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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 Anchor Boats, Brown Dog Marine, CCA MD, Riverside Marine, Suzuki Marine, and Tri-State-Marine
Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
The coastal waters are still cold, and the back bays are still a few weeks away from getting active with fish. The ocean temperatures are also still cold, hovering around the low 40s, so nearshore and offshore bites are also limited. Most of the offshore action is centered around tautog at the wreck and reef sites right now. While fishing the wrecks, you will want to use heavy line to pull the fish out of the bottom structure. Reliable… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
The warm temperatures this week made for some beautiful days to be on the water this week. The fish were loving it too, and we had several reports from all over our region. Contributor Eric Packard says the Potomac River crappie are biting strong in creeks and coves and had a great trip last weekend fishing a spider rig with minnows. Some of the crappie topped 14” and they also picked up one largemouth bass. He also spent some time at local lakes… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
We experienced all four seasons this week as we went from near record high temperatures to heavy snow. The March weather is never predictable, but the fish are still getting more active as we move further into spring. A reader checked in after trying for yellow perch in the Perryville area, and said the fish were there, but the bite was relatively slow, and many were undersized. In an afternoon of fishing with tandem shad dart rigs… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
This week really put us through the wringer with the different weather. It was like we experienced all four seasons in just a few days, which is classic Maryland weather for this time of year. We've had some reader reports of B-I-G rockfish showing up, reportedly chasing gizzard shad in just a couple feet of water on the west side during the recent warmup. As water temperatures rise, more migratory striped bass will be swimming up the Bay… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
It was refreshing to enjoy some unseasonably warm temperatures this week even though it was quickly followed by a reality check that it is still March with some snowflakes falling later in the week. The weather is all over the place this time of year, but the perch runs remain consistent and are kicking off right now. Reader reports of a solid bite in the Tuckahoe near Hillsboro came in last weekend. The yellow perch run is naturally what’… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
The Upper Potomac seems to be fishing well, and we had a group of anglers check in after fishing the area of Oxon Cove for crappie. They had a spider rig setup and were floating live minnows. This is a very effective spring method for crappie fishing. Their crew caught several pre-spawn crappie in the 12-to-14-inch range and had a few bycatch largemouth bass. A reader fishing the tidal basin reported catching a few early-season largemouth… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
Spring fishing is kicking off even though this week brought us a taste of each of the four seasons. We went from temperatures in the 80s earlier in the week to temperatures back into the 30s with some snow to end the week. Anglers took advantage of the warmer weather, and we had good reports from the Pocomoke, where the crappie bite has been very good. Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that the crappie action has been superb and… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, March 12 Update:
Water temperatures are on the rise in the southern waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The fish are getting more active in the tributaries, but this recent cold front is countering the warming trend we saw at the beginning of the week. There are plenty of puppy drum in the inlets and rivers but getting them to bite has not been easy. One angler reported seeing a few schools of reds on shallow flats in Rudee inlet this week but said he could… Read more from Way South...