Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 30 Update:
Ice has been a big issue lately as brutally cold temperatures this winter have locked up many tributaries. Thankfully, warmer temperatures this week have started to break up and thaw out the ice. The rain should also help with that, but it may make the upper sections of the Lower Bay tidal rivers muddy for a few days. Blue catfish will still be the primary species offering the most opportunities right now as they are abundant in the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers. The fish should be hanging in deeper depths but will move shallower at times. A running tide is best to target them and cut bait such as gizzard shad or eel is the preferred bait. We are nearing the start of spring spawning runs which will include striped bass, shad, perch, and other species that will offer great angling opportunities. If you don’t want to brave the cold now, take this time to gear up and get ready for the spring so you can take advantage of when the fish arrive.
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 23 Update:
I think we speak for everyone when we say we are ready for spring to get here. This winter has been one of the coldest in many years which does not make for the best fishing. Ice is forming on many of the tidal creeks and rivers with water temperatures in the mid 30’s. We didn’t hear from any anglers who tried to get out this week. If you are looking to brave the elements for a bend in your rod, striped bass will likely be glued to bottom along the deeper channels on the Bay, Potomac, and Rappahannock. Bite windows are short or nonexistent given current conditions, but enough persistence may find some bites. Blue catfish are more likely to cooperate in the tidal rivers and the winter months are when some of the biggest fish of the year are caught, especially in the James River. Fresh cut gizzard shad and eel are the preferred baits for those chasing these invasive bottom dwellers. Although the cold is keeping opportunities at bay right now, if we get some warmer weather, fish should get more active.
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 16 Update:
Blue catfish are offering the best fishing opportunities in the Lower Bay this week. Ice is building up in tidal rivers and smaller tributaries making access difficult in areas. The upper Potomac is frozen across in D.C. from the Washington Channel up to the Fall line and there are a lot of ice chunks above the falls flowing downriver. This section of river is one of the more productive for big tidal blue catfish, but anglers will have to wait for a thaw to access it again. The river is open to the south and there are still plenty of catfish that can be caught. The deep waters off Fort Washington is another area that historically holds fish, and the big ones should be biting. Big fish are also active in the Rappahannock and James rivers with the James producing the biggest fish we have seen caught this year in the Lower Bay. Top baits are fresh cut eel and gizzard shad. Most blue catfish will be along ledges and in holes in the deeper waters of the tidal rivers. Striped bass opportunities in the Bay are limited with water temperatures in the mid to upper 30’s. This causes fish to be lethargic and sit on bottom most of the time. Catch and release opportunities will be available through the winter, but even if you mark fish, they may not bite. A warming trend could turn on the bite, but the forecast is calling for some serious cold next week. Fishing will likely be a grind for the foreseeable future.
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 9 Update:
It has been a cold and snowy start to the new year, but blue catfish are still biting. A winter storm dropped a healthy coating of snow across the region earlier this week. Windy conditions have also persisted for much of the week which has kept most boats off the water. Ramps and creeks are starting to ice up and things may get worse if the freezing temps stick around. All these factors combined don’t make for very good fishing conditions. Before the weather moved in, catfish anglers were reporting some very big fish from all the Lower Bay tributaries. An angler fishing in D.C. was out last weekend and reported that Potomac blue catfish ranging from 20 to 44 pounds were biting just north of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in as shallow as 10 feet of water. Fresh strips of gizzard shad were the hot bait. The Rappahannock and James have also been fishing well this winter with fish upwards of 50 pounds being caught. Goober Time Guide Service was out on the James last weekend and caught six fish weighing 15, 27, 38, 57, 57, and 62 pounds. The big fish are biting, so if you are willing to brave the cold you have a decent chance at a trophy fish.
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 2 Update:
Happy New Year folks! Let’s make the 2025 fishing season another great one. Many Lower Bay anglers were out taking advantage of the last few days of the 2024 striped bass season. The mouth of the Potomac was productive last weekend, and we had several boats report catching slot sized fish along with some trophy fish. A troller working the mouth said he caught 10 fish ranging from 18” to 44” and at one point had all four rods go down with bites. Another boat trolling landed a 35”, 39”, and 44” fish. The striped bass season for the Potomac River is now closed but catch and release fishing is still allowed.
On the Rappahannock, the striped bass bite picked up just before the season closed. Several boats were out chasing their last few keepers of the year near the mouth of the river. The Cut Channel up to channel marker 62 was the general area holding some fish. Those fishing said it was a bit crowded, but everyone was doing some catching. Most boats were trolling with umbrella rigs pulling five-inch sassy shads. We haven’t heard reports since the new year, but there should be some fish hanging in the same area. The Virginia striped bass season is also closed now but catch and release fishing is allowed. If you want to put some fish in the cooler, consider chasing after some blue catfish which are abundant in Lower Bay tributaries. An angler fishing on the James reported catching multiple fish over 30 pounds this week. Up on the Potomac, we had a report from a bank angler who caught four blue cats with the biggest being 44 pounds. The winter is a great time to chase after the big catfish. If you want a hard fighting fish, the big ones can give you a run for your money.