Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, October 2 Update:
The Nor’Easter dropped water temperatures dramatically in the northern reaches of the Bay, and the change is already having an effect on both bait and gamefish. Largemouth bass are beginning to adjust as the grass starts its seasonal decline, while blue cats remain a dependable option as they gradually move toward deeper water. Meanwhile, striped bass are becoming increasingly active as they follow bait into the fall transition.
The storm really shook things up last weekend with several days of strong winds and rain. The weather had been fairly stable before that, but it looks like we are entering more of a fall pattern with cold fronts and weather systems on the horizon. Water temperatures dropped around 10 degrees over the course of the storm, which will cause the grass on the Susquehanna Flats to start dying off. Baitfish are starting to move around more with falling water temperatures, and largemouth bass will be seeking out areas to feed heavily on them over the next several weeks. The edges of remaining grass beds, creek mouths, fallen wood, and docks will all be points of interest. Find these areas in the Elk, North East, Susquehanna, and other tributaries surrounding the Susquehanna Flats, and you should be in a good place to find a largemouth.
Catfish have solidified themselves as a reliable fishery in the Way North region of the Bay. Cooling water temperatures will cause them to start schooling along slightly deeper edges in 10 to 20 feet of water. Anglers can still find them cruising around shallow flats and rocky shorelines, but the shallow water bite will begin to slow down as we progress through this month. The Conowingo Dam is a hotspot for big blue catfish, and you can also find some big flathead catfish around the discharge and rocky areas just down river. Channel catfish are more spread out and tend to hang out around the grass on the Susquehanna Flats and in the creeks of the tidal rivers surrounding the flats. The best baits for targeting catfish are fresh cut eel, bunker, and gizzard shad.
The cooler water temperatures have triggered rockfish to start moving around to feed on bait more heavily. The marsh edges along the Aberdeen Proving Grounds have been offering up some good topwater action near shoreline points and underwater structure. The edges surrounding the Susquehanna Flats have also been holding some fish. The bite should continue to get better this month as more baitfish move into open water and rockfish begin to school up and chase them. We may even start to see some bird activity and surface feeds, so keep an eye out on the water for clues that can lead you to feeding fish. Rods should be rigged with topwater lures, shallow diving jerkbaits, and soft plastics paired with appropriately sized jigheads for your conditions. Rocktober is here!