Way North Chesapeake Fishing Report, November 25 Update:
Fall fishing on the Susquehanna Flats and surrounding rivers is slowing down but anglers who don’t mind the cold can still find fish willing to bite. Water temperatures in northern areas of the Bay are hovering around 50 degrees but shorter daylight hours and nighttime lows in the 30’s are dropping them steadily. The cooling water temperatures are causing rockfish on the upper Bay to school up and head to deeper water. The Conowingo Dam Pool and the mouths of the rivers have small schools of fish though many have moved to areas in the middle Bay.
Sarge’s reported that eeling is still a popular tactic for targeting rockfish even this late in the season. Anglers are dropping them along channel edges and at the mouths of the rivers while anchoring or drifting. A traditionally effective method this time of year is trolling small umbrella rigs or bucktails along drop offs. Using depth finder to locate fish is usually necessary but if you see any concentration of birds, it is a good idea to check that area out. Sarges also reported that the white perch are biting at the mouths of the rivers. On a trip out this week, one angler found a steady bite on the perch in the Bohemia River. Bottom rigs baited with bloodworms did the trick and the sweet spot was between six and eight feet of water.
The most abundant fish in this area of the Bay is the blue catfish and the cold-water temperatures won't slow their bite down. The blue cats can be found in any of the tidal waters and are caught using a variety of baits. Fresh cut bunker and chicken liver are the most popular. Adding scents and flavors to these baits is a common way to entice the cats to bite. Channel catfish will be more restricted to the tidal rivers while flathead catfish will be found in the turbine wash below the dam. This season, let’s remember to be thankful for every opportunity we get to go fishing. Regardless of our successes, it is a blessing to enjoy the beauty and bounties in the outdoors of Delmarva. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Way North Chesapeake Fishing Report, November 18 Update:
The weather is getting colder and fishing patterns are changing on the Bay, which has pushed most of the rockfish that were hanging around in the shallows out to deeper water. Most of the larger schools of rockfish are below the Bay Bridge right now but there are still enough fish scattered around up north that it can be worth getting out on the water before old man winter sets in. Herb’s reported that anglers trolling on the Flats and at the mouth of the Elk and Sassafras rivers have been catching a few rockfish. The action hasn’t been as hot and heavy as down south but trolling along channel edges is producing some keepers. Small umbrella rigs with six-inch shad baits or tandem rigged bucktails paired with white trailers has been the best method for targeting the rockfish this week. A good depth finder is a valuable tool to have on the boat while in search of the rockfish.
Anglers looking for a steadier bite will be happy to know that catfish are abundant and willing to bite almost always in the tidal rivers and on the Flats. Channel catfish will be more restricted to the tidal rivers and creeks, while blue catfish will be found in all tidal waters including the main stem of the Bay. These fish prefer fresh cut bunker but chicken liver will work just fine. Some anglers recommend soaking the chicken liver in powdered cool aid to give the bait a sweetness and increase its smell to attract more catfish while soaking. The channel cats will usually be in the one-to-five-pound range while the blues will usually be three to five pounds. When it comes to the blue cats, there is always a chance to hook into one pushing 30 pounds so it can be a good idea to upsize your gear when targeting the blues. In addition to these species, flathead catfish can be caught at the Conowingo Dam Pool near the turbine discharge. They prefer the same baits but make sure you have heavier weights to keep the baits down in the strong currents coming from the dam. If nothing else is biting, you can usually count on the catfish to provide some bites.
Way North Chesapeake Fishing Report, November 11 Update:
After a brief warm up last weekend, temperatures have cooled and water surface temperatures are back on their downward trend. The rivers and tributaries will cool off quicker than the main stem of the Bay during this time of year causing baitfish to exit the tidal rivers. The rockfish will be waiting at the river mouths to ambush and feed on them. We had a reader report of success on rockfish up into the low 20-inch range while trolling tandems and umbrellas along the channel edges off the Sassafras, and a similar report from off Worton. Another angler reported catching a chunky 22 inch rockfish near Long Point in the Bohemia. Fishing for rockfish at the Conowingo Dam Pool and on the Flats continues to be slow and it seems that the rivers and other areas south of the Flats are more productive. The few fish that are being caught at the dam pool are coming during the early morning hours.
Fishing for our whiskered friends has been much more productive at the Conowingo Dam Pool. Blue cats are abundant at the dam and there are some flatheads along the rocky bottom in the turbine wash. Herb’s says the blue catfish will be found out on the flats as well and they can offer up a fun day of fishing for anglers looking for a tug on the end of their lines. Fresh cut menhaden and chicken liver works great for the cats. Most of them will be in the three- to five-pound range but when it comes to blue cats, there’s always a chance to hook into one pushing 30 pounds.
Dropping water temperatures have made our northern snakeheads more sluggish. The grass beds of the flats are dying off and the snakeheads will be hanging out in shallow water areas and along channel edges. These fish will be most active in the afternoons after the sun has warmed the water slightly throughout the day. Live minnows work great this time of year while the snakeheads are moving more slowly. Rig the minnows on a weighted jig head suspended below a bobber and cast it out near shoreline structure or submerged brushy for a good chance at the snakes.
Way North Chesapeake Fishing Report, November 4 Update:
The Northern Chesapeake Bay offers anglers opportunities to catch some hefty bottom dwellers this time of year. At the Conowingo Dam Pool, flathead catfish are providing lots of action for those with the right gear. Anglers wanting to target these fish should come prepared with waders and large surf style fishing rods to cast their baits out far enough into the turbine wash of the dam pool. The larger gear helps to control the fish as you fight them out of the strong currents. Striper fishing at the dam pool has continued to be slow with the bulk of the action coming in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs, jerkbaits, and paddletails will work for the rockfish that are in the area. Anglers ISO rockfish are often running a bit south to fish the shoals and channel edges, where the stripers are a bit more plentiful.
The blue catfish are a popular game species of the upper Bay and can be found in the Susquehanna River, the flats, and all tidal rivers leading to the Bay. Channel catfish are also plentiful in the tidal rivers. The Maryland DNR is urging anglers to target and remove blue catfish from our waterways as their population has grown exponentially in recent years. The larger blue cats feed on white perch, yellow perch, juvenile striped bass, river herring, and blue crabs so limiting their expansion will benefit all these species. Herb’s reported that one angler fishing by boat near Rocky Point caught plenty of blue catfish while bait fishing and picked up a few legal sized rockfish as well. Another angler fishing from the Rogues Harbor pier caught a few keeper sized rockfish this week using bloodworm and cut bait. The key was using a surf rod to get the bait as far out as possible. Sarge’s let us know that the white perch have for the most part left the shallow waters of the tidal rivers and are now hanging out at deeper water shoals and lumps. Anglers who can access these areas by boat will have luck dropping down bloodworms for the perch. Now is a good time to target them as many perch this time of year are in the 10-to-12-inch range. Catching a bunch of good-sized white perch can make for a great family dinner!