Maryland and Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters said that even with another stretch of extreme heat, he and Captain Mike Gardner haven’t had to change their game plan. The shallow-water striped bass bite continues to exceed expectations for mid-summer, with some of the best action they’ve seen in recent years. Water quality remains outstanding, with exceptional clarity throughout much of the bay, and charter anglers are catching quality stripers for the areas they’re fishing. Captain Jamie says the bass are still keyed in on abundant silversides and juvenile bunker, especially in the shallow rivers, keeping the topwater bite going strong. Small spooks worked tight to shoreline structure, docks, and shaded banks continue to produce, as striped bass use shadow lines and cooler water to escape the heat. As long as the bait remains plentiful and water conditions hold, there’s little sign this productive shallow-water pattern is slowing down anytime soon. Visit the ES Light Tackle Charters Facebook page for trip information and booking details.
From Ocean City, Taylor Bakke of Always Bent Fishing OC reported that tournament season is in full swing for the boats heading offshore. Blue water anglers are finding tuna and marlin in the canyons, but there’s not much action on the midshore grounds aside from mahi on the the lobster pots, he said. Sea bass and flounder action has been pretty consistent on the wrecks and reefs, and inshore, the scene hasn’t changed too much. Bakke noted that sheepshead and flounder are the two strongholds inside the inlet, but bluefish and stripers are chewing better at night from the inlet to the bridges for anglers fishing jigs on the incoming, and occasionally the outgoing tide. In the Assateague Island surf, he added, there are quite a few large red drum around with some real hammers being caught over the past 3 or 4 days.
Captain Monty Hawkins of Morning Star Fishing out of West Ocean City reported a solid day of sea bass fishing on Saturday the 11th in slick-calm seas. According to the skipper, sea bass were biting well in the morning and the action carried into the afternoon. The first drop yielded one nice fluke and a handful of keeper sea bass, and it was clear that the fish were responding better to jigs than clam-baited rigs on this day. One angler had landed double-digit numbers of sea bass by 10 a.m. and limited out just before noon. While everyone caught their share for the table, the trip concluded with four anglers reaching double digits. After a few days of stiff east winds keeping them tied to the dock, the Morning Star was back at it on Tuesday in a decent residual swell. The captain reported that Tuesday’s sea bass bite was never “hot”, but anglers on board grinded it out for their keepers. A few keeper fluke came up around the rail, as well as a pair of mahi. Although several mahi were spotted nosing on baits throughout the trip, only two were hooked and made it to the deck. Captain Monty plans to start running mahi trips on Monday the 20th and will continue to offer them every Tuesday through Thursday until early September. On Wednesday, sea conditions were a bit rough to start but settled by late morning. The current was screaming, which required the use of 8-ounce sinkers, which eventually progressed to 12-ounce sinkers as they day went on. The fishing was slow on anchor despite the skipper marking piles of sea bass at times, but anglers caught a few sea bass and some keeper fluke when they returned to drifting. The Morning Star will continue to sail for sea bass (with flounder in the mix) when they are not fishing for mahi—which begins on Monday 7/20. Call 443-235-5577 to reserve your spot on the rail and head to their website for more trip information.
Anglers Sport Center Fishing Report – Annapolis, MD
Written by Anglers Fishing Manager & OTW Columnist, Alex Gallardo-Perez.
We are hitting another heat wave and striped bass do not like this weather. Fishing early in the morning is key, especially in areas with heavy current. The topwater bite is still good around first light in most of the tidal river like the Patapsco, Chester, Choptank, Severn and Eastern Bay. Fishing deep water structure early has also been producing some fish while using live spot or casting jigs. Some of the areas to try out with both of these techniques are the lighthouses like Thomas Point and Bay Bridge pilings, as well as the humps of Pooles Island.
Bluefish have taken over the southern portion of the bay with some fish pushing as far north as the mouth of the Choptank, but most are concentrated from Chesapeake Beach to Point Lookout. Trolling planers with spoons or casting metals when they are feeding on the surface have both been productive.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read the full DNR report here.
As a reminder, under new regulations the Chesapeake Bay recreational striped bass fishery is open to harvest through July 31 and then closed the entire month of August, reopening Sept. 1. During the remaining striped bass season, anglers should check the forecast conditions and fish with caution to protect our iconic species from the stress of being targeted during times of high temperatures and low oxygen levels.
Tips for safe catch and release are on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.
This is a great time to pursue the multiple other species in Maryland waters – particularly blue catfish found in almost every tidal river, and the challenging Chesapeake Channa, or northern snakehead, which is very active in warm temperatures.
Regional reports for the Chesapeake Bay, freshwater fishing areas, and the Atlantic and coastal bays will return later this month.
Main Bay surface and river mouth water temperatures have risen to the low 80s and will likely continue to rise all week. Smaller rivers and streams temperatures are holding around the low 80s. With warming waters, bottom oxygen levels are decreasing. Currently there is adequate oxygen in most Bay bottom waters except in the Potomac River, from near Indian Head to the Wicomico River and the Bay, from the Sassafras River down to the Bay Bridge area. Additionally, expect low oxygen in the bottom waters along the lower western shore from the Severn River down to Chesapeake Beach. The warm water and low oxygen in those areas continue to impact the amount of suitable habitat conditions for striped bass.
Maryland DNR Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read the full DNR report here.