Middle Bay Fishing Reports

Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 13 Update:

The Angler in Chief says that last weekend the rockfish were so turned on that the bite was reminiscent of the good ‘ol days. Fish from 17” to 24” were slapping white paddletails on half-ounce heads retrieved above the structure at Tilghman reef on the east side, and some slot and under-slots were also hitting over structure in eight to 10’ on the west side near the mouth of the West River. Late in the afternoon, bird shows began popping up off the mouth of the West as well. Reports Editor Dillon Waters joined the fleet in the Choptank last weekend and reported that big bird shows and fish feeding on the surface made for a hot bite. Anglers casting to fish on the surface appeared to be catching more fish than those jigging on bottom. Contributor Adam Greenberg also made it out on the Choptank and reported that the bird shows and fish were still fired up at the beginning of the week.

Readers reported more bird shows in the mouth of the Severn (but mostly undersized fish), Eastern Bay (where there were lots of boats), and the mouth of the Choptank (where there were LOTS AND LOTS of boats). In the Patuxent near Solomons, contributor Eric Packard reported that fish moved deep after the unsettled weather moved through but were still biting, and he picked up a mix of stripers and fat white perch to 11” jigging G-Eye Rain Minnow in 60’ to 80’ near the bridge. He also noted that anglers fishing bottom rigs were doing well on the perch. White perch usually winter near Point Patience on the Patuxent, and anglers usually catch them on the ledges between 60’ and 75’. Small jigging spoons can be very effective this time of year for both perch and rockfish on the lower Patuxent.

Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 7 Update:

The Angler in Chief says small, intermittent bird shows continue popping up in several Middle Bay locations, including the mouth of the Severn, South, and West, as well as inside Eastern Bay, but they’re generally small, brief, and mostly happening in the final minutes of daylight. The Bay Bridge is holding good numbers of rockfish in the 16” to 26” range, which are hitting jigging spoons in 30’ to 45’, but by most reports, those who can still find spot and liveline are doing more of the catching. He also says the very low water we had last weekend seemed to mess up the bulk of the shallow water spots. A large number of readers reported better bird action in the mouth of the Choptank, with hot bites popping off very early in the day, on the last hour of a changing tide, and at last light. However, a couple also noted that there were rather huge fleets of boats working the area at times.

The Tackle Box reports that stripers in the Patuxent are taking umbrella rigs as well as tandems, single bucktails, and spoons.  One angler that checks in with them regularly said trolling white Tony number 18 sized spoons did very well in the Sea Breeze area of the Patuxent.  Jiggers using metal jigs and shad lures found willing fish under birds and surface feeders. While the bite has been good at times, they did mention that the bite at the beginning of the week was tough. Most of the reports from trollers were skunks or just a few bites. It seems that the outgoing tide in the late afternoons has been best. We had another report from a boat fishing in the Choptank that caught a three-man limit of stripers last weekend. Now that it is November, we should start to see more consistent bird shows in the Middle Bay. Historically, the areas between the South River and the Choptank can be very productive this time of year. We just need the weather to cooperate and the wind to calm down.

Crabbing Report: Yes, we have a November crabbing report! The Angler in Chief says he tried laying the trot line in 16' to 18" in the South River late this week, and although it wasn't red-hot action, went home with three dozen crabs after about two and a half hours. He said laying in a channel at a creek mouth did the trick, and there were only a few females or undersized crabs with mostly large rust-bellies and a few true jumbos chewing on the necks. The incoming cold snap could shut this action down abruptly so if you were hoping for a last shot at the crabs get out there this weekend!