Cover Image: Anglers Employee Alex caught Snakehead in the Blackwater area using a Mepps #3! Anglers Employee Mike G. found both Yellow Perch and White Perch still biting at Greensboro. He was using small spoons!
Snakehead: Snakehead are waking up with the warmer weather and the bite is really picking up on both the eastern and western shore! The Upper parts of your western shore rivers are all producing snakehead, as well as Blackwater and all of the surrounding areas on the Eastern Shore. They are still a bit sluggish, so lures like chatterbaits and live minnows are working well. We have seen some caught on top water too, but in general notice that they are hitting on a smaller profile bait. Try smaller frogs, smaller chatterbaits like the new Mini-Max from Z-man or Willow Vibes bladed jig heads with small paddletails. Fish the warmest days of the week and the warmest times of the day for your best chance at catching them! Be sure to stop by our Snakehead Kickoff Event on April 2nd & 3rd for sales, educational seminars and to meet the experts!
Perch: White perch and yellow perch, although mostly spawned out, are still running up in the creek and upper rivers. On the western shore Wayson’s Corner and Beachwood have been productive. The eastern shore offers even more opportunities including Tuckahoe, Martinak and the upper Choptank in Denton, Greenboro and Hillsboro! 1/32, 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig heads or shad darts tipped with small plastic stingers are working really well, especially rigged in tandem. You can even use a small spoon in the tandem. Live minnows and grass shrimp are definitely still producing as well!
Rockfish: This is the last week to target and release rockfish before the spring closure starts on April 1st. The fishing has been a little bit hit or miss but typical spots like the mouth of the Potomac and the Power Plant are still producing nice fish. You’ll want to use heavier, 1, 1.5 or 2 oz jig heads with 7-10 inch larger profile baits. Be sure to release those big fish safely!
Catfish: Blue and Channel Catfish are being caught all over the bay, but in our local area Sandy Point has been especially hot! Fresh alewife and fresh shrimp on a fish finder rig have both been working well!
Shad: American and Hickory shad are showing up in the southern rivers such as the Potomac. Fletchers and Mattawomen have both been producing this week. Fishing small spoons such as Kastmasters or Nungessers has been working well. You can rig them in tandem with a shad dart, or, if fishing from shore, use a small inline sinker to help with you casting distance!