Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 28 Update:
After lots of waiting the late start to trophy striper season begins tomorrow, but it looks like we'll have to wait one day longer yet - thanks to 20 knot winds with gusts to 30 predicted, tomorrow will likely be unfishable. Hopefully the breeze will relax by Sunday and anglers can go after their one-fish limit at 35-inches or more. We wish we could share some intel about where the best bite is likely to be but since pre-fishing was shut down completely, in all honesty we have to say it’s anyone’s guess. What we can say for sure is that trolling umbrellas and tandems in white and chartreuse will be the main harvesting method, while light tackle anglers are likely to do best by sinking bunker chunks to the bottom (and sorting through the catfish, in many areas).
We do also want to note that the NOOD sailboat racing regatta will be happening during the rockfish opener this weekend. Entering the area outlined by the orange arc in the graphic below may mean dodging fleets of sailboats, which can be particularly tough with planer boards deployed — avoiding this zone is probably a smart move.
Aside from the excitement of the upcoming striper season we didn’t hear about much action in the Middle Bay region the past week, other than some white perch being caught in the western shore salt ponds on shad darts sweetened with grass shrimp, under bobbers. Most were small males, however, indicating that the best bite is over. Perch have just begun showing up in the open tributaries, another indication that the run is down. Also, Angler’s is reporting that catfish continue to keep folks busy at the mouths of the rivers and at the Bill Burton pier in Cambridge.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 23 Update:
Anglers Sport Center and Alltackle in Annapolis both reported that action in the Middle Bay is slim right now. Most guys are headed to other areas where the species other than rockfish are more abundant, like up the Potomac for shad or catfish, or Eastern Shore millponds where the Angler in Chief found red-hot crappie action on red/white tube jigs this week. Although the water is relatively quiet on the open Bay, catfish are providing some tugs for anglers seeking them out in the tribs. Soaking cut menhaden or chicken on the bottom is working relatively well. There aren’t many stand out areas locally, however, it’s worth hitting up the Patuxent or Potomac, for sure. Perch have quieted down quite a bit in the Tribs and we didn’t hear much about them this week, though weather conditions surely contributed to the lack of reports.
Angler’s will be hosting a kids’ fishing camp monthly this summer, working with Level 82. If you’re interested in getting your kids on the water but you aren’t sure you have the know-how to get those rods bent, check it out! (Also remember to visit our Fishing for Beginners section).
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 16 Update:
Readers are still reporting some good white perch catches from both the eastern and western shores, although the peak of the run on the east side has passed (some shad were reported from the east side this week, as well). On the west side, the salt ponds have shifted from slow to on fire with anglers tossing grass shrimp on shad darts under bobbers catching them by the dozens. Most are small, but it’s not difficult to put together a nice stringer for a perch fry. Alltackle in Annapolis and Angler’s both confirmed this report, reinforcing that many of the perch this season have been small, but larger fish aren’t unattainable.
Both tackle shops also mentioned that catfish are available in most tribs, as well as the Bay itself. While no spots have popped up as better than others, most anglers are having success just cruising around and letting baits soak on the bottom. A good rule of thumb is not letting baits soak for any longer than 30 minutes. If you’ve been hanging around a spot for that long, chances are your bait is missing or the fish just aren’t there. Right now, chicken liver, fresh-cut menhaden, and very occasionally clam snouts are being used for the cats. While not a whole lot of big ones are coming in, many are in the 10 pound range and the variety in size has stayed consistent.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 9 Update:
Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow reports that there are still white perch in the Pax, and although most are small males there were enough keeper-sized fish far upriver up the Western Branch to put together a nice stringer. The fish are still hitting grass shrimp on shad darts jigged along bottom. At the Jug Bay pier anglers were reeling in a mix of perch and catfish on night crawlers, shrimp, and assorted cut bait. Reports on the main branch near the 219 bridge are also good for white perch, and the first reports of good action in the salt ponds are coming in as well. This indicates that the last push of the perch spawn is on, so get out in the next week or two before it ends!
Reports from the eastern side are of a tapering off bite on the whites, but still the possibility of catching enough keepers for a fish fry on grass shrimp. Headwater areas are holding fewer fish and heading downstream a bit to catch the fish on their way out may be a good move, at this point in the run. Shad are running within a short drive of the Middle Bay region - check out the Freshwater and/or Lower Bay reports for the details!
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 2 Update:
Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow reports that the western side white perch are still biting in good numbers and continue to chew on grass shrimp on shad darts bounced along the bottom. White and pink were the hot colors in the Pax, and as was the case last week the perch were found in the highest numbers in the feeder creeks in four to eight feet of water. While the majority are small males there are plenty of larger 10- to 12-inchers to fill the stringer. He noted that channel catfish were active as well, including some over 10 pounds providing some serious excitement on ultralight perchin’ gear.
Trollers enjoying the last few days of C&R striper fishing on the Middle Bay did well on 35- to 45-inch fish over the weekend before the weather turned sour. Bloody Point to Matapeake zone was the best but remember folks, those rockfish are now off-limits even to catch and release fishing. The season in Maryland will open up again on May 1st.
Alltackle in Annapolis mentioned that while there isn’t a whole lot going on in the main Bay right now, there are perch and the occasional pickerel to be found in the Magothy, Severn, and Chester. The Chester has had an iffy perch bite, with hot and cold days. As usual, perch are fans of bloodworms on bottom rigs. Pickerel are prone to taking live minnow.