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
As summer begins to taper off we can expect bluewater fishing to heat up. But we do need the temperatures to begin dropping before we can hope for a serious spike in the marlin and yellowfin action. Either way mahi-mahi should still be around all month offshore and potentially inshore as well. Hopefully by the end of September the surf fishing bite will accelerate, too, with some larger fish moving in to join the summertime panfish. Much depends, of course, on just when that summer heat begins to wind down.
FRESHWATER FISHING FORECAST
In the past we might have hoped for the fall frenzy to begin this month but in recent years water temperatures have remained high enough through most or all of September that we had to wait a bit longer. If summerlike conditions prevail the fish will almost certainly remain deep with most of the action taking place at daybreak and sunset. If a few fronts push through and we get some cool nights, however, reservoir and pond action might just go through the roof. In the rivers, hope for enough rain to keep water levels up a bit but no monster storms shaking things up. Please, no storms.
WAY NORTH CHESAPEAKE FISHING FORECAST
No more tropical storms or hurricanes! Please, no tropical storms or hurricanes! This is a time of year when the action can get 100 percent shut down by a big storm, so let’s hope none hit our zone and we can enjoy some rockfish action on the Flats, perch action in the creeks, and nonstop blue catfish bites just about anywhere you soak a bait.
UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING FORECAST
Rockfish will likely be the main target for most Upper Bay anglers this September, though last season we had a nice smattering of additional species like bluefish and spot in decent numbers north of the bridge. Also note that the past few seasons snakehead have been a worthy target in the Baltimore area creeks and west-side rivers to the north of the city, with plenty of anglers reporting very nice catches during September.
MIDDLE BAY FORECAST
This zone of the Bay is a dice-roll for the month of September. There could be plenty of southern species swimming around, or rockfish may be the best candidate for dinner. One thing we’re all hoping is that the black sea bass bite we had last year returns in full form. With more keepers around than anyone could remember, 2023 was a banner year for these fish and hopefully 2024 will be, too.
LOWER BAY FORECAST
Expect the month to begin with a serious focus on cobia, as we’ll only have until the 15th before the season runs out. Of course, big bull reds should provide a worthy distraction — both during and after the cobia are in. Slot reds in the rivers should be more than a bit appealing, too, considering that last season was a good one for them and this year they began showing up earlier than normal.
TANGIER, POCOMOKE, AND LOWER SHORE FORECAST
Will the Sounds start cooling off this month, or will September be an extension of the dog days of summer? That’ll make a big difference in the shallows, where a cool-off will undoubtedly goose the action. In recent years it’s been a bit later in the fall that the speckled trout bite got out of the summer doldrums but don’t let that get you down — if this year is anything like last year we’ll have plenty of bluefish and mackerel chomping hard in open water even during heat waves.
WAY SOUTH AND VA FORECAST
We may have to wait just a little bit longer for the peak fall fishing to arrive but for the first half of the month anglers should have their hands full thanks to cobia, and we should enjoy some spectacular fishing in the CBBT zone for everything from sheepshead to Spanish mackerel. Plus if we get some cooling temps there’s an excellent chance the pups and specks will start rampaging in the rivers.
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