Lower Bay Fishing Reports

Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 8 Update:

Warming water temperatures in the Lower Bay have sparked improving shallow-water striped bass action, with anglers finding fish along drop-offs, channels, shorelines, and under working birds throughout the Potomac region. Slot fish are being caught consistently, although many anglers are also encountering large numbers of over-slot stripers as baitfish move into the rivers. Ongoing drought conditions and unusually low river flows continue to impact traditional spring patterns across the region, slowing shad runs while concentrating blue catfish in tidal rivers and current-heavy areas. Blue catfish action remains one of the most reliable bites in the Lower Bay, with anglers reporting everything from eater-sized fish to trophy-class giants from both shore and boat.

Water temperatures were consistently in the low to mid 60s in the Lower Bay this week. This means that the shallows should be coming alive with striped bass, and that’s exactly what we saw in the reports this week. A reader checked in to mention he had some great action on slot rockfish between gusts of wind, while out on the Potomac. Six-inch bunker-color paddletails on three-quarter ounce heads got them biting. The Tackle Box checked in and reported that rockfish are hitting jigs on the channels and drop-offs around Piney Point on the Potomac. This area is still catch and release until May 16th. They also reported that anglers fishing from shore have been keeping keeper-sized rockfish in the St. Mary’s River by casting jigs and lures such as Rapalas, Yo-Zuris, and Bomber Windcheaters. There are a lot of fish being caught in the 26-to-32-inch range, which is over the slot of 19 to 24 inches. We also saw a report from an angler fishing on the lower Potomac that found working birds and fish one afternoon this week. They had a hot bite on the fly rod catching fish between 18 and 25 inches. The striped bass regulations in the lower Bay are complicated right now with the different jurisdictions of Maryland, Virginia, and the Potomac River, so make sure to check each jurisdiction’s regulations before your fishing trip. The Maryland DNR striped bass regulation maps are a great resource for waters governed by the state of Maryland.

Our region has been experiencing significant drought conditions over the past year and a half. This year is off to a dry start as well, and the recent rains have been lackluster at best. This is causing record low flows for the larger rivers in the Lower Bay. The Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James are all running very low near their fall lines. The low flows have caused the shad runs to slow down a lot earlier than normal. The blue catfish bite in the upper portions of these tidal rivers is still going strong, but anglers searching for flathead catfish are having trouble finding them as of late. One theory is that the fish are pushed as far up to the fall line as they can go because that is where the faster moving water is. Down on the James River, blue catfish ranging from three to 40 pounds were reported this week. Fresh cut gizzard shad and bunker work well for these fish that can turn into tidal behemoths. Anglers fishing on the Potomac River are having good luck fishing around Three Sisters Island. We also talked to an angler fishing from shore near Chain Bridge who said fresh chunks of gizzard shot tossed out into the current on fish finder rigs is getting bit quickly by blue catfish. They caught several fish in the five-to-10-pound range, and also landed a giant fish measuring 41 inches and weighing 42 pounds.

Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 1 Update:

With striped bass season now open in parts of Maryland and Virginia waters set to follow shortly, anglers are finding a promising early bite around structure in the Potomac and Bay, with fish holding in the shallows and responding to jigs, soft plastics, and topwater during low-light conditions. Blue catfish are providing steady action throughout the river system, while low water levels are making shad fishing a challenge and could shorten the run without a significant rain boost. Overall, improving water temperatures are fueling a transition into a more active late-spring fishery, with multiple species in play despite fluctuating conditions.

Striped bass season is now open in some Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The slot is 19 to 24 inches, and anglers can keep one fish per person per day. There are still certain tributaries that are closed to targeting striped bass, so make sure to take a look at the striped bass regulation maps to when and where areas open for striped bass fishing. Striped bass season in the Potomac River and Virginia waters will open on May 16th with the same creel and slot limit. FishTalk contributor Eric Packard checked in after fishing the Potomac River near Piney Point this week. Packard fished on the Potomac side of the bridge and said he only got to fish for an hour before being blown off the water. Fishing was good during that hour, and he landed six striped bass between 19 and 26 inches while throwing three-quarter ounce jigs with Rapala CrushCity four-inch “The Mayor” gizzard shad soft plastics. The shallows should be teeming with life now that water temperatures are at the 60-degree mark. Points of interest for striped bass anglers should be docks, bridges, rip-rap shoreline, and marsh points. Focus on areas with current and ambush spots like creek mouths. Topwater lures should also be rigged and ready to go for low light and overcast conditions.

Packard also took a trip up north on the Potomac to the area around Fletcher’s Cove to fish with Dennis Fleming. They were targeting flathead catfish with artificial lures but had no luck. Instead, they caught seven blue catfish on five and a half inch pro blue colored paddletails on one and one and a half ounce jigheads. Other anglers fishing up the tribs for blue cats are having a great bite right now, and this week we heard from a pair who enjoyed excellent action on eating-size blues to 27” in the Potomac near Fletchers. Bunker chunks on FatKat float rigs in 10’ of water were the ticket. The historically low flow on the Potomac for this time of year seems to be causing a slower bite for several species in the D.C. portion of the river. Shad anglers have been struggling while fishing from the banks because of the low water. Anglers fishing from boats or kayaks have to fish the deeper holes and channels in the river to find where the schools of shad are staging. Our recent rain events have been lackluster, and if that trend continues, the shad run will likely wrap up earlier than normal. If we do get a bigger rain event, that usually provides the ingredients to get a late season push of shad up the river, which can extend angling opportunities by a few weeks.