Upper Bay Fishing Reports

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 to take advantage of the last few days before the closure starts on April 1st for all portions of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland waters. Anglers can view the open and closed areas on the Maryland DNR striped bass regulations map.

Yellow perch have been tricky to pattern in the Upper Bay this year and a reader who fished the shore on the Magothy reported so-so yellow perch fishing, not hot but enough bites to keep things interesting while casting minnow on darts under a bobber. He and a friend took home six and released several small fish. Pickerel have been more reliable and we are entering prime time for pickerel fishing. They have been very active as we approach their spawn. The bite has been good in the upper reaches of creeks on the Magothy and in the Baltimore area creeks. Jerkbaits, spinners, and chatterbaits should all be effective lure choices. Anglers are still waiting for the blue catfish action to pick up which will hopefully be soon. There has been some success around Hart-Miller Island, but the bite has been on the slower side near the Mogothy River. One angler tried for the better part of the day this week and was skunked after trying several spots from Gibson Island to the mouth of the Magothy. Water temperatures are right around 50 degrees. Once they rise into the mid 50’s, the catfish should be much more active.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 14 Update:

The Angler in Chief hit Beechwood on the Magothy last weekend and said he caught a pickerel on minnow under a bobber but no perch and only saw one perch caught. However, he arrived as the tide was coming in and other anglers told him the bite was better when the tide was still low. A reader fishing earlier this week also visited Beechwood and said that he had success catching a mix of yellow perch and white perch while throwing minnows under a bobber from the bank. The bite there seems to vary from day to day, but there are fish to be caught. The upcoming striper closure will put them off limits from anglers for a good chunk of the spring. While they are off limits, pickerel can be a great supplement and there is no shortage of them in the Upper Bay tribs. The Magothy River and Baltimore area creeks are popular areas to fish for pickerel and they have been fishing well since the weather has turned. Upper reaches of creeks near docks and fallen trees is where these fish spend most of their time. Shiny lures such as spinners, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits work well to entice bites.

Migratory striped bass are beginning to push up the Bay and stage at their spawning areas. Anglers looking to target stripers only have two more weeks to target fish for catch and release before the no targeting closure goes into effect April 1st. There are certain rivers that are closed to targeting right now, but other rivers and the main stem of the Bay are open for catch and release fishing. If you plan to get out before the closure, make sure to look at the Maryland DNR striped bass regulations map. Blue catfish are also starting to get more active as water temperatures rise and we are hearing of a few reports of fish starting to be caught in the Patapsco River and bayfront down to the Bay Bridge. This bite will only get better in the coming weeks.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 7 Update:

The weather is finally starting to turn on the warmer side and we are hopeful that it will help the tidal yellow perch fishing in the Upper Bay tribs. We checked in with Fishbones Bait and tackle to see how things have been going on the perch front and they reported that things are still on the slower side. They mentioned that there are yellow perch in the upper creeks on the tidal rivers, but they haven’t been easy to find. White perch haven’t seemed to move into the shallow waters yet either, but with the forecast calling for very warm temperatures next week, things may start to change. We did have a report from a reader fishing near Beachwood Park that said he caught around a dozen yellow perch while fishing with minnows last weekend. Beachwood is a very popular perch fishing destination on the Magothy River. The spot can be productive, but when the fish are running, it can get very crowded. We also asked Fishbones if there has been any catfish action on the Bay or in the river and they said they did not have any reports. Water temperatures are still in the low 40’s, so they will likely need to trend up a few degrees before the catfish start to get very active. By mid to late March, they should be a viable target at the mouths of the tidal rivers and along the bayfront. One other bite to keep in mind is Spring snakehead. While they tend to be dormant in the winter, a few days of warm weather in a row during late winter and early spring can get them very active. That pattern could develop next week where there are higher concentrations of snakeheads such as the Back, Gunpowder, and Bush rivers. Theres no guarantee to catch them, but it is something to keep in mind.