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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, January 8 Update:
The mid-winter lulls have set in, as fishing opportunities are limited, and the colder weather doesn’t help with the motivation to get out on the water. However, there is some good news for coastal anglers in Virginia. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission announced that it will be opening a special recreational black sea bass season from February 1st through the 28th this year. There are special permitting and reporting requirements,… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The weather was unseasonably mild this week, which made it pleasant to get out and cast a line. Our freshwater fish aren’t as active in the winter, but warming trends like we had this week can get them active. We had a report from a reader who said the crappie and bass were feeding in D.C. this week. Drop-offs and deeper cover seem to be where most of the fish are hanging out. Down on the Pocomoke River, Sea Hawk Sports Center reports that their… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The weather was beautiful this week as unseasonably warm temperatures gave us a taste of spring. We are still a way away from any long-term warm weather, and winter is forecasted to return soon, but we will take what we can get. Fishing in the Way North region is slow right now, and we didn’t have any reader reports come through, so all we can tell you is what can historically be caught this time of year. Catfish will be the most… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The first week of 2026 has come and gone, and the weather this week was great for getting out to fish. Unfortunately, we don’t have any reader reports to tell you how the bite has been. What we can tell you is that the pickerel creeks are open in the Upper Bay tidal rivers, and the warmer weather should have them active. The tidal creeks in the upper reaches of the Magothy River and the Baltimore area creeks are historically productive… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The migratory stripers have not pushed up to the Middle Bay zone like they have in recent years. Most of the action is centered around the mouth of the Patuxent River and areas south. Over the past two weeks, the big fish have moved inside the mouth of the river and are even being caught just north of the Solomons Bridge. The biggest factor in locating fish has been to first find schools of bait. The stripers often follow closely behind… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The Lower Bay catch and release striped bass bite has been inconsistent. Some days, the fishing is great, while other days boats are running many miles before finding any life. The mouth of the Potomac has had some action this past week. The warmer temperatures have ticked up water temperatures a few degrees, and the fish seem to be responding accordingly. A few bird shows have popped up at the mouth of the river. One angler said that… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
Fishing was quiet through the first week of the New Year. Temperatures were on the mild side, which gave us some pleasant days to get out on the water. There are still some migratory striped bass being caught along the main channel on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The fish are scattered but are closely following bait balls. Trolling is very effective right now as the fish are very scattered. Light tackle anglers are marking… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, January 8 Update:
The first week of 2026 has come and gone, and we hope you have already caught your first fish of the year. If not, there are some good bites right now to get you started. The striped bass bite has been best at night in the rivers around the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area. Some productive tribs have been Rudee Inlet, The Elizabeth River, and the James River. There are some big stripers still being caught around the larger bridges at… Read more from Way South...