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 BoatsBrown Dog MarineParish Creek Landing, Riverside Marine, Suzuki Marine, and Tri-State-Marine

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, March 31 Update: There are many fishing opportunities to be excited for as we head into April. The big news this week for coastal anglers is that more flounder are showing up in the back bays. We heard reports of some caught in Wachapreague and Chincoteague last week but Fish In OC confirmed the first flounder catches of the year in the Ocean City bays this week. An angler fishing the Thorofare in seven feet of water caught a 16- and three-quarter inch… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, March 31 Update: Longer days and warmer temperatures have increased fish activity in the region this week. There are many exciting bites to take advantage of as we head into April. Contributor Eric Packard reports that the shad fishing is on in full force and casting tandem rigs with darts and spoons into a creek off the Potomac he caught them at a rate of over a dozen per hour early this week. One of the shad even topped 18 inches, and white and chartreuse darts and… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 31 Update: Trophy sized rockfish are making their way up the Bay to their spawning grounds on the Susquehanna Flats and many anglers have been taking advantage of catch and release opportunities. Two readers reported in from Lapidum with “huge” rockfish caught and released. One didn’t include any specifics but the other said that kayak trolling six-inch Rapala floaters (with the trebles swapped out for barbless singles) along drop-offs and edges… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 31 Update: Fishing action is picking up as we head into the month of April. Days are getting longer, and temperatures are getting warmer, which is always a good recipe for springtime fishing. Edgemere Bait and Tackle says that the perch bite is still good in the tidal tribs, especially the Magothy river. There are still some post-spawn yellow perch hanging in the same creeks as the white perch, so anglers have a good chance at both. Bloodworms on… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay fishing Report, March 31 Update: Tales of mixed success came in from catch-and-release rockfish anglers in the Middle Bay, with Bloody Point ID’d as a productive zone for some. A reader report of two fish caught (both in the 40-inch range) by a troller pulling tandem rigs came in, and one came from a jigger who found lots of bait on the meter but didn’t get any tugs on the line. The fish that have been hanging around the shipping channel edge should be pushing further… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 31 Update: Fishing action throughout the lower Bay region is picking up this week as days get longer and temperatures trend warmer. The shad run seems to be in full swing this week with multiple anglers reporting successful catches throughout the region. Contributor Eric Packard reports that the shad fishing is on in full force and casting tandem rigs with darts and spoons into a creek off the Potomac he caught them at a rate of over a dozen per hour… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 31 Update: We are finally getting some stable weather as we head into April. Warming water temperatures are making fish more active and we have seen fishing action pick up across the region. Captain C. L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters reported the first official black drum catch of the year. His fish was caught on crab chunks while fishing in the Pocomoke Sound. More of these fish should be showing up in the Bay and along the coast… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 31 Update: There is a lot for southern Bay anglers to look forward to as we head into April. The fishing has been slowly picking up since the start of spring and some warmer weather should really kick things into gear. The speckled trout bite is on the rise and the Elizabeth and York Rivers are two reliable areas to target them. One angler fly fishing in the ER with two other anglers was able to find a steady trout bite. They kept seven and… Read more from Way South...