Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 27 Update:
Well anglers, we’ve been advised to stay home and keep at least six feet away from other people. Tough, right? We’re already feeling a little cramped up. But, we’ve got some groovy weekend plans that allow us to heed directions from our all-powerful, all-mighty regulators while getting off of the couch and onto the water. Is there ever a reason you should be fishing within six feet of another person anyway? Heck no! And is there ever a reason your boat should be passing six feet within another? HECK no! As long as we’re sticking by long-mandated water-going etiquettes – and only heading out with our families – fishing is a green light. And as Monthy Python reminds us, you’ve gotta look on the bright side of life!
Here's another bright side for ya: there are solid numbers of big cows making their way up the Chesapeake. We had some fantastic pics sent in this week and heard of catches of up to a dozen fish (though two or three was the norm). If you want to try some catch-and-release trolling, remember that it shuts down as of April 1.
Meanwhile, some crafty anglers across the Chesapeake Bay area are getting creative with their fishing plans. Some tackle shops, such as Anglers and Alltackle, are taking your order and credit card payment on the phone, then running your gear out to the car. But, a few of our adventurous comrades have invented new tactics to keep human interaction to near-zero levels. One innovator chose this week to forgo the tackle shop, and instead reap nature’s bounty. He trekked out the doors of his home, hiked into his yard, and tugged up some big ole worms. He traversed Alpine steps to his fridge, and foraged for some musty old cheddar cheese. And he crossed the great plush desert of his living room, spelunked into the vast cavern of his closet, and safely returned with none other than a bag of sweet, dry FishBites. This modern-day Columbus then led his sons Logan and Scotty on a pilgrimage to the deserted shores of the mighty Patuxent, where large blue catfish scour the murky depths in search of their next hard-fought scavenged meal. He then found himself and his sons landing blue cat after blue cat on hooks baited with that musty old cheddar cheese. The blue cats ignored the other baits in favor of that delectable dairy delicacy, ignoring the worms with an upturned snout (seriously). In these trying times, his story of triumph is an inspiration to us all. Chedder cheese! Who Knew? But really, the moral of the fable is this: while man plans and God laughs, fish aren’t men and they haven’t got plans. Nor do they really give a d___ about this coronavirus – blue cats are here, they’re accessible from places you can easily practice social distancing, a lack of traditional bait does not mean you can’t go fishing, and while we try to endure these times there’s no better way to relieve some stress than cranking on catfish.
BTW, in other news, the shad are beginning to run up the tributary rivers. We've had reader reports from headwaters of the Choptank that the first of the early-running fish have been landed. Most people targeting them are reporting just a few thus far, but this run will only pick up steam for the immediate future as long as the rain doesn't muddy things up too much. Best of luck, tight lines, and remember: if you see your buddies floating around out there, give ‘em a wave but forgo that hug.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 20 Update:
Yes folks, we know we’re all tired of hearing about CV-19, but we need to mention that due to the current situation we had a tough time getting a hold of some of our usual contacts this week. We apologize for the somewhat abbreviated reports. The good news? For as long as it remains an option, the best way to practice social distancing is to go fishing!
Catch and release anglers enjoying the last couple weeks of legal action on the Middle Bay have found some true trophy fish in decent numbers this week. We heard from multiple readers who caught between one and four fish while trolling (with the six-line maximum/no barb/no stinger rules in effect) with most of the fish reported between 35 and 45 inches. The folks at Anglers had been reporting Bloody Point as a hotspot, and that’s also what we heard from the reader reports. The mouth of Eastern Bay, 84A, and the waters outside the Choptank were also mentioned as productive. There’s also been a surprising number of stripers being caught at dusk by shoreline anglers casting around bayfront rip-rap, with FishTalk team member Zach Ditmars scoring a few over the 30-inch mark while numerous 20-somethings were caught on six-inch white and chartreuse plastics.
On the perch run scene, it’s been hit or miss. Despite many reports that the yellows are done and gone, FishTalk family member David Rudow reported catching good numbers of (mostly small, but up to 10”) yellows at Red Bridges earlier this week, although he did say it was mostly quiet until the last hour of daylight—and then they bit like crazy. Minnow did the trick while grass shrimp were ignored, and a few whites were in the mix. Another day Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow tried Red Bridges, Sandy Point, and Hillsboro, and caught a mix of whites and yellows but in short flurries of action between long, bite-less periods. Both minnow and grass shrimp were working, that day. Sandy Point was best for the whites (plus some catfish) but your casts had to reach the channel, to get ‘em. He also mentioned that the water was unusually high in tidal areas.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 13 Update:
Lenny Rudow just reported in from Red Bridges, at the headwaters of the Choptank River, that the yellow perch are thinning out and the whole perch are moving in, although not in great numbers. Fish moved through in short waves today, with grass shrimp proving best for the whites and minnow for the yellows, in both cases fished on red/white shad darts.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
MARYLAND SUMMER/FALL STRIPER SEASON RED ALERT: The public comment period is open (but only until March 18) regarding summer and fall regs. See the full details on the options in our Summer and Fall Striper Maryland Season Emergency Fisheries Update, but it all boils down to this:
- Option 1 – Recreational anglers and charter boat anglers get one 18-inch fish per person per day.
- Options 2 and 3 – Recreational anglers get one 19-inch fish per day with a two-week summer closure and five days shaved off December, while charter boat anglers get two 19-inch fish per day.
Since these options are calculated to result in the same number of fish being harvested/killed, please do not be misled into thinking that any of these options are more or less conservation-minded. That being the case, we strongly support Option One and hope you will send the DNR your comments ASAP. If you feel that we need better science to understand the realities of catch and release mortality regarding striped bass in the Chesapeake, please also be sure to make this opinion known—and request that the state do something about it—in your comments.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled fishing report: The yellow perch run continues to dominate Chesapeake fisheries right now, and everyone has their fingers crossed it will hold of for a while to provide anglers with plenty of opportunities to stock up on the spring yellows. Angler’s reported that while yellows can be found throughout the tributaries creeks right now, the Choptank’s headwaters (think: Red Bridges), the Potomac (try heading up creeks like Mattawoman and Nanjemoy), and the Tuckahoe (we love Greensboro!) are sticking out as hotspots. The fish are schooled up heavily throughout these areas, and are easily accessible from plenty of shoreline spots as well as from boats. Alltackle in Annapolis suggested anglers heading out this weekend stock up on plenty of small minnows, grass shrimp, bottom rigs, and shad darts. Yellows have been quick to take both baits. They also suggested getting out this weekend, because the run is expected to be quick and hot this season. Whites are still staging down-river in deeper pockets. Aside from the stellar yellow bite, catfish are consistent throughout most of the tributaries right now. Cut menhaden, chicken breast, and gizzard can tempt them in.
Catch-and-release anglers have been enjoying some rockfish action this week, too, in multiple Middle-Bay locations. Those slinging jigs at the Bay Bridge and the Power Plant have been fighting a few fish (mostly 20-something-inchers), while trollers enjoying as-of-now still legal pre-fishing have reported tying into some trophy-sized fish, too. We know you already know this, but just to be super-safe: catch-and-release angling has officially been shut down for the month of April by the DNR.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 6 Update:
The yellow perch run is officially a go! Warm weather earlier this week set off the bite, and anglers hitting up both the western shore (the Severn and Magothy, with a handful reported from up the Pax near Wayson's Corner and also down at Allen's Fresh) and the eastern shore (the Tuckahoe, Choptank, and Nanticoke) enjoyed great days of fishing. Angler’s Sport Center let us know that the bite is best in deeper water where the yellows are schooling up. Dropping down bottom rigs with grass shrimp or small minnow has been the most popular way to get to them, although the some anglers are gravitating towards shad darts tipped with grass shrimp or blood worms. (Remember that this weekend is Angler's spring kickoff event - tons of stuff in on sale and FishTalk's own Lenny Rudow will be there Sunday at noon, so stop by to grab some minnow on your way over the bridge). And if you're new to this fishery, be sure to read our Perchapalooza 2020 article to get the scoop on targeting these tasty yellows, if you haven't already checked it out.
Alltackle in Annapolis mentioned that yellow perch bite is supplemented by an abundance of blue and channel catfish that are strewn throughout the Bay’s waters. While they’ve been just about everywhere, Alltackle reported that the cats are particularly dense in the Nanticoke and Choptank right now. They’ve been quick to take cut menhaden and chicken breast.