We all know printed fishing reports are generalized and weeks have passed before the report gets into your hands, so for timely, up-to-date reports, visit our Reports section. Current reports will be published every Friday by noon — just in time for your weekend fishing adventures. In the meantime, here’s our monthly prognostication.
COASTAL FISHING FORECAST
Just how cold it gets and just how fast it happens will determine if the striped bass and bluefin tunas continue to be an option into January, or if winter angling on the coast comes down to toggin’ and nothin’ but. Last season the stripers and tunas were available to some degree early on in the month. The rockfish were happy to bite even in the OC back bay, and bluefin were within shooting distance particularly for those running out of Virginia’s waters. But as you may recall a big blow put an abrupt end to all of that and the same could happen anytime once winter sets in, so keep a sharp eye on the weather.
FRESHWATER FISHING FORECAST
A few brave diehards are crossing their fingers for hard water at the western lakes, but if recent years are any indication the chances are that any ice season we may get will be brief. Still, dust off those tip-ups so you’re ready to roll at a moment’s notice. On the flip side of the coin southern reservoirs and Eastern Shore ponds will probably be ice-free some or most of the month, and pickerel are sure to be in the midst of their winter carnage right about now. Think: inline spinners, jerkbaits, and minnow under bobbers.
WAY NORTH CHESAPEAKE FISHING FORECAST
We can’t say exactly when the yellow perch will school up in the deep water, but it could happen as early as this month. Meanwhile, we know for sure of one fish swimming in the area that will be feeding all winter long: blue catfish. Remember, if you’re anywhere within sight of the 95 bridge and you drop baits down to bottom in deep water, you have a very good shot at success.
UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING FORECAST
All’s quiet on the mainstem Bay during January most seasons, but anglers heading for the creeks and coves of the tidal tribs and the Baltimore area creeks should be able to enjoy steady action on pickerel this month along with a shot at picking up a few yellow perch here and there. The deciding factor, of course, will be whether or not those waterways are skimmed over with ice.
MIDDLE BAY FORECAST
We could get lucky and enjoy striped bass catch-and-release action well into January, though at some point this month the water’s likely to dip down into the 30s and if so, that action will have come to a screeching halt. Meanwhile, if the tributaries remain ice-free pickerel anglers can have some fun on the west side. On the east side pickerel should be biting as well, along with yellow perch if you can find a downriver hole where they’ve balled up for the winter.
LOWER BAY FORECAST
There should be some action up the tribs for freshwater species this month, particularly for those monster blue cats in the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac. Beyond that we’re saying all bets are off. Last year it remained warm enough that striper catch-and-release action was a thing for most of January, but as is true throughout the region a lot depends on the weather and an arctic blast could turn out the lights overnight.
TANGIER, POCOMOKE, AND LOWER SHORE FORECAST
While the Sound’s waters are super-chilled expect much of the area action to shift to the tributaries. Fortunately, the rivers running through the Eastern Shore tend to stay a hair warmer than they do across the Bay, and the action tends to run a bit hotter, too. Yellow perch will be packing into the deep holes downriver of spring spawning areas, and farther upriver pickerel, crappie, and bass are bound to be chewing.
WAY SOUTH AND VA FORECAST
We’ll be holding our breath to see if those big cow stripers decide to hang out near the CBBT this December, but even if they don’t, a good push of fish should be passing through at some point. We’ll be just as interested in seeing if the redfish and speckled trout set up shop in areas like the Elizabeth and the inlets, as they did last year. Either way it’s a safe bet that tog fishing at the CBBT, HRBT, and nearby structure will be in prime form this month.
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