Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters reported that despite some intense heat over the weekend, he and Captain Mike Gardner are running the same program as last week. The skipper said this is some of the best summertime shallow water action he’s seen in a long time. Water quality is exceptional—conditions are crystal clear in the bay and their charter customers are catching an excellent grade of striped bass for the areas they are fishing. Captain Jamie noted that the fish are feeding on silversides and small bunker, which are all over the rivers and seem especially prevalent in shallow water, which is fueling the topwater bite. They continue to catch on small spooks worked tight to structure and along shadow lines, where striped bass are using shade from docks and trees to hang in cooler water. At this rate, it seems like this bite will carry on well into the summer. Head to ES Light Tackle Charters Facebook page for trip rates and info to get a date on the books.
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC relayed that not much has changed locally since last week. Offshore anglers are still picking away at yellowfin tuna that are lingering in the canyons, and he’s hopeful that they will stick around a bit longer. Recently though, some white marlin have been in the mix as well. The inshore scene is full of variety, with flounder, sheepshead, and tautog biting now that the season for a 2-fish limit has reopened. Bluefish and striped bass are hanging around the inlet and in the back bays, and nighttime tends to produce the best striper action on soft plastics and jigs. Many of the bass are shorts, but anglers who keep at it are catching the occasional slot-size fish. Cobia reports are beginning to improve, too, so Ocean City’s summer fisheries are shaping up nicely following the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing out of West Ocean City reported that Friday’s trip prior to the holiday started off on a good note, with steady action that was neither great nor poor. Anglers on the rail worked for their fish and at times, they had double headers coming up with the occasional double-header of keeper-size fish. The action remained steady throughout the day as seas laid down, which made for a pleasant ride back to port. On the 4th, the skipper took his family out to target triggerfish, and although his grandson started the outing catching fluke on clam, the action petered out shortly after. They moved on to an area of hard bottom and found a good pile of triggers for the table, and even wound up with a few swimming around the boat. After wind and rough seas early in the week, the Morning Star crew was back to sea bass and flounder fishing today and the captain reported fantastic action throughout the trip in calm conditions. They also saw one of their largest sea bass of the season come over the rail. All in all, it was a good week of bottom fishing on the offshore reefs that the captain is working so hard to help build and maintain. The Morning Star will continue to sail for sea bass (with flounder in the mix) whenever conditions allow, so call 443-235-5577 to reserve your spot on the rail and head to their website for more trip information.
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.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that water and air temperatures are elevated, and caution needs to be taken when fishing for striped bass.
Once anglers catch their daily limit, they should cease targeting striped bass and focus on other species, to limit the amount that are caught and released. If a striped bass isn’t a keeper, it should be released in the water without ever being removed.
Tips for safe catch and release are on the DNR website.
Middle Bay
There is a lot of good fishing for a mix of striped bass and bluefish along the edges of the main shipping channel this week. There are also good fishing opportunities for striped bass and white perch at the Bay Bridge and Kent Narrows and the mouth of the Choptank River.
Water temperatures are now in the 80s and the salinity is still high, registering 15 ppt in the middle of the Bay this week and as high as 5 ppt up the Choptank at the mouth of the Tuckahoe Creek. As water temperatures continue to elevate this month striped bass will be under stress. Anglers who catch their limit of slot size striped bass are urged to cease targeting them for catch and release. Instead, perhaps switch to fishing for the abundant bluefish or blue catfish.
Live-lining spot is the most popular and successful way to fish for striped bass this week. The 30-foot channel edges off Kent Island, Thomas Point, and south of Bloody Point down to Sharps Island and below the mouth of the Choptank River are good locations. The Kent Narrows is a good place to live-line or to jig. Bluefish can be pesky at times, often snipping off the back half of the spot and missing the hook. Saving the remains for drifting cut bait is an excellent way to catch bluefish.
Trolling is a good option for bluefish. A trolling spread with Drone spoons and surge tube lures pulled behind inline weights is a good way to target bluefish along channel edges. The bluefish being seen by anglers in the middle Bay are ranging from 3 to 6 pounds. They are good to eat whether broiled, baked, or grilled. Running a few through a smoker for a smoked bluefish spread will make you lots of friends.
Lower Bay
Fishing for striped bass is good this week and anglers can catch some within the 19-24 inch slot by live-lining spot, jigging or casting. Live lining spot is the most popular and successful way to fish for striped bass along the 30-foot edge of the region’s major channels. The channel edge from St. Georges Island to Piney Point, the channel below the Route 4 Bridge in the Patuxent, Cedar and Cove Points and channel edges off Hoopers Island and Tangier Sound. Bluefish will be part of the mix and drifting fresh cut spot is a good way to catch them. Anglers are reminded that non-offset circle hooks are mandatory when targeting striped bass with live or cut bait.
Jigging along the same channel edges is another good way to catch striped bass. During the dawn hours and later sunset hours is a good time to try jigging as is casting a mix of lures in the shallower waters of the bay. Soft plastic jigs are popular for jigging and poppers, Zara Spooks, and paddletails are popular choices for fishing the shallows. Speckled trout are showing up in some areas.
Striped bass anglers are urged to limit catch-and-release fishing for striped bass; if you do, fish should be released in the water without being removed. Warm water temperatures and exposure to hot air are bad combinations for striped bass survival. Deep areas of low oxygen are beginning to occur in the lower Potomac and may evolve in other areas, which prevent striped bass from finding cool oxygen rich water to recover from a release. Tips for safe catch and release are on the DNR website.
Bluefish are chasing bait in the lower Bay, and it is an exciting event when encountered by anglers. Approach from upwind and drift to the fish, rather than driving too close and ending the surface action. Casting metal jigs and spoons are popular ways to get in on the action. Large blips may show up on depth finders, revealing the presence of large red drum or cobia lurking underneath.
Most anglers who are targeting cobia are chumming and drifting live eels to the back of their chum slicks. Large red drum are providing exciting catch-and-release action when spotted by slicks, disturbed water or chasing menhaden. Anglers are also finding large sheepshead near the Target Ship and other submerged structure.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
The Ocean City beaches were a good place to be during last week’s heat wave. It was also a good time to be fishing along the beaches of Assateague. During the morning hours, kingfish are being caught in the surf on pieces of bloodworms or artificial bloodworm baits. Casting soft plastic jigs rigged with a strip of squid is a good way to catch flounder or a visiting blowfish. Anglers using larger cut bait continue to catch and release large red drum and a variety of small inshore sharks. Using finger mullet rigs is a good way to target bluefish in the surf.
At the inlet and the Route 50 Bridge area, anglers are catching a mix of striped bass and bluefish during the early morning and late evening or night hours. Flounder fishing has been good at the inlet and sheepshead are being caught near the jetty rocks, bridge piers and bulkheads on sand fleas. Fishing for flounder in the back bay channels is very good, and Gulp baits are catching some of the larger flounder.
Outside of the inlet anglers are catching a mix of bluefish and Spanish mackerel when trolling with Clark and Drone spoons behind inline weights. Flounder fishing is also good on many of the lumps and shoals. Farther offshore at the wreck and reef sites fishing for black sea bass has been good with a mix of flounder and triggerfish. The first small dolphin are beginning to arrive in the area, and a few have recently been caught.
Farther offshore, fishing for yellowfin tuna has been good and catch and release fishing for white marlin continues to improve. Offshore anglers are looking forward to small dolphin arriving at the lobster pot buoys for some fun light tackle action. Most charters are also scheduling time for some deep drop fishing to provide blueline and golden tilefish to take back to the dock. Anglers and boat captains are reminded that they must report tilefish catches electronically. The NOAA website contains the information anglers and boat captains need.
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.