Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: June 3rd, 2025

The rivers have finally opened for rockfish, and many anglers took advantage of the massive numbers of fish this week. Casting topwater plugs and paddle tails at shoreline structure like docks and riprap have been a key tactic. The Magothy and Patapsco Rivers are hotspots. Trolling and jigging have been effective as well in areas like the former Key Bridge and Pooles Island. Four to six inch baits have been the ticket. White perch have begun to move into the same areas as well as other Upper Bay rivers, though they are not nearly in their full summer form quite yet. Perch Hounders and other spinners are hot lures, and bloodworms or grass shrimp on sabiki rigs are the best bets for bait fishermen. Spot and croaker are slowly moving in, and can be caught on sabiki rigs tipped with bait as well.

Fishing for rockfish at the Bay Bridge has been hot again this week, with many anglers either live lining spot or jigging plastics. 4 inch to 6 inch jigs in the ½ oz to 1 oz range have still been getting the job done. Look to target depths between 10 feet and 20 feet for the best chance of hooking up. The Eastern Shore rock piles have been producing pretty consistently. Fishing shoreline structure at Poplar Island, the mouth of the South River, Thomas Point are hot areas. Three inch to five inch paddletails and topwater plugs are sticking the most fish for those chucking lures. Speckled trout have begun popping up in the shallows south of Poplar Island and can be caught throwing diving plugs and paddletails. Spot, croaker, and perch are back in the shallows as well, and can be caught on sabiki rigs tipped with bait. Those looking to target perch with lures will do well with small plastics and Perch Hounders. Bluefish have shown up earlier than usual and can be found mixed in with rockfish. Target them with metal spoons or jigs to avoid getting your plastic baits destroyed. FishTalk Magazine also reports a number of small black drum being caught on peeler crab in the Middle Bay area.

The St. Mary’s and Potomac Rivers have been the hottest fishing areas on the Lower Bay. Rockfish, speckled trout, and small red drum can be found targeting shoreline structure with topwater plugs, diving plugs, and paddletails. Popping cork rigs are another good option to give pressured fish a different look. Trollers are having success catching slot rockfish with tandem rigs in chartreuse and white. Spot and croaker are abundant in areas with hard bottom and can be caught on sabiki rigs tipped with bait. White perch will be found in similar areas and can be caught on bait as well as Perch Hounders and other flashy lures.

Things are still a bit tough on the freshwater side of things as many of our favorite target species are in spawning mode or just transitioning . Some largemouth bass are on beds and will be hard to convince to bite, however those that have transitioned into post spawn will have the feed bag on. Sight fishing with brightly colored plastics can be a fun option to try and aggravate a spawning bass into biting. Grass mats are starting to pop up in ponds, lakes, and the upper reaches of rivers which provide opportunity for punching with heavy jigs and compact, beaver style trailers for those fish that have reached post spawn. Green pumpkin and black/blue will be good options here. The snakehead bite is starting to slow down as these fish transition to the spawn. Throwing weedless topwater and subsurface baits in bright colors alonggrass and lilly pads can be productive, though. Look for fry balls to start popping up once the weather warms back up next week.

Intercoastal waters of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia have produced well for those seeking good flounder action. Drifting behind Assateague Island with minnows or jigging gulp has been the ticket for lots of keeper flounder. Chincoteague and Wachapreague have seen good action as well, with many anglers bump trolling in the stiff current with minnow on old school fluke rigs. Fishing up by Cape Henlopen in Delaware from the shore using bucktails tipped with gulp have caught lots of nice fish as well. Inshore wrecks off Ocean City have proven to be great trips with many catching their limit of black sea bass. Hi-low rigs with sea clams are the go to.

Trot lining is picking up with the water reaching a more consistent temperature throughout the water column. Pull traps have been successful as well, with reports of folks catching up to a bushel in the early evening window. Look to target the Magothy, Severn, South, and Chester rivers as places where we’ve received reports of hot crabbing. Razor clams, alewife, and chicken necks continue to be the best baits.