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Fishing Reports
Weekly fishing reports for the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic and surrounding region. If you would like to be notified via e-mail when our weekly fishing reports are updated, click here to sign up.
FishTalk fishing reports are presented by Costa Tequila, Anchor Boats, Brown Dog Marine, CCA MD, Riverside Marine, Suzuki Marine, and Tri-State-Marine
Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
The black drum have arrived right on schedule as we heard the first few reports of fish being caught in the surf this week. Surf fishing expert Dave Moore checked in with us after catching his first drum of the season on the Maryland side of Assateague Island on Wednesday. The 39-inch fish was caught using sand fleas. There were also black drum reports from Sea Hawk Sports Center and Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle of fish being caught along… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
The shad have arrived to the rivers and will offer plenty of catch and release fishing opportunities over the next two months. A reader reported a mediocre shad bite on Mason Springs last weekend, catching seven hickories (plus a couple of herring and small yellow perch) in a few hours of afternoon fishing. He was using a silver spoon/white-pink-chartreuse dart and the dart was the hot ticket for the shad. Contributor Eric Packard had similar results… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
April has arrived, which means that the no-targeting closure for striped bass is now in effect for the Way North region of the Chesapeake Bay. Anglers will be prohibited from targeting stripers from now until June 1st. While they are off limits, there are several other species to fish for. As the grasses emerge on the Susquehanna Flats, the bass fishing will heat up. Fish are in pre-spawn mode right now and should be pushing into shallow… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
April has arrived, and it is the first year since 2019 that striped bass are open for catch and release fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Most of the Upper Bay is open for catch and release fishing, but some areas, including the Chester River, are closed. Anglers trolling will be limited to six lines; they must use barbless hooks and no stinger hooks. If using cut bait, anglers must use non-offset circle hooks, and using eels for bait is… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
Two readers reported a mediocre shad bite after fishing on Mason Springs last weekend and midweek this week, each catching between a half-dozen and 10 hickories (plus a couple of herring and small yellow perch) in a few hours of afternoon fishing. One was using a silver spoon/white-pink-chartreuse dart and the dart was the hot ticket for the shad. Contributor Eric Packard had similar results at multiple spots looking for shad recently, with… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
There is no shortage of fishing opportunities in the Lower Bay as we enter one of the most exciting months for spring fishing. Contributor Eric Packard tried for shad near Fletcher’s on the Potomac and didn’t find the fish, but a friend said he caught a pair of Americans and six hickories there the day before. Reports Editor Dillon Waters took a trip to Fletcher’s Cove last week to fish for flathead catfish on his kayak. The river flow was a… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
As water temperatures are heating up, so is the flounder bite. Early in the season, the better action is usually south along the Eastern Shore of Virginia with hotspots including Oyster, Wachapreague, and Chincoteague. A boat fishing out of Chincoteague this week managed to box nine keepers during one of the warmer days. Ocean water temperatures are still cold, so you should try to plan your trips around the tide cycle to hit… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, April 3 Update:
Ocean water temperatures are on the cooler side, but water temperatures in the tidal tributaries, especially on the western shore, are heating up rapidly with the warm temperatures this week. The creeks and rivers now have water temps in the 50s, and some may even have water temperatures in the 60s. This has caused the puppy drum to get more active in the tributaries. We had a report from an angler fishing Rudee inlet who caught a few… Read more from Way South...