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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, May 15 Update:
It has been an action-packed month for coastal fishing, and bites are still going strong this week. Striped bass are migrating up the coast after their spawn in the Chesapeake Bay. Anglers fishing Assateague Island are catching them in the surf using chunks of bunker, peeler crabs, and sand fleas. A few slot fish have been caught which have fallen within the 28” to 31” limit, but a lot of these fish are over slot. The stripers are also being… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
Largemouth bass in both tidal and non-tidal waters are in various stages of spawning with some fish already done spawning and some still actively on beds. The stage at which they are at will depend on your location and water body type. Regardless, fishing the shallows and around structures will be a good tactic moving forward. If the water is clear enough, anglers should be able to see bass on beds which can offer sight fishing opportunities. Soft… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
The lower Susquehanna River and Way North region of the Bay is running high and muddy from the deluge of rain at the beginning of the week. The Conowingo Dam is currently running in spill conditions and fishing the river will be difficult to downright impossible in areas until the waters recede. We did not have any reports from this area thanks to the poor conditions, but there should still be plenty of catfish and some white perch to… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
We have been counting down the days until the opening of striped bass season, and it is finally here. Anglers will be searching them out in the Upper Bay today and this weekend now that the season is open. Since they have been off limits, we do not have any intel as to where they are, but hopefully that will change after this weekend. Areas that tend to hold fish include the Bay Bridge, the Patapsco River, and the Chester River. The shallows… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
It was a wet week with several rounds of rain coming through the region. This was a good opportunity to stay inside and get gear ready for rockfish season. While the stripers have been off limits, anglers hitting the creeks are reporting that white perch are moving into their summer haunts and hitting the usual offerings like Perch Hounders and spinners. One person fishing Ramsay Lake off the South River mentioned that fishing docks in four… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
While striped bass season is kicking off, there are several other bites to be excited about. Reports of redfish are getting slightly more numerous (but still aren’t up to par with this time last year) and we’ve now heard of them up the Western Shore tribs to the St. Mary’s. We’ve also heard from multiple readers who hit the lower Potomac that all they found last weekend was lots of stripers. Contributor Eric Packard hit Smith Creek one day… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
Sea Hawk Sports Center reported that flounder fishing has been off the hook. Water temperatures have ticked up to milder temps which is allowing for decent fishing on both tide swings. As is always the case, the most important factor for success has been clean water. Flatties are being caught from Delaware down to Virginia Beach with the coastal bays in between producing good quality and quantities. The Sea Hawk crew says that… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 15 Update:
The islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel have been a hotspot this month for tautog and there are more species beginning to arrive as warmer weather has settled in. Anglers targeting the tog are encountering more sheepshead, and it is a safe bet to say it is time to start fishing the pilings of the CBBT for them, as there have been some double-digit fish already pulled from the area. Their numbers should increase through the… Read more from Way South...