Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
This is supposed to be a fishing report, not an ice report, but that’s the state of Chesapeake Bay right now. Frozen. So are the tidal rivers, and while the deep freeze has been frustrating for recreational anglers and charter captains/guides alike, there is a silver lining. Historically, very cold winters with plenty of snowfall—which equates to heavy snowmelt in the spring—have been associated with successful striped bass spawns in the Bay’s tributaries come spring. The bass are getting a rest from fishing pressure for now, but Maryland anglers are hopeful that next week’s milder temps will thaw out some of the boat launches and marinas. The striper bite was excellent leading up to the deep-freezes of late January, although the fish had been on the move. They bounced between channels in the bay, occasionally sliding onto shallow flats, and temporarily staging near the mouths of tidal rivers (which have since frozen over).
It’s been so cold, in fact, that speckled trout wintering in Virginia’s bay waters are dying. It’s an unfortunate sight, and nobody is quite sure how this recent fish kill will impact the 2026 trout season. Right now, the best way for anglers to spend their time is with a weekend ice fishing trip, making plans to attend winter fishing expos and boat shows, or swapping out old and rusted terminal tackle on striper lures. You’ll be glad you took advantage of this down time when everything thaws and the striped bass bite picks up again.
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC reported that not much has changed since last week. Most backwater areas still choked with ice, but sustained sub-freezing temps allowed some folks to take a crack at ice fishing, including Seth Price of Slack Tide Kayak Fishing—a local kayak fishing guide. Bakke said Price recently picked up an auger and caught some largemouth and chain pickerel on a nearby pond. He’s hoping to get on the ice himself assuming the conditions are safe enough over the next week. Aside from some local ice fishing, he said, most people are just waiting out the cold to get back to striped bass fishing in the bay and in the marshes once things warm up a bit.
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Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters said there is too much ice in the bay for him to get out; even if he could, there are large chunks of ice floating with the current wherever there is open water, which poses a hazard to the captain, his boat, and his clients. The last time he recalls the Bay freezing to this extent was in 1977! The skipper plans to get back on the water once enough ice has melted that it’s safe to sail. Head over to his Facebook page for contact info. and trip rates to get a date on the books later this winter.
From the Upper Pocomoke River out of Snow Hill, Captain Walt of Light Tackle Charters said he is still frozen in, but he has trips scheduled for Thursday and Saturday of next week and, given the extended forecast, he is anticipating being able to run those charters. Before the river locked up, his charters were catching crappie by the dozen with some large chain pickerel and healthy largemouth bass mixed in. Head to Captain Walt’s website for contact info. and give him a call to book a trip once the Bay and it’s rivers have thawed.
Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Forecast
By early next week, daytime temperatures will be above freezing for the first time in a couple of weeks. You can bet charter captains and guides are keeping a close eye on the daily forecast in hopes of resuming their winter striped bass and mixed-bag tidal river trips. But first, we’ve got to hunker down for another windy weekend with temps in the teens and 20s. If you’ve been looking for a chance to give ice fishing a try, now’s the time. In a week, daily highs will be back in the low 40s and areas that are currently frozen will see the ice begin to melt.
Use this weekend to bundle up, drill a few holes, and set some traps on your local pond or organize your striped bass tackle and book a charter for later this month.