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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, December 11 Update:
As it’s grown cold the inshore wrecks and reefs off the coast have become hot, and a reader checked in last weekend after enjoying banner action off the ESVA on some very nice flounder, with jumbo sea bass also in the mix. Bluefin tuna—off-limits for the time being—were also spotted busting water in the vicinity. Several boats have run out to chase the tuna and are reporting some luck with catch and release fishing. Boats running out of… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
FishTalk’s Zach Ditmars went pickerel fishing up one of the west side tribs last weekend and reported a lack of action, with one missed hit and one follow. Other anglers fishing in the Baltimore metro area have reported a decent pickerel bite, with most willing to hit either minnow or suspending jerkbaits. The forecast is calling for a serious cold front in the coming days, so the tidal creeks, ponds, and lakes may have some ice on them to deal… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
Striped bass season for Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay is now closed, so any fishing for them will be strictly catch and release until next spring. The catches were scattered before the season ended, with some being caught at the Conowingo Dam, lower Susquehanna River, and on the edges of the Susquehanna Flats. With the season over, anglers still wanting to target fish to keep and eat should focus their attention on blue… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
Striped bass season closed for Maryland waters on the Chesapeake Bay after December 10th, so anglers wanting to target them will have to practice catch and release from here on out. The Patapsco River is a reliable Upper Bay river for winter striped bass fishing. There are resident fish that roam the river channels year-round, and right now they can be found along the main shipping channels in 30’ to 50’ of water. Vertical jigging with… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
The Angler in Chief says bird play was slightly improved last weekend compared to the week prior, and that when fish were spotted on the meter before, during, and after bird action, they seemed far more willing to bite than they have been for much of this fall. Five-inch paddletails and one- to two-ounce jigging spoons caught fish. Initiating the hunt for trophy-sized fish, they did try casting white 10” BKDs and 13” Game On! Duratech… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
Striped bass season is now closed in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay but catch and release is still open. The Potomac and Virginia waters of the Bay will remain open for harvest until December 31st. Reports editor Dillon Waters headed down to fish with a friend out of Point Lookout last weekend in search of the first wave of trophy striped bass moving up the Bay. They didn’t find any trophy fish, and the bird action was scattered… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
The big news from the Tangier region is that migratory striped bass are starting to move up the Eastern Shore. We had a few reports of big fish from the Exmore area, and we heard rumors of a few in the open Bay near the Tangier and Pocomoke Sound. Light tackle guide C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters reported that rock fishing is red hot right now. Some days it may take some running around to find them, but C.L. and… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, December 11 Update:
Confirmed reports of some seriously big rockfish are starting to come in, with a 46.25” caught near Hampton Roads last weekend and a pair of fish over 40” from the CBBT area. This week, a reader report rolled in of a 41” caught at night near the Hampton area as well. All of these were catches made while night fishing, and the anglers mentioned frigid temps and, in one case, rain. This sort of fishing certainly isn’t for the faint of… Read more from Way South...