Image Left: Anglers Employee AJ holds up a 50 inch Striped Bass he caught using a 7 inch Chartuese Diezel Minnow with a Green 1 oz G-Eye Jighead!
Image Right: Anglers Pro Staff Alex shows off a Striped Bass he caught in the southern bay area!
The Anglers Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report has ARRIVED!
Upper and Middle Bay
- The Striped Bass bite remains robust across a diverse range of water depths, spanning from 4 feet to 60. Anglers are strategically targeting the edges of shipping channels and shallower, warmer waters in pursuit of trophy-sized Stripers. The trolling approach has been particularly successful, delivering amazing results. Additionally, jigging around flocked birds or drop-offs is proving to be an extremely effective method for anglers seeking a thrilling and fruitful angling experience!
- With the cooled water temperature, Blue Catfish are at peak activity! These invasive fighters can be found throughout the Chesapeake Bay, with a notable presence in the upper bay areas where the water is less salty. Specific rivers, such as the Susquehanna River, are teeming with these strong-fighting fish. Blue Catfish are known for their voracious appetite, making them open to various angling techniques. Anglers have the advantage of using different methods to catch them. The preferred bait for Blue Catfish includes cut bait, with Cut Alewife or Softcrab standing out as top choices!
- Pickerel are currently in full swing, exhibiting their hunting prowess in almost every tidal river along the Chesapeake Bay. These ambush predators can be spotted in shallow waters around structures or grass, providing a thrilling angling experience. As a tried-and-true recommendation, the Zman Willow Vibe on a 3.75-inch plastic continues to prove itself as an absolute killer for catching pickerel. These aggressive fish make for a great substitute when the White Perch and Spot head out for the winter. Just a word of caution—mind those teeth!
South Bay
- White Perch are still being caught in the South Bay Area! Currently, these fish are staging in deep waters, beginning around 30 feet with a hard bottom. Due to their preference for warmer, deeper environments, it will be more difficult to target these fish with your typical Perch Hounder or other types of Spinners. The recommended solution is a bottom rig, and Anglers suggests the Chesapeake Sibiki Rig for its impressive depth-reaching abilities and compliance with Maryland waters, featuring only 2 hooks. Enhance your chances of success by tipping these rigs with live or artificial bait—an ideal strategy!
- Trophy-sized Striped Bass fishing is still going strong! These prized fish are exhibiting diverse depth preferences, with the most common depth being around 30-60 feet. However, an unusual winter pattern is creating unique opportunities to catch trophy-sized Striped Bass in as little as 3 feet of water—an unexpected deviation that adds an extra layer of excitement to the angling experience. While flocks of birds traditionally signal the presence of migrating baitfish pursued by Striped Bass, there has been a recent decrease in the frequency of these avian indicators. Nevertheless, anglers are achieving success through two favored methods: trolling and jigging. Trolling, in particular, has been the standout approach, providing exceptional opportunities to connect with these impressive Rockfish!