Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 27 Update:
Winter is still doing its best to hold on as we saw another round of snow last weekend. A reader reported that the rockfish hadn’t left the Patuxent, and were biting in just eight to 12’ of water. Finding schools on side-scan then casting to them was the ticket to success. Reports Editor Dillon Waters spent an afternoon fishing on the lower Patuxent this week in search of striped bass. He fished just north of the Thomas Johnson Bridge on the main stem of the river and in some of the nearby creeks that produced fish back in January. Unfortunately, he did not have any luck while trolling jerkbaits and side scanning different areas. Water temperatures were still very cold, ranging from 38 to 42 degrees. He only covered water depths of five to 20 feet, so there could have been fish in deeper water in the middle of the river. We did have a rumored report of some stripers being caught at the mouth of the Patuxent last weekend in depths of 25’ to 40’. That report said the fish were on the smaller side, ranging from 25” to 38”, which is still a nice class of fish, just not the giants that are currently prowling around unknown areas of the Bay. As we head into March, the striped bass fishing should pick up with the start of the spring spawning migration. Once we get into a consistent warming trend that raises water temperatures, we will see a push of migratory fish up the Bay. When this occurs can vary, but the initial push always starts in March. The main stem channel ledges will be great places to search for traveling fish. Bait is also a key factor, and the stripers usually follow the big schools of menhaden closely. We have a lot to look forward to on the horizon.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 20 Update:
The Angler in Chief reports that, as of last weekend, ice was still an issue at the boat ramps in some areas, and in order to launch the boat at Hillsboro they had to shove it across 15’ or 20’ of hard water. Unfortunately, all the hard work did not pay off, and despite fishing multiple spots on the Tuckahoe, their minnow and shad darts went untouched. Ice floes moving through were a constant problem and at several pinch-points in the river ice dams had formed. He also noted that there were also a number of Canada geese frozen in the ice and some live geese which were visibly distressed sitting on the ice, which anglers should avoid due to the possibility of avian flu.
A reader reported a solid bite at the CCNPP, with rockfish biting one after the next during a calm spell early this week. Many were large fish in the 40-plus-inch class. We heard from a few other anglers that found some fish at the plant that were lying in the warm water from the discharge. While the action was hot at the plant at the beginning of the week, it has since cooled off. FishTalk contributor Eric Packard checked in after fishing the warm water discharge in the middle of the week. He reported zip, zilch, and nada. His crew did not find any bites, nor see any fish caught. They then went and searched around the mouth of the Patuxent in the zone where the hot bite was before the deep freeze and found the same results. Water temperatures are still in the mid to upper 30s, so stripers are likely not super active right now. They will still bite but finding them is a challenge. A steady warming trend should get the bite back in order as we head into the month of March.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 13 Update:
The ice situation on the Chesapeake Bay is getting better by the day thanks to milder temperatures across the region. Earlier in the week there were large ice flows scattered across the Middle Bay due to ice breaking up in the northern Bay being brought down by wind and tides. As of late this week, there are still some ice flows, but much less widespread. The tidal rivers are also beginning to open up, but the upper reaches of most rivers and the tidal creeks are still dealing with ice. Warmer temperatures this weekend along with some rain should help to speed up the thaw so that we can get back out on the water. Eric Packard checked in from the lower Patuxent around Mill Creek and reported that the ice situation has drastically improved, with most of it gone, at least around Solomons. There’s no telling if the migratory stripers are still hanging in the river, but it looks like anglers will at least be able to get out and look for them now. Another area to try that typically holds fish is the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, but it may get crowded as many anglers have been anxiously waiting to get out and fish. Water temperatures in the mid-30s in the Bay will likely have some fish holding tight to the warm water discharge. It looks like we are past the deep freeze, so let’s hope this warming trend continues.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, February 6 Update:
The Angler in Chief reports that with the tribs locked up hard, he tried a day of ice fishing on the Magothy. Unfortunately, it resulted in just a handful of bites and exactly zero solid hookups. He says the ice is plenty thick in some areas but definitely not in others and extreme caution is in order; in the cove near Beechwood it was seven inches thick, but open water was within sight downriver. If you need a refresher on the ice fishing in our zone, be sure to check out Mid-Atlantic Ice Fishing Spectacular and Cheap and Easy Ice Fishing. While the majority of anglers have their boats on lifts or trailers waiting for the ice to thaw out, light tackle guide Pete Dahlberg of Four Seasons Guide Service decided to head out on the Bay in search of migratory striped bass this week. Pete was running through water that looked more like the arctic than the Chesapeake Bay, which requires extreme caution, especially in fiberglass boats. After dodging the icebergs, Pete made it to the warm water discharge at CCNPP and was able to hook up on one trophy striped bass. It was the only bite he and his crew got, and they quickly had to leave as ice flows from up the Bay started moving in on them with the outgoing tide. Despite his limited success, it is likely best to wait until the ice clears off the Bay before searching for the stripers again. Considering the weather, you might want to opt for land-based activities this weekend, in which case a great option is hitting the Chesapeake Bay Boat Show in Timonium at the Maryland Fairgrounds. They usually have a pretty good selection at the “Tackle Pier,” the Hawg Trough will be there, and FishTalk will be on hand, so be sure to swing by our booth and say hi!
