Where To: Fishing Hotspots

Fishing hotspots in the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and nearby freshwater fishing spots are detailed in specific, so you know where to go fishing.

March 5, 2022
Are you a lifelong Marylander, have you moved here from afar, or are you just in the state for a visit? No matter why you find yourself in a Maryland state of mind, if you’re an angler, you’re in…
February 15, 2022
Couch-potato scouting for fishing structure seemed like a worthwhile diversion during the pandemic shelter-in-place and scanning my computer screen for wrecks and obstructions started well; then the…
February 3, 2022
Whether you’ve flown here from Fort Lauderdale, driven from Detroit, taken a train from Tucson, or if you call Hamden home sweet home (hon), if you’re in the state of Maryland, you’re in for some…
January 2, 2022
A common theme from commercial fishermen during the research phase of a 1990s national study of fishing vessel safety was, “We don’t go far offshore, so we don’t need new safety requirements.” Wrong…
December 17, 2021
For several years in a row now we’ve seen awesome winter fishing possibilities pop up during late December warm-ups lasting from several days to a week, where midday temps climbed into the 50s, the…
October 25, 2021
Nautical charts from the late 1990s show a large circular fish haven about 12 miles east of Rudee Inlet… yet there’s none charted there today. Why wasn’t this reef folded into the Virginia Marine…
October 4, 2021
Many vessels disappeared without a trace during the days of sail, often as it turns out not far from shore, adding to their tragedy. The existence of one such “unknown” sailing vessel off Ocean City…
September 28, 2021
Why do we call striped bass rockfish? Because they like to reside around rocks, of course! And experienced Chesapeake anglers know that hot fishing is in store when you find a submerged rockpile or…
September 13, 2021
When the wind kicks up a nasty chop at favorite main-stem hotspots, knowledge of Bay area geography and tributaries like the Chester River can save a fishing day. Advance preparation enables…
August 25, 2021
You say you’re looking for the ultimate Chesapeake Bay fishing adventure? One with a wide range of target species, so many creeks, cuts, and coves to cast to that you can barely scratch the surface…
August 13, 2021
When searching for tautog, sea bass, and triggerfish off the southern DelMarVa Peninsula, Parramore Reef is one of your prime fishing destinations. Located on Parramore Banks, this circular fish…
July 4, 2021
The weather is warm, the fish are biting, and the world didn’t end in 2020 — what could be better? How about a surefire hotspot that holds fish each and every season at this time of year? That would…
June 18, 2021
In early 2020, Wolf Trap Lighthouse was listed for sale (again). Want to own a lighthouse? Located off Horn Harbor, Wolf Trap Lighthouse is named for Wolf Trap Shoal. The shoal was named for H.M.S.…
June 16, 2021
My good friend Alvie Sickle had told me there were certain sections within the Monocacy River watershed where five, six, even 10-pound channel catfish could be had — with the chance of even bigger…
May 28, 2021
“Fishing in Maryland,” once an annual must-read for all who enjoyed Chesapeake Bay fishing, has been out of print for many years. Find an old copy, however, and you’ll see that one of its fishing…
April 25, 2021
The sky was clear and visibility unlimited on a dark October night in 1978, when the Coast Guard Cutter Cuyahoga was lost in the Chesapeake Bay’s main stem off Smith Point. The 51-year-old, 125-foot-…
April 1, 2021
Route 83 leads from points north into Maryland, until it takes you right into the heart of Baltimore — and all along the way, this major artery brings multiple angling opportunities. Freshwater…
March 26, 2021
Maybe you don’t have a hot new fishboat, maybe you have a boat but it isn’t ready for the season just yet, or maybe you just want to enjoy some KISS-style fishing that gets you out of the house and…