The Anglers Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report has ARRIVED!
Upper and Middle Bay
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is providing excellent fishing opportunities for Anglers targeting Spot, small Croaker, White Perch and even the occasional small sea bass or toadfish! Fishing the western side of the bridge around pylons using bottom rigs tipped with bloodworms or lugworms will net a good amount of these smaller fish!
- The mouth of the Patapsco River is offering amazing opportunities to net keeper sized Striped Bass while live lining spot! Spots like the Key Bridge and around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge pylons are fantastic for jigging for good sized Striped Bass as well!
- The Conowingo Dam is creating cooler water daily at the dam pool. Anglers are finding success using all kinds of lures and baits! Anglers are finding the best luck fishing early morning hours before sunrise and after sunset!
- The White Perch are being found in all tidal rivers of the upper and middle bay area! Casting small spinners such as a Perch Hounder near structures is a fun and great way to catch a good amount of White Perch!
- Bluefish and Mackerel are being caught around the edges of the shipping channel and False Channel area. Trolling where Mackerel or Bluefish are seen breaking the surface is the best way to get on a good amount of these fish!
- Captain LJ, Owner of G-Eye Jigs stated “I’ve been catching keeper croaker, nice white perch, spot and black sea bass around the Chesapeake Beach area. Mackerel and Bluefish are around but elusive. Trolling seems to be the most successful!”.
South Bay
- Middle Ground and the Target Ship are host to good sized Cobia and Red Drum! Jigging with large plastics or drifting soft crab and cut bunker seem to be the most effective tactics!
- Trolling along the shipping channel is proving to be an extremely effective way to to catch Mackerel. 00 spoons underneath a number 1 planer while trolling at 6-8 mph will get you plenty.
- Until August 20th, Fishing for Striped Bass is closed in the main stem of the Potomac River. However the mouth of the Potomac offers a great mix of Blue Catfish and Speckled Trout! Further up the Potomac you’ll find a good mix of Channel Cats and Blue cats in large numbers!
- Captain Travis of Schooled Up Fishing Charters says “Lots of large Blues south and scattered Mack’s. Drums also in the mix south.”
Additional Information
- Striped Bass are once again open for fishing in most parts of the Chesapeake Bay! They’ve returned to the 19-31 inch slot, while only being able to keep 1 per day, per angler!
- Recreational Crabbing in the Magothy is very productive in areas of 4-7 in depth! Crabbers are reporting razor clams to be the most favored bait at the moment!