Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report- August 24, 2023

Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Summary

• Spanish mackerel and bluefish blitzes in the Middle/Lower Bay.
• Speckled trout and puppy drum take topwaters intended for striped bass in the Middle Bay.
• Upper Bay is loaded with big blue catfish.
• Kingfish, flounder and more are active in the surf.
• Ocean reefs and wrecks host larger flounder and black sea bass.

Maryland DNR Fishing Report

Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 

Upper Chesapeake Bay

At the Conowingo Dam pool, anglers routinely gather at dawn to enjoy striped bass fishing by casting topwater lures, paddletails, and jerkbaits. Others enjoy wading in the lower Susquehanna River or fishing from small boats and kayaks and casting the same lures during the early morning and evening hours.

The most productive striped bass fishing is focused near the mouth of the Patapsco River. Using spot for live-lining is the most popular way to fish the area between the mouth of the river offshore of Fort Howard Park and Sparrows Point and near the Key Bridge up to Fort Carroll.

Anglers are also enjoying some fun fishing action for striped bass by casting topwater lures, jerkbaits, and paddletails near the commercial piers and old piling fields in Baltimore Harbor. Anglers are also finding spot for live-lining within Baltimore Harbor and Curtis Creek.

Fishing for a mix of spot and white perch is good in most of the region’s tidal rivers and out on several reefs and knolls in the Bay. Pieces of bloodworm on a bottom rig is the most popular way to fish for these two species in deeper waters.

There are plenty of blue catfish to be found in the upper Bay for anglers fishing from boats or from shore. All it takes is some stout tackle and fresh bait in the form of cut menhaden, white perch, or bluegill sunfish; or use chicken liver or commercially scented baits. The Susquehanna and Chester rivers have large populations of blue catfish, and they can also be found in every tidal river.

Middle Bay

Anglers continue to target striped bass during the early morning at the west side of the Bay Bridge by live-lining spot near the 25-foot drop-off edge. A few others are having good luck with cut spot, small white perch, and soft crab baits. The best fishing success occurs during the morning on a running tide, and as the day wears on, the fishing success declines. Casting soft plastic jigs near the bridge pier bases is also a good tactic during the early morning.

Many striped bass anglers are casting topwater lures, jerkbaits, and paddletails along shoreline structure during the early morning. The rocks at Poplar Island, Thomas Point, the area near the Naval Academy, and the shorelines near the mouths of the region’s tidal rivers are just a few good places to fish this way. Anglers report catching a mix of striped bass, speckled trout, puppy drum, and bluefish.

Trolling for striped bass and bluefish along channel edges with small spoons and paddletails behind planers and inline weights at speeds less than 5 knots is a good tactic. Good places to troll include the channel edges of the shipping channel and the false channel, and the eastern edge of the shipping channel from Buoy 83 past the Sharps Island Light. Trolling at speeds up to 7 knots with small Drone and Clark spoons will attract the attention of Spanish mackerel.

If you’re lucky, diving gulls might show the way to a mix of bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Casting small but heavy flashy metal jigs and Got-Cha lures into the action, allowing them to sink, and then speed-reeling is a great way to catch Spanish mackerel; slower retrieves will allow bluefish to catch up.

Fishing for white perch continues to provide plenty of summer fun in the tidal rivers and creeks. Fishing off docks and piers with simple bottom rigs baited with grass shrimp, pieces of bloodworm, or peeler crab close to structure is an effective tactic. During the morning and evening hours casting small spinnerbaits, roadrunner type lures, and spinners along shorelines of the tidal rivers where rocks, sunken wood, and prominent points will attract white perch.

Lower Bay

Striped bass anglers are now able to fish the lower Potomac River. Anglers are reporting that the best striped bass fishing in Maryland waters is along the shallower shorelines on both sides of the Bay and in the lower sections of the tidal rivers. Most success occurs in the early morning hours before the sun climbs too far above the horizon. Topwater lures in the form of poppers and Zara Spooks provide an exciting way to get in on the action; jerkbaits and paddletails will work well also. Anglers are encountering a mix of striped bass, bluefish, puppy drum, and speckled trout from the waters of Tangier Sound to St. Marys River.

Large red drum continue to roam the lower Bay and can show up under schools of feeding bluefish and Spanish mackerel, or churning up the bottom near the Mud Leads, the Target Ship, or the Middle Grounds. Once you locate these fish, jigging with large soft plastic jigs is an effective way to enjoy some exciting catch-and-release action. Cobia are being spotted on the surface and casting large soft plastic jigs to them is an excellent way to catch them. Chumming and drifting with live eels to the back of the chum slick is also a popular fishing method.

Fishing for spot continues to be excellent at the mouth of the Patuxent River and Tangier Sound this week. The spot are becoming larger and make for some good eating and fun fishing for all ages. In some areas white perch will be mixed in with small croakers and kingfish.

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays

Surf anglers are enjoying good fishing for a mix of kingfish, spot, bluefish, and flounder during the morning and evening. Bloodworms or artificial bloodworm-scented baits work well for the kingfish and spot. Cut spot or finger mullet can be used to catch bluefish. Strips of spot, squid, or Gulp baits are being used for flounder.

At the Ocean City Inlet, sheepshead can be found near the jetty rocks and the Route 50 Bridge piers, where sand fleas are an excellent bait to use. A mix of bluefish and striped bass are being caught inside the inlet during the early morning and late evening.

Flounder fishing is good this week in the back bay channel waters; anglers are cautioned to be careful of boat traffic of offshore sportfishing boats heading through the channels towards the inlet. Traditional squid and minnow baits are popular and anglers are targeting the largest flounder using live spot or mullet, as well as Gulp baits in white and pink.

Outside the inlet those who are trolling small chrome Clark Spoons behind planers are catching Spanish mackerel and bluefish on the inshore lumps. Large flounder are also being caught on many of these lumps and the offshore wreck and reef sites. Good fishing for sea bass is also occurring at the wreck and reef sites.

The offshore waters of the canyons are providing a mix of bigeye tuna, some yellowfin tuna, and a few white marlin. Large numbers of small dolphin are being caught near floating debris and lobster buoys. Deep-drop fishing for a mix of blueline and golden tilefish is good.

Freshwater Opportunities

Fishing for largemouth bass is good in a variety of water environments, from the smallest farm ponds to our largest reservoirs and tidal waters. The summer behavior pattern is much the same wherever largemouth bass are found – feeding during the low-light evening and through the night into early morning in shallow areas where food can be found near grass beds. They then seek cool shade during the heat of the day.

Casting topwater lures in the form of soft plastic frogs, buzzbaits, and poppers near or over shallow grass is always exciting. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits work well along the edges of thick grass or spatterdock fields. Thick floating grass over deeper waters can provide shade and dropping wacky rigged worms with sufficient weight to penetrate the grass is a proven tactic. Docks, overhanging brush, and fallen treetops provide shade and flipping wacky rigged stick worms or soft plastics under or near is a good way to target a resting largemouth bass.

Anglers are targeting northern snakeheads in thick grass within the upper reaches of many of Maryland’s tidal rivers. In most waters the snakeheads are still protecting fry balls, or will be nearby. They will attack noisy surface lures out of hunger or if they feel there is a threat to their young. Buzzbaits are a good choice to use for this type of fishing, as are soft plastic frogs.

Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 

Angler’s Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD

The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.

Upper and Middle Bay

The western side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge area is packed with smaller fish like spot, croaker and white perch! Expect to catch TONS of these fish while jigging around the bridge pilings. The favored method is using Chesapeake Sabiki Rigs tipped with either live or artificial bait. You may even find a toadfish or smaller black sea bass mixed in as well! Areas just outside of Podickory Point are loaded with tons of live-line-worthy spot.

The Shipping Channel and False Channel are perfect places to get into trolling for striped bass and bluefish. Areas like Poplar Island are home to huge amounts of Spanish mackerel as well. Anglers are having luck with trolling small spoons under either a #1 or #2 planer.

The white perch fishing inside the tidal rivers of the bay are good right now due to cooler mornings and evenings. Anglers are catching by casting spinners past structures such as piers, reefs and fallen trees. In deeper water, anglers are jigging channel edges or deep structure with Chesapeake Sabiki Rigs tipped with live or artificial baits.

The striped bass bite has been good in the early mornings all along the lower Susquehanna. Anglers are finding the best luck using topwater lures or paddletails. Other areas like Chesapeake Beach, Poplar Island and Thomas Point are also excellent to get on those slot-sized rockfish!

South Bay

Red drum, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel continue to roam all over the lower bay area. Areas around the mouth of the Potomac River are perfect for looking for diving gulls that can lead to schools of feeding bluefish or mackerel. Anglers are having success either trolling or casting durable paddletails into the frenzy with a quick retrieve.

The mouth of the Potomac continues to be an excellent place to catch slot-sized striped bass, speckled trout and blue catfish! The Potomac has been opened up to targeting striped bass again. Early morning topwater lures or smaller paddletails will work the best. Further up the Potomac anglers are catching large blue cats while casting from shore or in small watercraft casting towards the shorelines with paddletails or cut bait like bunker.

Anglers are reporting large numbers of cobia just south of the Potomac! Anglers are having luck either trolling tubes or casting large paddletails towards them with quick retrieval.

Additional Info.

Crabbing is still fantastic in areas like the Severn and Magothy River. However, with the rain forecasted over this next week, the salinity in the water will be diluted causing the crabs to move into deeper water.

The Angler’s Sport Center fishing report is compiled and written by Anglers Team Member, A.J. Lewis.

Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD

The Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report is written and compiled by writer and media professional, James Houck. Find the full report here, at reelchesapeake.com.

The past week has been quite busy on Chesapeake Bay waters. Angler reports have been plentiful and offer glimpses of possibility throughout the watershed. Notably, the weather has been stable and will continue the pattern of here ’n there rain sprinkles or quick storms almost daily as we move toward the weekend. But for the most part, sunny skies, manageable winds, and comfortable temperatures have prevailed across the middle region. The evenings have been cooling down to the 60F mark, which has helped the surface water temps dip ever-so-slightly under 80F at dawn. By August 30th, stronger tides will ebb and flood, coinciding with the full moon. In the immediate days following, the highest-water arrives at daybreak and sunset, setting up what could be excellent feeding patterns, especially for those intent on chasing topwater strikes along shoreline (I’m looking at you, striped bass!).

The most exciting reports have been coming from the mouth of the South…River, that is, where cutlass fish have been feeding hard in the Thomas Point vicinity. Anglers have been looking for schools of the fish and when finding them, easily catching the sleek, silver-sided and toothy species by tossing…well…almost anything their way. Most effective have been bunker spoons and 1/2-ounce jigs with bright paddletails. Look for ospreys circling overhead, picking off fish. And you will, too!

Also of note is an improved Spanish mackerel and bluefish bite in this same area—and extending from Poplar Island and the 80 buoys northward, ever closer the the Bay Bridge (finally!). Fish have generally been in the lower to mid teens, but provide good eating if dispatched, handled, and cleaned efficiently. Most boats are trolling #1 or #2 planers about 50 or so yards off stern with Clark or Drone spoons about another 50 yards behind the planers. Trolling is the way to cover water. But if you luck into a feeding school, cast metals like Kastmasters or rain minnows directly into or just beyond the school and rip that retrieve as fast as you can reel.

We’re still hearing of puppy drum caught in the lower sections of the rivers, such as the Choptank and Severn. Throw swimming plastics as you would for striped bass feeding in the top third of the water column, especially in water 15 feet or less and around structure/grass/etc. You could get strikes from the redfish. Most are just short of slot size. 

Anglers departing the Solomons/Potomac/Point Lookout region are having success for these species, plus a mix of speckled trout. And the further south you venture, the better the chance to hook into bull reds, which the charter fleet is generally chasing right now. It’s all about big reds, stripers, and cobia (if you’re lucky) with all species coming on classic larger 7-inch jig/plastic combos.

In the tributaries, I recommend going for the continuously improving schoolie bite during the magic hours (sunrise, sunset). If the water is glass, try walking lures; if it’s rippling from a slight wind, try poppers; and if winds approach 10 to 15 knots, subsurface lures may be best. When the sun is overhead, move on to white perch, which remain plentiful, even far upriver. All the mid bay rivers are producing right now, so if you have the ways and means to be on the water at the right time, you should be able to find the right places where these species stage: sandbar points, bridge pilings, pinch points along the river stem, any visible riprap, underwater oyster bars, rapid depth changes, shade, etc. These will hold fish and with the stronger tides due this coming week, we should hopefully have some improved current moving across and around this structure/cover.

On the Eastern Shore, we directly heard a few very good crabbing reports. The crabs are running well in the lower to mid Choptank, as well as the Wye and Tred Avon. Crab a trotline in 5 to 8 feet of water on a dropping tide and you could have yourself a day.

In fresher environs, largemouth bass and northern snakehead remain attractive. And the fluke bite has improved for both species according to several anglers. All the cuts, ponds, and adjacent streams of the middle Patuxent hold these fish. We have fun in the Bowie vicinity south to Jug Bay. But anglers fishing the tribs of the lower Pax are catching, too. The Potomac tribs south of D.C. hold the largest specimens though. Ditto for blue catfish, which are caught on chunk bait bottom rigs. Try the bridge parks along the Anacostia River. Another opportunity to try for big blues exists north, at Fort Smallwood Park near the mouth of the Patapsco River—chunk from shore at the point/grass picnic area directly in front of the old rampart.

And, of course, now is as good a time of year as ever to take your littles to the local impoundments for some bluegill fishing. My son and I visited Annapolis Waterworks Park this past weekend and fishing the spillway with a simple bobber rig and earthworms on a small #6 octopus hook. Just about every cast was a catch. What a hoot! Good luck!

View the full Reel Chesapeake Fishing Report, written and compiled by writer and media professional James Houck, at reelchesapeake.com.