Upper Bay Fishing Reports

Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 2 Update:

White perch are starting to move into their summer locations, but they have not arrived there in numbers yet. A lot of them are still making their way out of the spawning tributaries as their run is coming to an end. They should start to show up in their usual hangouts in the next few weeks, which will include places such as Six Foot Knoll, Seven Foot Knoll, the Bay Bridge, and scattered throughout the shallows of the tidal rivers. There was a report from an angler who was fishing near the remnants of the Key Bridge in the Patapsco who caught a few perch while fishing grass shrimp on bottom rigs. Their numbers should increase in the Upper Bay throughout this month.

It has been a slow spring for anglers targeting blue catfish on the Bay. High salinity levels are one theory as to why traditional areas such as Podickory Point, Magothy River, Patapsco River, Chester River, and areas around Pooles Island have been less productive this year. With water temperatures warming and very little rain in the forecast, the best chance to catch them will be to head further up the tidal rivers to target them. This will also give you a chance to catch channel catfish. The Chester River has high numbers of both species from the Upper Chester River Sanctuary and areas further upriver.

Spot are starting to trickle into areas around the Bay Bridge and anglers should be able to catch them by the middle of the month, just in time to use them as bait for live lining during the opening of striped bass season. The striped bass sum/fall season will open this month on May 16th. The regulations are the same as last year with a slot of 19-24” and a creel limit of one fish per person per day. Only certain areas will be open to harvest starting May 16th, while other areas will be either catch and release only or still no targeting. Anglers can view the Maryland DNR striped bass regulation map to see when and where they can target striped bass.