Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November, 2019

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 29, 2019 Update:

This week saw fewer boats leaving the docks due to poor weather, but die-hard anglers who did get out enjoyed some fall striper fishing. Tochterman’s and Fishbone’s let us know that the trolling bite along channel edges has been productive, although slow at times. Anglers trolling have largely been pulling tandem BFGs and Blue Water Candy lures and staying away from bucktails, which have been less productive for trollers in the past week. If you’re going to troll, Fishbone’s suggested heading towards the lumps in the Patapsco and southern part of the channel. Boats jigging have been catching some fish too, especially bouncing bucktails and jigs with rubber skirts off the bottom. Jiggers have needed to do some serious searching with the depth finder before getting into the fish.

pickerel caught in the magothy river
Gary caught this hammer pickerel in the Magothy this week.

With the weather looking poor this weekend, Fishbone’s suggested anglers looking to avoid the choppy waters of the open Bay head to Beachwood Park. Bass and pickerel have been throughout the area accessible by both boat and shoreline, with yellow perch beginning to occasionally show up. With the pickerel bite steady but slow, many anglers have been surprised by bass that’ve been quick to hit crankbaits, shallow diving rapallas, and lipped Mepps #2’s.


Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 22, 2019 Update:

A few cold, blustery days kept anglers off the waters this week but those who did manage to get out enjoyed some striper action along the channel edges. Although plenty of anglers are catching, this week we didn’t hear about as steady flow of fish leaving the water as we did throughout most of November, which could be a symptom of the weather, of the fish moving south, or of fewer anglers braving the cold and wind. Fishbones reported that jigging and trolling remain the ticket to landing fish, with both tactics working well. They suggested stocking up on soft plastic BKD and Gulp! lures in white, chartreuse, and pearl, and half-ounce jig heads before heading out. With the bite spread out along the channel edges, most boats have been opting to cruise with their depth finders on before settling into a school. Anglers trolling have been leaving depth finders on as well, on the lookout for pockets of fish. Most trollers are opting for bucktails with shad tails, and umbrella rigs kept near the bottom with inline weights. Keeping rigs down deep has been important if you want to take home dinner – most larger fish are schooling up on bottom. Fishbones also reported that the same is true for anglers taking advantage of the abundance of working birds near the river mouths. Jigging deep under the chaos has been the best way to bring up larger fish, as the schoolies stay near the surface.

caught a sea gull
Chicken for dinner? Ummm... oops and no. Remember that the larger fish are down deep under the surface action.

White perch have finally strayed from their summertime homes and moved into deeper water for the winter. Hitting deep pockets and holes with bloodworms on a bottom rig has been the key to getting them in the boat. And they’ve been chunky this season!


Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 14, 2019 Update:

Cold weather isn’t keeping anglers off the Chesapeake for these the last weeks of striper season. Although the fishing isn’t quite as lively as last week, Fishbones reported that the bite along channel edges and near the Key Bridge has been strong. Anglers choosing to jig the channel edges are doing especially well, and have been landing stripers breaking the 20-inch mark. Bouncing six-inch white, chartreuse, and pearl Gulp! and BKD lures on a half-ounce jig head has been the favored tactic among many. Keeping an eye on the depth finder on has been a smart tactic for jiggers.

chester river rockfish
This Chester river rock fell for the ol' skirted BKD.

Trollers have also been getting in on the action, pulling bucktails, spoons, and hoses. Keeping the rigs near the bottom has been essential for landing large fish – most of the big ones are hanging down low. Around the Key Bridge, the sunrise topwater bite has remained hot. Although most of the fish are schoolies, they’re providing steadier action than other areas throughout the region. Anglers are also having mixed results around Love Point and in the Chester. Throughout the Upper Bay, anglers are being sure to keep eyes on the horizon in search of diving birds. They’re still feeding on menhaden that are attracting schools of stripers. Although most of the catch has been smaller fish, larger ones are lurking on bottom and can be jigged up.

White perch have made their way from shoreline shallows into deeper water in creeks and river mouths, and are still lively for anglers who get into them. Bloodworms on a bottom rig have been the way to go. Although this has prevented shoreline anglers from enjoying the action, many are substituting by targeting catfish. They’ve been heavy throughout the region, and are easy to tempt with cut bait on the bottom.

Crabbing Report: See ya next year.


Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 8, 2019 Update:

A revived striper bite is providing anglers in the Upper Bay plenty of action to get in on, and many are fulfilling their hopes of having a few more rockfish dinners this season. Larger fish are holding in deeper water, and many anglers are turning to trolling or jigging to reach them. Tochterman’s reported that trolling channel edges, Love Point, the area outside the Chester, and north of the Magothy has been good this week. The Key Bridge has also continued to maintain a good bite. Most boats are rigging up with umbrellas, hoses, spoons, or bucktails with sassy shads. Jiggers are hitting the same areas with six-inch white, chartreuse, and pearl BKD or Gulp! soft plastics. It hasn’t mattered too much when boats are leaving the docks - although the best bite is in the morning, it’s often continuing later into the day with a spike in the action during the afternoon. Regardless of when you’re headed out, be sure to keep an eye on the horizon and watch for birds. Most boats aren’t pulling keepers out from under them unless they probe deep, but the bite is still worthwhile. 

woman caught a striper in the chesapeake
Julie hauled up this beauty while in the Fish For a Cure tournament, while fishing the Upper Bay aboard Team Alltackle’s boat Freespool. Photo courtesy of Greg Walker

Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow reports hitting the Chester near Love Point on Friday afternoon with Frosty (thanks, Frosty!), where they saw plenty of fish in the 20- to 30-foot range but found it difficult to get them biting. Most of the fish were sitting deep while the birds were sitting on the surface, and the only way to get a bend in the rod was to bounce your jig (a white-skirted chartreuse BKD did the trick) right on bottom.

White perch have continued to move away from shorelines and into deeper water. Opportunities to catch them from shore are becoming more sparse.


Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, November 1, 2019 Update:

Schoolie action remains strong as we head into November and is providing plentiful opportunities for anglers to enjoy action-packed, brisk days on the water. Tochterman’s let us know that while topwater has been dominating the morning and evening bites across the board, jiggers are doing well throughout the day. Most are sticking to the unfailing classics: pearl, white, and chartreuse BKD or Gulp! lures. These have been essential to have on board and in abundance for anglers fishing the Key Bridge (which was also mentioned by Herb’s as a good bet), the lower Patapsco, and the mouth of the Chester. The bulk of the action has been centered in these areas, with scattered catches also coming from Podickory Point to the mouth of the Magothy, largely dependent upon the presence of birds working the area. Regardless of whether you’re cruising channel edges in hopes of spotting a school of stripers on the depth finder or parked at your favorite spot, the catch coming from under birds has been consistent enough that it’s smart to have an eye on the horizon at all times. Light tackle trolling until the feathered friends become active has been a strong play.

fishing in the upper chesapeake bay
Trolling Rat-L-Traps proved fruitful at the mouth of the Magothy, for Steve Rudow.

Cooling temperatures have prompted white perch to begin their migration from the shallows of local creeks and rivers to deeper water. They’ve begun to hang out further from shore, and should continue to move away from it for the duration of the season. If you’re shore-bound, now is the time to grab some bloodworms and head to your favorite spot to stock up on perch for the upcoming fish-drought.