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.

fishing forecast chesapeake bay
Fishing Reports editor Dillon Waters practices what he preaches!

COASTAL FISHING FORECAST

Weather windows may become rare this month, but November is often tops for daytime swordfish fishing off our coastline—which can be an utterly epic adventure. Inshore the sea bass should be biting strong, tog will be getting more active as the water chills, and the flounder fishing at wreck and reef sites is likely the best action of the year. Surf fishing should be excellent, too, with a shot at both panfish and larger species as southward migrations begin to kick in. Note that last season rockfish also came on strong in the coastal bays right about now, with slot fish among those caught in areas like the Route 50 bridge in OC.

FRESHWATER FISHING FORECAST

While it might be slightly nippy outside, the cooling water temperatures will have those fish putting on the feed bag. Expect the month to start with an excellent bite for bass and crappie, and as temperatures go down and the bass slow up a bit, crappie will pick up the pace and pickerel action will begin to crank up. In the rivers look for smallmouth to shift to ledges and holes with deeper water, and in areas that enjoyed fall stocking there should still be some trout adding to the action.

WAY NORTH CHESAPEAKE FISHING FORECAST

You should still be able to find stripers and some bass up on the Flats this month, but at any moment expect walleye to steal the show. Head up to the area around the dam and try tossing some jerkbaits or plastics and fish through dusk to enjoy this species’ brief moment in the seasonal spotlight. Those in search of more of a sure thing, meanwhile, know exactly what to do: cast out that cut bait and let it soak, because plenty of catfish will be ready to eat.

UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING FORECAST

While perch offer an additional opportunity, most anglers in the Upper Bay are sure to be prowling around for rockfish right about now. And with a little luck this month will be an excellent one. Especially if it was a mild Rocktober you can expect the action to get better and better through Rockvember. And remember to keep those binoculars handy, as bird shows often break out during this time of year.

MIDDLE BAY FORECAST

We know rockfish will be the main target, but we wonder if the redfish that have been filling Middle Bay tribs will stick around through November as well. In either case, anglers can look for surface action in open water as well as enjoying a shallow water bite. Recall that in November of 2023 we also had an unusually excellent black sea bass bite going off on all the wrecks and reefs in 25’ to 60’, so stock up on Rain Minnow and tip them with Fishbites crab flavor.

LOWER BAY FORECAST

In this section of the Bay it’s likely we’ll have all of the big three shallow water species hitting hard: rockfish, redfish, and speckled sea trout. Note that late fall is generally when the bigger specks make themselves known, and many of the reds that were just under the slot in summertime now make the grade. Size matters up the tribs, too, and last season this month was when multiple massive blue cats—50-plus-pounders—were pulled from the James, the Rappahannock, and the Potomac.

TANGIER, POCOMOKE, AND LOWER SHORE FORECAST

The shallows should remain a top option for stripers, specks, and reds for most if not all of the month, weather depending, and note that last year jerkbaits and topwater were top producers especially for the stripers. In open water over wrecks and reefs the black sea bass bite was noticeably better than usual last November, so cross your fingers this option remains a good one in 2024.

WAY SOUTH AND VA FORECAST

If this year’s like the last the Elizabeth will light up with speck action including some of the biggest fish of the year, slot stripers will be around, and there could even be some bull redfish stragglers to keep things interesting. Still, anglers who enjoy tog fishing will likely be shifting gears as this species moves in around structure and starts feeding hard. We can also hope for solid flounder action in the channels and slot reds in the inlets—don’t let the chilly weather keep you off the water, people, the action can be red-hot in November.

sword fish caught in daytime
November can be prime time for day-swording, as William proved last year.

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