Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 28 Update:
It is almost that time of year where anglers can head out into the Bay in search of trophy striped bass. After a long wait, trophy season will start this Monday and many boats will likely be hitting the water. It has been a warm spring and many of the breeders have spawned and headed south of the upper Bay, but there should still be some big fish cruising along the shipping channel ledges. The most popular way to target these fish is trolling large parachutes and bucktails dressed with sassy shads spread out with planer boards. It’s a good idea to fish baits at various depths because the fish are scattered throughout the water column. Popular areas to troll include the mouth of the Chester River, areas off Podickory Point, Bloody Point, the Stone Rock, and the western edge of the shipping channel near Chesapeake Beach. Rain is forecasted this weekend so it will be a good time to go over final checks and prep work before hitting the water on Monday.
Anglers Sport Center let us know that the catfish bite is still going strong in the rivers and along the bayfront. The blue cats are starting to show up from Gibson Island to the mouth of the Patapsco and it seems every year bigger fish are caught in that stretch. Last year there were a few over the 40-pound mark and there’s sure to be some that big or bigger this year. Many boats chunk cut bait for them in 15 to 25 feet of water on the bayfront. There is also a good chance of hooking into a rockfish while chunking for the cats.
The white perch are pushing down the tidal rivers and can be found along the channels and in deeper holes. Once the water warms up a bit more they will start to return to their normal summer hangouts. Bottom rigs baited with blood worms has been the top producer for those targeting the perch.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 21 Update:
The beginning of spring has treated us with some beautiful weather perfect for getting out on the water. Many anglers are eagerly awaiting the start of trophy rockfish season on May first, but luckily there are a few other fisheries to keep us busy until then. Anglers Sport Center let us know that the catfish bite in the upper Bay has been great recently. Shore anglers fishing at Sandy Point have been catching blue cats up to 20 pounds from the beach and rock jetty. Fresh cut shad is working best but any form of cut bait should get the cats biting. Anglers fishing in the Magothy and along the bayfront from Gibson Island to the mouth of the Patapsco are also doing well fishing from shore and boat using cut bait on fish finder rigs. Evenings have produced a better bite, especially during the tide swings.
White perch are being caught in the tidal rivers on both sides of the Bay including the Chester, Magothy, and Patapsco. Their spawning run is all but over, and these fish are heading down river along deeper channels. Some anglers are starting to catch them in their traditional summer areas as well, but the more reliable bites will still be out in deeper waters. Bottom rigs tipped with blood worms are very reliable when targeting the perch. Anglers targeting pickerel are still having success in the upper tidal creeks of the Magothy and Severn. This bite tends to slow down once we get into the heat of summer, so if you are looking to get on some of these toothy fish, now is the time to hit the water. Live minnows, spinnerbaits, and paddletails all work great.
Snakeheads are also becoming much more active now that we have seen consistently warm daytime temperatures. They can be caught in the same areas as the pickerel using the same baits. There’s a lot of great fishing taking place and it is only going to get better from here, so make sure to tune up your gear and get ready for an action-packed spring and summer.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 13 Update:
Many anglers have been enjoying the above average temperatures late this week, and so have the fish. Since rockfish season is still closed until May first, most of the action in the upper Bay is focused on catfish. The Magothy and Chester rivers are hotspots for both blue and channel catfish though anglers have been doing well from the South River all the way up to areas around Baltimore. Anglers Sport Center reported that shore anglers have been doing well on the cats at Sandy Point and Matapeake. The afternoons seem to be producing a better bite along with when the tide swings. Cut bait such as alewife or mud shad works great but chicken breast or liver gets them biting too.
White perch are nearing the end of their spawning run and are starting to head to their normal summer grounds. They can still be caught in the upper regions of tidal areas, but they will soon move down the upper Bay tidal rivers. Pickerel are still a solid option in the upper Bay as well. The Magothy and creeks to its north will provide your best chance at these fish. Focus your efforts on the upper reaches of the tidal creeks near shoreline structure. Spinnerbaits and jerkbaits are popular options to throw but a live minnow fished under a bobber is hard for them to resist.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 7 Update:
Now that the rockfish closure is upon us, many anglers are turning their attention to catfish. The upper Bay has an abundant population of blue cats and bigger fish seem to be caught every year. These fish are known to eat just about everything that swims in front of them from perch to blue crabs, and even ducks. This spring we have even seen pictures of filleted blue cats with stomachs full of white perch. Catching and removing them from our waterways is always a good idea to help protect native species. Blue catfish are also great table fare and just a few fish can provide plenty of meat for a fish fry. The Magothy is a popular location to target them but many upper Bay anglers fish for them out on the main Bay. The area between Gibson Island and the mouth of the Magothy is a good area to drop cut bait anywhere between 15 to 30 feet of water.
Fishbones Bait and Tackle let us know that perch searchers are still finding some white perch and post spawn yellow perch in the upper Magothy creeks. Grass shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs have worked best as of late. Pickerel are still biting in the Severn, Magothy, and Bodkin. Warm afternoons are typically when these fish are most active and southern facing shorelines tend to have the warmest waters this time of year. Spinnerbaits and jerkbaits are a go-to for the pickerel and now that the water is warming up, snakeheads will become more of an option to target as well. Live minnows fished under a bobber work great for both the snakes and pickerel too. Fish the minnows close to shoreline or submerged structure since that is where these fish like to stage. Rockfish season will open back up on May 1 for trophy season so now is the time to get the boat ready and rods rigged.