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Fishing Reports
Weekly fishing reports for the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic and surrounding region. If you would like to be notified via e-mail when our weekly fishing reports are updated, click here to sign up.
FishTalk fishing reports are presented by Anchor Boats, Brown Dog Marine, Fishbites, Parish Creek Landing, Riverside Marine, Suzuki Marine, and Tri-State-Marine
Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
The striped bass bite in the coastal back bays is heating up with warming water temperatures. We had an angler check in who said that they found water temperatures as warm as 55 degrees this week and the bite is getting more consistent. Earlier in the month they were getting one or two fish a trip and now they are closing in on double digit numbers while fishing. Back bay shorelines in areas of three to four feet with structure and moving… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
Many of our favorite freshwater fish are getting more active as water temperatures warm with springs arrival. Contributor Eric Packard says the panfish are waking up for spring, and a micro-jig under a bobber has proved effective. In a short outing he caught eight crappie plus some ‘gills. Packard also hit a couple farm ponds earlier in the week and said that the bass are now shifting into high gear for spring. He and another angler caught a nice… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
Many anglers have been getting on the water to take advantage of catch and release striped bass opportunities before the start of the closure. The lower portion of the Susquehanna River has seen some action for striped bass in the mid-30 to mid-40-inch range. Soft plastics, jerkbaits, and crankbaits have all been effective. Blue catfish have also been mentioned as more active and even willing to hit lures. Catch and release striped bass… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
Springs arrival has brought milder temperatures making it more enjoyable to get out on the Bay. This week we heard from a reader who caught a 36-inch striper trolling right by the Bay Bridge, enjoying a day of catch-and-release fishing. There were better reports of catch and release striped bass fishing south of the Bay Bridge and reports indicate that fish are migrating up the Bay, so Upper Bay anglers may get a push of fish just in time… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
As we inch closer to the complete closure of striped bass spring catch-and-release fishing at the beginning of April there have been limited reports of scattered success, though usually just a fish or two here and there. This week we heard from a reader who caught a 36-incher trolling right by the Bay Bridge, and another who found a few 20-somethings and a 38-inch fish near Calvert Cliffs. Later in the week, we started to get better… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
The spring runs are still going strong and while yellow perch are winding down, shad fishing is really starting to pick up big time in the Lower Bay tributaries. Brian from Angler’s Arsenal let us know that he had numerous reports of yellow perch being caught in Mason Springs last weekend. One angler reported seeing over 80 caught in one day, but most were undersized in the six-to-eight-inch range. We also got the first report of hickory… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
While yellow perch spawning runs are winding down, the white perch are really starting to kick into gear on the Eastern Shore tidal tributaries. Captain Kenny Spicer has been enjoying excellent action on the Nanticoke River this week. He was out during the later half of the week and reported a hot and heavy white perch bite using blood worms and bottom rigs. He said the bite was slow until the outgoing tide got going, then it… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 21 Update:
Warmer weather is increasing the inshore activity around the Virginia Beach area and red drum and speckled trout are the top targets. Both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are holding large schools of puppy drum. Knot Wish’n Custom Charters reports that there are ample opportunities for catching reds and their clients are catching fish up to 30 inches on recent trips. Sunny warm days have offered the best bite and fish are starting to cruise… Read more from Way South...