Upper Bay Fishing Reports

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 23 Update:

Striped bass season finally opened, and after the first week, it seems that fish are being caught in several areas. The weather was not the best, with strong winds and rain making fishing difficult at times. During the breaks in the weather, we had good reports from across the Upper Bay. A reader trolling near Love Point reports a good bite on slot rock, with the fish scattered over a large area and different depths along the drop-offs. White and chartreuse tandems did the trick. In the Patapsco, boats fishing near the remains of the Key Bridge found rockfish holding near the pilings and bigger schools of fish in open water at times. Jigging with three-to-five-inch soft plastics are working well and there seems to be plenty of slot fish around for when the rivers open on June 1st. Charter boats have found some limits while live lining at the Bay Bridge pilings, and we had a report from Hallock’s-Grace Charters of fish up to 30 inches on opening day. Make sure to view the Maryland DNR striped bass regulations map to see where striped bass can be targeted or kept.

Spot are widely available around the Bay Bridge and just off Sandy Point. Many boats have been catching them to use for rockfish bait by dropping bottom rigs tipped with Fishbites or bloodworms. Blue catfish are still widely available in the Upper Bay. The recent rains have decreased salinity, which makes the blue catfish more willing to move out of the tidal rivers. We had a report of some big ones landed at Sandy Point this week. The Chester River is also another blue catfish hotspot in the Upper Bay, and they can be caught just about anywhere in the river during the spring. Higher concentrations can be found in the Upper Chester River Sanctuary, especially up near Chestertown. Cut bait such as alewife works very well to get these invasive species to bite. If you plan on targeting blue catfish, or any invasive, don’t forget to sign up for CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count. Anglers can log their catches to help document the distribution of invasive species in our waters. Each entry gives you a chance at monthly prizes too.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 15 Update:

We have been counting down the days until the opening of striped bass season, and it is finally here. Anglers will be searching them out in the Upper Bay today and this weekend now that the season is open. Since they have been off limits, we do not have any intel as to where they are, but hopefully that will change after this weekend. Areas that tend to hold fish include the Bay Bridge, the Patapsco River, and the Chester River. The shallows should also be holding fish as water temperatures are above 70 degrees. Shoreline points, docks, and rip-rap will be good structures to fish, especially when there is a strong tide moving. Anglers Sport Center reports that spot have now moved into their summer areas and are plentiful. They are being caught around the Bay Bridge, at the mouths of the tidal rivers, and at Six and Seven Foot Knolls. Bottom rigs or Chesapeake sabiki rigs tipped with pieces of Fishbites or bloodworms are working well. Most of the spot are between three and six inches, so the perfect size to use for live lining. Small croaker have also arrived and are being caught mixed in with the spot. These fish are also on the small side and well under the nine-inch minimum for them to be kept.

While striped bass season is now open as of May 16th in certain areas of the Bay, some areas are still closed to targeting or catch and release only until June 1st. The boundaries for where targeting and harvesting striped bass is allowed can be confusing, so we recommend viewing the Maryland DNR striped bass regulation map to see what areas are open, catch and release, or closed throughout the year. Maryland regulations describe the area of the Bay open for striped bass season as the “Chesapeake Bay downstream from a line drawn from the south corner of Hart-Miller Island Dike to the end of MD Route 21 at Tolchester and south to the Maryland/Virginia state line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers. EXCEPT: Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound; Chester River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Hail Point to Long Point to Ferry Point; Patuxent River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Point Patience to the west point of land at the entrance of Little Kingston Creek; and Choptank River and its tributaries downstream of a line drawn from Holland Point to a point of land at the west entrance of Chapel Creek are open.”

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 9 Update:

Catfish have been a popular target while stripers have been off limits this spring in the Upper Bay. FishTalk contributor Adam Greenberg ventured out on the Magothy this week in search of catfish, but said that five rods, tons of bunker chunks, and five hours on the water didn’t produce any bites. He was fishing at night during a strong incoming tide, which is usually a recipe for success, but not this time. An angler checked in after fishing at night from Sandy Point and said some blue catfish were biting. He caught one and saw a few other anglers reel in catfish as big as 20 pounds while using chunks of fresh bunker as bait. The first annual Katfish for Kids fishing tournament is taking place, starting at 2pm on Friday, May 9th and concluding at 2pm on Saturday, May 10th. Anglers can fish anywhere in the Chesapeake Bay, but fish must be caught using a hook and line. The tournament is being sponsored by Combos for Kids in partnership with Maryland CCA. The weigh in and other events will take place at Anglers Sport Center. This tournament is for a great cause and there are plenty of prizes to win, so make sure to check it out.

Grass beds are starting to grow and thicken up in the Upper Bay tidal rivers. These areas are prime locations to target northern snakehead, and with the weather and water temperatures warming up, they should be very active. The Bush River, Gunpowder River, Middle River, and Back River are all prime destinations to search for snakeheads. While fishing thick vegetation and marsh shorelines, topwater frogs are excellent lure choices. Areas of open water can be covered by throwing chatterbaits, spinners, and swimbaits. The cool catch of the week came from a pair of anglers reported that they found some hickory shad willing to bite in the upper reaches of the Patapsco River this week. We should start to see white perch move into their summer areas throughout this month. This will include areas of oyster bottom on the main stem of the Bay and in the shallows near docks, rip-rap, and other shallow structure. While fishing deeper water, bottom rigs baited with bits of bloodworm or Fishbites should work well. In the shallows, small spinners are popular lures. Floating grass shrimp or minnows under a bobber near pilings is another tried and true method.

The striped bass closure is nearly over, and the migratory fish have all but concluded their spawning runs. Let’s hope it was a successful spawn, because we need a strong recruitment year. The striped bass season will open in certain areas of Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay next week on May 16th. We do not have any intel on where the fish are holding since they have been off limits, but there should be some fish around areas such as the Bay Bridge, Pooles Island, and the Patapsco River. Once the season opens, anglers will be allowed to keep one fish per person per day with a slot limit of 19” to 24”. Those who plan to fish for stripers should view the Maryland DNR striped bass regulations map to see which areas are open to fishing for striped bass.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 2 Update:

White perch are starting to move into their summer locations, but they have not arrived there in numbers yet. A lot of them are still making their way out of the spawning tributaries as their run is coming to an end. They should start to show up in their usual hangouts in the next few weeks, which will include places such as Six Foot Knoll, Seven Foot Knoll, the Bay Bridge, and scattered throughout the shallows of the tidal rivers. There was a report from an angler who was fishing near the remnants of the Key Bridge in the Patapsco who caught a few perch while fishing grass shrimp on bottom rigs. Their numbers should increase in the Upper Bay throughout this month.

It has been a slow spring for anglers targeting blue catfish on the Bay. High salinity levels are one theory as to why traditional areas such as Podickory Point, Magothy River, Patapsco River, Chester River, and areas around Pooles Island have been less productive this year. With water temperatures warming and very little rain in the forecast, the best chance to catch them will be to head further up the tidal rivers to target them. This will also give you a chance to catch channel catfish. The Chester River has high numbers of both species from the Upper Chester River Sanctuary and areas further upriver.

Spot are starting to trickle into areas around the Bay Bridge and anglers should be able to catch them by the middle of the month, just in time to use them as bait for live lining during the opening of striped bass season. The striped bass sum/fall season will open this month on May 16th. The regulations are the same as last year with a slot of 19-24” and a creel limit of one fish per person per day. Only certain areas will be open to harvest starting May 16th, while other areas will be either catch and release only or still no targeting. Anglers can view the Maryland DNR striped bass regulation map to see when and where they can target striped bass.