Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters reported a slower week of fishing due to consistent, heavy north wind keeping him and Captain Mike Gardner at the dock. The last time he was able to get out was on Sunday and he “left them biting”. According to the skipper, the action was terrific before the blow. At times, they found striped bass blitzing beneath birds but more often than not, the fish were hanging deep. Depending on what the fish were doing and where they were feeding in the column, both casting and jigging had their moments, and 5-inch Z-Man paddletails on skirted jigheads were the ticket to getting bit. The big migratory bass aren’t back in town yet, but Capt. Jamie is anticipating their arrival by Thanksgiving time and the resident striper bite will only improve leading up to the return of the cows. With the best of the Bay’s striper season still ahead, now is a great time to schedule a trip. To book a charter, head to the ES Light Tackle Charters Facebook page for trip rates and contact info and inquire about their upcoming availability for striped bass.
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC said there has been a slight influx of schoolie and slot-size striped bass around Ocean City lately, which is likely a mix of both resident fish from the coastal bays and the leading edge of migratory fish making their way down the coast. The bass have been most active in the inlet, around back bay choke points, and at the bridges, and there are still bluefish in the mix, Bakke said. A majority of the bass are schoolies, but there are noticeably more slot fish filtering in, he noted. Out front in the Assateague surf, red drum are sticking around and anglers are picking away at good ones on chunked baits. Not many boats have been out this week due to the north/northeast wind so reports from the reefs and wrecks are slim, but tautog fishing from the jetties has been productive and is a good way to get your bottom fishing fix until the wind and seas lay down. The big takeaway from these weather conditions, Bakke noted, is that striped bass fishing should be quick to improve thanks to a full moon early next week and sustained north winds further assisting those fish down the coast. Check out the Always Bent YouTube Channel and Instagram page to stay in the loop with the local fishing scene, from inshore bites to offshore tournament coverage and more.
Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing out of West Ocean City fished just once since last Thursday due to northeast wind creating poor sailing conditions. The skipper said their trip on Friday the 16th saw a decent sea bass bite, with several anglers climbing into double digits and a few limits around the rail. Had the wind not been climbing steadily (making for some sporty conditions), Captain Monty would not have pulled the plug so early. By noon, they were headed back to OC with enough fish for most folks on board to enjoy a fresh-caught dinner. The Morning Star will continue to fish for sea bass until the season ends in December. Call 443-235-5577 to reserve your spot on the rail and head to their website for more trip information.
Anglers Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
Written by Anglers Pro Staff and OTW Columnist, Tim Hesford.
Water temps are hovering in the mid to low 60s, and fishing for schoolie stripers in Middle and Upper Bay tributaries has been good. Anglers have been finding success trolling and casting paddletails, lipless crankbaits, and topwaters along the shoreline. There have also been some bird shows in the main Bay and around the mouths of the rivers; however, these fish seem to be on the smaller side. I’ve been finding wolfpacks of slot to slightly over-slot fish around structure and small pods of bunker in some of the creeks. The bite should begin to shift into the main Bay as the water drops below 60 degrees.
White perch have been biting around deeper structures like the Bay Bridge. Grass shrimp, bloodworms, and small Gulp baits have all been working well. The blue and channel catfish bite has been improving with cooler temperatures in larger rivers like the Choptank and Chester. Chain pickerel are also starting to fire off in Upper Bay tribs like the Magothy. Most of the red drum and speckled trout in Maryland waters seem to have moved south with the recent cooldown.
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 2026 striped bass young of the year survey resultswere released this week and although a little better than last year, our striped bass recruitment situation is still a problem. Read more about the juvenile index report on the DNR website.
Middle Bay
Water temperature decline is the big story in the middle Bay. We’re in for some chilly weather, which will cause water temperatures to drop in the tidal rivers. Bay water temperatures are hovering near 65 degrees and the lower Choptank River at 61 degrees. Unfortunately, it also looks like we might be seeing stiff winds out of the north all week. The colder water temperatures will set the stage for baitfish to depart the tidal rivers and run smack-dab into striped bass waiting along the channels in the Bay and at the mouths of the tidal rivers. This is the scenario that striped bass anglers have been patiently waiting for.
This is a very important time for the striped bass as well, for this gives them the opportunity to build their body stores up for the upcoming winter months. It is time to get back into shape after enduring those warm summer water temperatures. Juvenile menhaden will be the main course, but bay anchovies and silversides will be on the menu.
Soft plastic and metal jigs in the 3/8-ounce to 3/4-ounce size range will be the lures of choice, depending on depth, wind, and current. Placing a plastic skirt on plastic jigs is often a good idea to increase profile. A fast taper fishing rod and a reel spooled with braid is a real asset in reducing line drag in the current and effectiveness in jigging.
Shore based anglers are experiencing good fishing for striped bass this week from promising looking shorelines. Rocks offer good structure for striped bass and places like the Kent Narrows offer good places to fish.
Trolling will become more of an option for anglers as the month of October progresses and most will be pulling umbrella rigs. When fishing from a charter boat, this is often standard fare. There are times when a cozy cabin out of the wind and cold can be an inviting way to fish. Heavy tackle to reel in the inline weight, umbrella rig and perhaps a fish will be needed to complete the task.
Lower Bay
Anglers in the lower Bay will be at the wrong end of the stiff northerly winds predicted for this week but the sheltered waters in the lower Potomac, Patuxent, and Tangier Sound may offer some protection. The cold weather that has moved in and is predicted to continue for the remainder of the month will do much to lower water temperatures in the lower bay region. This drop in water temperature will drive the spot, bluefish, and red drum south to warmer waters.
Anglers may still be able to find a few spot for live-lining striped bass but time is short. Many striped bass anglers are experiencing good luck casting a mix of lures in the shallower waters of the bay, the lower Potomac River, the lower Patuxent River, and the shorelines of the Eastern Shore and Tangier Sound. Topwater lures and paddletails are popular lure choices during the early morning and late evening hours.
Jigging with soft plastic or metal jigs is quickly becoming the most popular way to fish for striped bass along channel edges. If you’re lucky enough to encounter breaking fish, casting into the surface action or jigging underneath it is perhaps the most exciting fishing action anyone can experience. The sight of diving seagulls is enough to get anyone’s heart to skip a beat. Now that the bluefish are gone, gulls resting on the water can offer evidence that some kind of surface action occurred recently. Slicks are another clue and a good depth finder will settle all questions.
The lower Potomac River from the Route 301 bridge south to Point Lookout has been providing good striped bass fishing this week. Some of the striped bass are measuring short of the 19-inch minimum, but there seems to be plenty of fish falling within the slot. The lower Patuxent River below the Route 4 Bridge has been producing good striped bass fishing, The mouth of the Nanticoke and the cuts through Hoopers Island are also excellent places to jig.
Trolling is becoming more popular along some of the steeper channel edges in the lower Potomac River, Patuxent River and the steep channels out in the Bay. At this time most striped bass can be found at 30-foot depths suspended off the bottom. It will take heavy inline weights to get umbrella rigs down to where the striped bass are holding.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
The Ocean City area had to weather another rough weekend, and northeast winds are predicted this week. Surf anglers who are braving the wind and chill are catching and releasing large red drum in the surf on fresh cut bait. As usual, inshore sharks and cownose rays can be pesky. Anglers fishing with smaller baits are catching some kingfish and spot.
Inside the inlet fishing for tautog is getting better every day as water temperatures cool. The jetty rocks, bulkheads and bridge piers are all good places to fish for tautog. Live sand fleas, pieces of green crab, or any other type of crab are good baits. The sheepshead seem to have left. Fishing for striped bass during the evening hours is good for those drifting cut bait in the current. Some anglers are having good luck casting soft plastic jigs near jetty rocks.
The back bay waters are cloudy from the recent windy conditions and are not likely to improve this week due to the windy forecast. The channels close to the inlet, the East Channel, and the inlet are good places to fish for flounder, especially on a flood tide. Larger baits of spot, mullet or menhaden will attract the attention of the larger flounder.
Fishing for black sea bass is reported to be fair this week, anglers are catching fish, but they’re not seeing limit catches this week. As waters cool further in November and December, black sea bass catches and the size will improve. Flounder fishing at the inshore lumps is not good, most anglers report cloudy water conditions.
Farther offshore the focus at the canyons has been on swordfish. It has been a long time since Ocean City based anglers have seen swordfish numbers like this. Deep drop fishing for blueline and golden tilefish is good, and anglers are finding some small dolphin near floating structure and the lobster pot buoys.
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.