Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 25 Update:
Warm weather lured plenty of anglers onto the water throughout this week, where perch and catfish were waiting for them. The white perch bite in the lower Susquehanna and around the Perryville area flourished compared to the week past, with nice days reported by both shoreline and boat anglers. Grass shrimp on bottom rigs and tipped shad darts are a fan favorite for perch right now, but the shrimp can be hard to come by. Other anglers who caught reported that small minnow on the darts were working well for them but shrimp seemed to be favored throughout overall reports. Herb’s mentioned that catfish are around too: blue cats remain fat and happy, ready to eat liver, snouts, and cut baits on the bottom. A few solid reports have come in from anglers fishing the shoreline as well, lugging baits off into holes and deeper water. One reader reported doing well for catfish in the Fairview area.
A few reports of catch-and-release striped bass also came in from the Flats this week. Most were of smaller fish, caught on jigs. Bass anglers fishing the Susquehanna Flats area this week weren’t complaining; multiple check-ins confirmed that the bass are big and biting. Talk of snakehead in the same zone also has begun, although the fish are lethargic and not really providing the popping action they will in the heat of summer. Strategizing to head out during a day with good overhead sun is a way to boost your chances of getting action.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 18 Update:
Bummer weather shut down fishing over the weekend and for much of this week — between snow, high winds, and cold weather it was either uncomfortable or downright unsafe to be out on the water. Still, midweek we did have a quick break in the weather that provided some opportunities for perch fishing. As with much of the season, the bite was reportedly just alright. Anglers in the Perryville area fishing midweek reported catching a few yellow perch, but a few cautioned that the bite was slow and many were on the smaller side. Herb’s reported a bite at the North East Town park, as well. We also had a reader report come in of a decent pickerel bite just before the nasty weather hit last weekend. Hopefully, we’ll see things pick up and continue with warmer, more stable weather as spring officially kicks off this Sunday!
What about the catfish? We did hear from an angler who caught a carp and two small blue catfish on the Susquehanna Flats, too. Overall catfish reports from the Susquehanna have remained steady but again the weather has thrown a kink into things lately.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 11 Update:
Conditions for perch and catfish anglers both should be good right about now, but reports from the northernmost reaches of the Bay were thin this week. One reader checked in with six yellow perch on the stringer fishing minnow on small tandems in deep water near Perryville, but he noted that the fish were small and he hoped the large females haven't already moved up as they prepare to spawn. Note that throughout the region, much of the yellow perch action has been very hit-or-miss with anglers fishing the very same areas reporting hot bites one day, and ice-cold bites the next. Another reader who checked in opted to fish the Northeast and said there were more crappie than perch hitting minnow on jigs under a bobber.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 4 Update:
Yellow perch continue to provide action in the northern reaches of the Bay in the Perryville zone. Readers checking in this week note that the bite’s still been solid in the deep-water zones, on minnow and tandem rigs with two-inch plastics including tubes and twisters. We didn’t hear from any catfish hunters this week but you can bet that this option also holds promise for those dropping cut bait anywhere within sight of the 95 bridge.
