Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC reported that he had just returned from a trip to the Outer Banks where he was fishing for bluefin tuna, but noted that the local fisheries are coming to life. Freshwater species are back in play now that the ponds have thawed, he said, and a couple of guys in Ocean City have plucked schoolie stripers in the back bays. Water temps are still pretty chilly, but Bakke believes a few warm days will do a lot of good for the striper bite in the backwaters and marshes. With a warm front coming, which will bring temperatures into the 50s and low 60s, better days of fishing are ahead.
Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters reported that he finally got back out on the water today to scout for upcoming trips. He and Captain Mike used their electronics to search for fish in the fog and eventually found a few nice schools in warmer water close to shore. Big white paddletails were the ticket, yielding a number of schoolies and a respectable fish for the skipper in low-visibility conditions. They’ve got some availability coming up, so head to the ES Light Tackle Charters Facebook page for rates and contact info to get in on the action. The fishing should only improve from here.
Anglers Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
The Anglers Sport Center fishing report is written by Anglers Fishing Manager & OTW Columnist, Alex Gallardo-Perez.
Spring is almost here and the fish are starting to bite. Yellow perch fishing throughout the state has been hit or miss in a lot of different areas. Most of the deep water bite in the Susquehanna has slowed down a bit, but fish can still be found. The Eastern Shore rivers have been on and off, with some anglers getting into white perch instead of yellow perch in dropper holes. That does not mean it’s over for the yellow perch run, or that the white perch run has begun—it’s just fish moving up and down in waves as they begin their annual spawn.
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.
Anglers should note that most tidal rivers in Maryland’s portion are closed to catch-and-release fishing for striped bass. Striped bass will be pushing into the spawning rivers this month and need to be protected from the stress of catch-and-release in the low salinity waters of the tidal rivers. The Maryland DNR website can help guide anglers to areas closed or open to catch-and-release fishing for striped bass.
Middle Bay
The Choptank River holds promise for anglers this week. Water temperatures are still quite cold. The Cambridge area’s recent water temperature was 38.5 degrees; Denton and Hillsboro waters are 41 degrees. Anglers will find yellow perch staging in some of the deeper waters, miles below the spawning areas. Blue catfish will be found in the channels from Cambridge to above Denton. The cold-water conditions do not present the most ideal conditions for blue catfish, but they will respond to bait. Yellow perch will be deep, and lip-hooked minnows or small soft plastic jigs worked slowly and close to the bottom will be a good option.
Many of the upper sections of the western shore tidal rivers offer good fishing for chain pickerel. Targeting sunken wood along shoreline with paddletails or spinners is a good way to get in on the fun action. Single inline hooks will help save chain pickerel from excessive damage to the gills if fish are to be released.
Lower Bay
Anglers in the lower Bay have a few options this week for catch-and-release striped bass fishing. The warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant is always a draw for anglers and striped bass during the cold month of March. Drifting through the discharge current and jigging with large soft plastics can offer some fun catch and release action. Water temperatures in the bay are cold, and school sized striped bass will be slow to show any interest in jigs. Maryland’s tidal rivers are now closed to catch and release fishing, but the tidal Potomac River is open to catch and release.
It is still early for the anticipated spring runs of yellow perch, white perch, and hickory shad, but a few weeks can change things. Yellow perch are staging in transition areas below the spawning areas and can be found holding deep. Dropper rigs using minnows or small plastic jigs is a good way to target them.
Fishing for blue catfish is a worthwhile endeavor this week. The Nanticoke River in the Marshyhope/ Sharptown area holds a lot of blue catfish, which will be holding in the deeper channel waters. The tidal Potomac is full of blue catfish, and the largest ones are often found in the deep channel waters of Fort Washington.
Anglers will see yellow perch staging in many of the region’s tidal rivers on the eastern and western sides of the bay this week. The Wicomico, Pocomoke and Marshyhope are a few on the Eastern Shore. The Patuxent, Wicomico rivers and Mattawoman Creek are a few on the western side of the bay.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Boats out of Ocean City have been ferrying anglers to the offshore wreck and reef sites for some excellent fishing for tautog. The 2026 tautog season runs through May 15 allowing four fish per angler per day; the season closes May 16 until July, and then opens again through October 31 with a two fish per day per angler limit. From November 1 through December 31, the daily limit goes back to 4 fish per day per angler.
The black sea bass season in Maryland is closed until May 15, but boat captains made the long run to Virginia’s offshore waters to allow anglers to fish during Virginia’s February bonus black sea bass season. Anglers returned to Ocean City docks with some impressive catches of deep-water black sea bass.
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.