Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 27 Update:
Late week temperatures have it feeling like summer has returned. The heat wave will continue over the weekend and we recommend taking full advantage of it to get out and catch some fish. The big cats continue rolling in, and we had reader reports of some epic action recently with multiple fish ranging from 20 to 40 pounds. Live and cut bluegill was the hot bait. A popular local hotspot is near Port Deposit in the Susquehanna, but deeper holes and channel edges out on the Flats and other tidal rivers are producing big catfish too. This bite will remain good well into the fall and early winter.
We haven’t heard much about the rockfish bite in this region but cooling water temperatures should be bringing more fish to the area. A few anglers targeting the rockfish are catching them in the lower Susquehanna near rocky areas and shoreline structure. Paddletails and jerkbaits are the two top producing lures and they also work well for other gamefish. Reports from the Conowingo Dam and south have indicated that a few walleye are being caught, too, but that cooler water temperatures are needed to really kick off that bite.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 20 Update:
Reports from our way north areas were slim this week and it may be due to the cooler weather setting in, which is making some anglers hang up their gear for the season. Although it can make getting reports difficult, less anglers on the water is usually a good thing for those who are dedicated to fishing throughout most of the year. October is otherwise known as “Rocktober” and we have seen the action on that front pick up quite a bit. More fish are showing up on the Susquehanna Flats with the falling water temperatures. The southern areas of the Flats near Spesutie Island and the mouth of the Elk river were noted as productive this week. Searching for schools of fish along channel edges or near shallow water structure will be your best bet for finding them. Anglers at the Conowingo Dam are also catching rockfish by throwing paddletails and crank-style baits into the current from the discharge. Hopefully we can get more information on the rockfish front next week.
If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that there are plenty of catfish in the upper Bay that provide good fishing opportunities this time of year. We have been receiving reports of very big blue catfish being caught for most of this month and the big ones are still coming over the gunwales this week. Anywhere from the Conowingo Dam down onto the Susquehanna Flats will have good numbers of channel and blue cats around. The bigger fish are being caught around Port Deposit and Perry Point right now but really anywhere has the chance at producing a big fish. Any variety of fresh cut bait will typically work for these bottom dwellers. Another unique opportunity that isn’t found in other regions is the chance to catch invasive flathead catfish. There are flatheads just below the Conowingo Dam that sit in the rocks under the turbine wash. You’ll have to use heavy gear to pull them out of the current, but they can be a fun fish to catch. Higher populations of flatheads will be found upriver from the dam. Both blue catfish and flathead catfish are invasive, so consider removing them from our waterways if you catch them. Our local species of fish need all the help they can get.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 13 Update:
There has been a chill in the air most of this week which has been pushing many of our fish into their fall patterns. This usually means hungry fish and extended bite windows, so now is a great time to hit the water. Reader reports of B-I-G catfish continue to flow in from the headwaters of the Chesapeake, with pics sent in this week of three catfish at or over the 30-pound mark. One angler mentioned that cut bunker was working like a charm, another said live and cut bluegill were working great near the 95 bridge, and there are also plenty of prime eating-sized blue cats in the three- to seven-pound range willing to bite as well as the big monsters. The cats are being caught at the Conowingo Dam, the Susquehanna River, Susquehanna Flats, and just about all the tidal tributaries in the upper Bay. They put up a strong fight and are a ton of fun to catch. Their invasive status is another great reason for anglers to target them, as they have been having a big impact on native fish species. It is always a good idea to keep a few to fry up when you fish for them.
At the Conowingo Dam, anglers have been catching a mostly smaller class of rockfish with some fish up to 25 inches. Most have fallen short of the minimum but are still fun to catch. Jerkbaits and paddletails are catching these fish along with a few smallmouth bass. Sarge’s Bait and Tackle let us know that they are getting reports of an improving rockfish bite on the Susquehanna Flats. The better action has been on the southern end of the flats along channel edges. Fishing along shorelines is also becoming more productive with dropping water temperatures. Paddletails and Rat-L-Traps were noted as top producers in the shallows. Cooling water temperatures are continuing to push baitfish out of the smaller tributaries and tidal rivers. The rockfish start to school up this time of year to chase these baitfish. Breaking fish and bird action has been popping up sporadically, so keep an eye out while on the water. Most of these blitzes have been short lived, so trolling, or drifting through an area with birds on the water may produce better results than chasing the breakers.
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 5 Update:
Fishing action has been good in the northern Bay and this week’s warm up made for some very nice weather to hit the water. There was a report from an angler fishing from shore just below the Conowingo Dam who caught a 24- and a 25-inch rockfish. He was using a quarter ounce jighead with white paddletails. The rockfish bite in the lower Susquehanna is just starting to pick up and should continue to get better with the cooler weather. Wade fishing is still an option as water levels are low. When the river widens and becomes deeper, it will be easier to get a boat into certain areas. The channel edges on the north side of the Susquehanna Flats to the Sands Cove edge on the north side of Spesutie Island are good places to fish for rockfish. Live lining eels has been working well at times, but trolling small umbrella rigs or jigging paddletails are other popular methods. Fish will start schooling up on channel edges to chase bait coming out of the tidal rivers soon and this pattern is already starting to shape up. Get ready for a fun fall because it is one of the best times of year to fish on the Chesapeake Bay.
Catfish are very active this time of year in the rivers and tributaries all throughout the upper Bay region. Big blue catfish are being caught from the Conowingo Dam down to the Flats and everywhere in between. Flathead catfish can be found just below the dam and also up river in the Susquehanna. Any variety of fresh cut bait should get these bottom feeders chewing. Their favorites tend to be bunker chunks, bluegill, or chicken baits. Both of these species are invasive, so removing them from the waterways is always a good idea.