Cover Photo: Anglers employee Mike targeted catch and release rockfish in open water off of Chesapeake Beach using metal jigs this week, while Anglers employee Alex caught a surprise Gar while pickerel and yellow perch fishing in the Pocomoke!
Rockfish: The catch and release bite continues to be very good, and warmer weather has made it much more enjoyable! The fish seem to have moved in just a little bit more shallow, between 40-50 feet of water and are still holding tight to the bottom. There really isn’t one specific spot or area in the bay to target. Target channel edges and look for a gradual slope in the range of 30-60 feet. Use your electronics to mark those fish! Two to three ounce metal jigs are still working extremely well. Make sure that you can always feel the bottom, and use a slow jigging action. You can also use plastics, such as Bust ‘Em Baits 7″ Fat Boys, on heavier 1, 1.5 or 2 oz jig heads.
Pickerel: Pickerel fishing has also picked up with the warm weather! There is less ice on the water, and the fish or more active! Use paddletails, chatterbaits or live minnows and target rivers such as the Magothy, Severn or the Pocomoke on the Eastern Shore!
Panfish: Based on the reports that we have heard and what our staff has experienced themselves, yellow perch are staging right now. This means that you will be able to catch them in the upper parts of the main rivers and their tributaries but that you will catch mostly smaller males. You can catch a lot, but will need to weed through a lot of small fish to get some keepers. They will also be in slightly deeper water than normal, up to 15 feet. We’ve heard reports mainly from the eastern shore rivers such as the Pocomoke, the Naticoke and the Choptank. Use live minnows on a shad dart tandem for that slightly deeper water fishing. Small stingers or twister tails like our favorites from Bust ‘Em Baits or Mister Twister on 1/8 or 1/16 oz jig heads will work well too!
Crappie will be in these same areas, particularly on the Eastern Shore, and can be caught using the same methods. Crappie do tend to like structure, and can be found in Eastern Shore Mills Ponds as well!
DNR has also been out stocking trout this week! Check out the locations that have recently been stocked here
Use balls of powerbait trout dough, or target them with small spinners!