Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
From West Ocean City, Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing hadn’t sailed since the weekend, but left the fish biting before the blow kept them at the dock for several days. Their last trip on Sunday was a “busman’s holiday”, and the skipper set sail early in hopes of finding wahoo, mahi, and sea bass. He had high hopes for mahi after spotting loads of peanut bunker inshore the day prior, and although they didn’t manage any green, they ran into some large false albacore and boxed some quality sea bass on jigs and rigs tipped with Gulp and strip baits. They’ll be sailing again once conditions have settled, so sign up for their email list at morningstarfishing.com and stay in the know by checking out their Facebook page. Give them a shout at (443) 235-5577 between 8 AM and 8 PM to inquire about dates and rates and to reserve your spot on the rail.
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC said locally, sheepshead and flounder have been the main draw this week. There’s been great inshore flounder action and some quality fish coming up on the wrecks out front as well. Sheepshead fishing is still good near the inlet and there is also a good bite in Chesapeake Bay at the Target Ship for anglers dropping crabs. Bakke added that he and Capt. Jeff Rosenkilde of the Bad Habit headed out in search of inshore flounder today and instead, they ran into acres of bluefish and Spanish mackerel blitzing on bait. The Spanish mackerel were not as abundant and seemed to be mixed in with the bluefish; he estimates they caught approximately 50 blues ranging from 18 to 25 inches. Bakke said they used light spinning tackle—although he wished they had a fly rod—and because the blues were feeding so ravenously, they caught them on everything from large tuna-style poppers to small sea bass jigs and soft-plastic paddletails. With cooler weather on the way and plenty of bait around, fall striped bass fishing is sure to pick up in the weeks to come.
Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters said that this morning was the first time he was able to get out after three days of northeast wind, and the striped bass action was nothing short of phenomenal. After some rough conditions threw a wrench in the bite, he found the fish moving back up tight in the rivers, where they’re staging around grass beds and choke points with some good current. These fish are smoking walk-the-dog style topwater baits under overcast skies, and as fall weather conditions persist, striped bass fishing will only continue to get better. Check out their Facebook page and give the skipper a shout for trip info if you want to get in on the action!
Anglers Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
The Anglers Sport Center fishing report is written by Anglers Fishing Manager & OTW Columnist, Alex Gallardo-Perez.
It looks like fall patterns are unfolding and the fishing is picking up! This week (when it wasn’t windy), anglers in the middle to southern bay hit the open water searching for big bluefish. It certainly seems like there are some quality blues out there, with a mix of mostly 3- to 6-pound fish and at times, larger blues pushing 8 to 10 pounds. The mouth of the Choptank River down to the Target Ship has been the general area to find blues on the troll, but at times, they can also be seen pushing bait up to the surface. When they do, anglers are casting metal jigs and topwater plugs into the fray.
The shallow water bite for striped bass is getting better and better now that fall is almost here. Overcast days will prolong the bite in shallow, but remember to change over to subsurface plugs once the sun is up high. Eastern Bay has been offering a reliable bite, as well as the Patapsco River when it comes to shallow water fishing; but there is also a good jig bite once the sun rises and the fish transition to deeper water.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read the full DNR report here.
Middle Bay
The Bay Bridge is always worth checking for striped bass holding near the pier bases. A strong tide is needed to drift live spot, live eels, or soft crab baits to the pier bases. The shallower ends of the bridge have been attracting anglers fishing for white perch and spot.
Striped bass anglers are enjoying good shallow water fishing for striped bass in the region’s bay shorelines and tidal rivers. Eastern Bay, Poplar Island, Thomas Point, and the lower Choptank and Little Choptank stand out as some of the best places to fish. Casting a mix of poppers, jerkbaits, soft plastic jigs, and paddletails have been popular lures for striped bass. Speckled trout can be part of the mix for those fishing the lower Choptank and Little Choptank.
Live-lining spot and eels is a popular way to fish this week for striped bass and the Bay Bridge Piers, Thomas Point, Sharps Island Light, and anywhere suspended striped bass can be spotted on depth finders is worth exploring. These same locations also offer jigging opportunities.
Lower Bay
Bluefish continue to be caught this week in the general area of the Target Ship and the main channel south of there down to Cedar Point. Trolling surgical tube lures and spoons is the most consistent way to catch them. The Spanish mackerel catches have declined from last week.
Striped bass are being caught by live-lining spot and jigging in the Potomac River from the Route 301 Bridge to Fort Washington. They are also being caught in the Patuxent River near the Route 4 Bridge by jigging and live-lining spot. Anglers who are jigging and casting paddletails are also catching speckled trout and red drum that are within the 18-27 inch slot size.
Casting paddletails over the grass flats on the eastern side of the bay has been a good way to catch speckled trout and slot size red drum. Fishing for a mix of spot, croakers. and flounder has been good in the Tangier Sound area. The lower Patuxent River is also a great place to catch spot. Sheepshead continue to be caught at the Target Ship on fiddler crabs and peeler crab. Cobia season ends on September 20 and only catch and release will be allowed from September 21 to June 14, 2026.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Surf anglers will see some stirred up surf this week due to strong winds and surf. Before the blow anglers were catching bluefish and flounder on strip baits of spot. Pompano were being caught on sand fleas and spot, croakers and kingfish on a mix of peeler crab, small cut bait, pieces of bloodworms and artificial bloodworm baits. This storm may change the fishing scene into the beginning of a fall pattern.
The inlet waters and back bay waters will be churned up this week, the incoming tide may offer the clearest waters for flounder and striped bass fishing. The sheepshead that have been providing excellent fishing along the jetties will most likely sit out the blow and be ready for baits of crab and sand fleas later this week.
It is very doubtful that any boats will be heading out the Ocean City Inlet for the next few days and the offshore waters will be bumpy for a while. Often a blow like this creates better fishing for a variety of offshore species, it will be a new frontier out there towards the weekend, good luck to all.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read the full DNR report here.