, especially in Chesapeake tributaries and shallow, muddy-bottom salt marshes.
Bundle up, and fish low and slow to keep catching in the cold. Catch ’em up!
Commercial blue catfish catch