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Middle Bay Fishing Reports

Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, August 8 Update:

The Angler in Chief says rockfish aren’t exactly chewing the bottom of the boat off in the Middle Bay zone, but a few slot fish are around on shallow structure and willing to hit white paddletails late in the evening. He also noted, however, that some of the fish he’s seen this week are in rough shape and very skinny, and a 23” he caught on Tuesday looked like it had about as much meat as a 17” fish. FishTalk contributor Zach Ditmars reports that fishing docks on the main stem of the Bay are holding some rockfish, though the numbers aren’t as good as before the mid-summer closure. We heard from several boats this week that there is still a decent topwater bite at Poplar Island. Hallock’s Grace Charters caught a quick six-man limit when the season opened and other recreation boats have been enjoying topwater bites along the rip-rap shoreline around the island.

striped bass fishing chesapeake bay
Gibbie caught a nice sized rock while fishing in the Choptank this week. 

White perch fishing is still a struggle for most anglers in the Middle Bay. The tidal rivers seem to have below average numbers of perch for this time of year, which has us scratching our heads. There are some being caught, but usually hotspots like Holland Point and the Patuxent River have not been fishing well. Fishing docks and rip-rap shorelines inside the rivers are still good areas to fish with grass shrimp or minnows. From the reports we have seen, live bait is performing better than lures. Boats fishing around the Bay Bridge are catching some more perch while fishing around the bridge pilings in five to 15 feet of water. Grass shrimp has been the best bait in this zone and dropping bottom rigs tipped with grass shrimp is catching perch, spot, and croaker. Fishbites and bloodworms are working very well for anglers targeting spot for live lining. Bottom fishing at the mouths of the tidal rivers or just off Sandy Point should put you in a good position to get spot for bait.

July 1, 2022
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, July 29 Update: Anglers: with both sorrow and joy, we inform you of the departure of our Fishing Reports Editor Mollie Rudow. Mollie has begun a different chapter in her life with a new full-time job and will… Read more...
June 3, 2022
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, June 23 Update: Angler in Chief Lenny Rudow says there are a few keepers to be scrounged in the Middle Bay area, though the reports seem significantly better from north of the Bridge or south in the Potomac.… Read more...
May 6, 2022
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 27 Update: Good things have been happening in the Middle Bay, with multiple tactics proving successful in the region. Trollers, chummers, and anglers fishing light tackle are enjoying a healthy striper bite… Read more...