Chesapeake Tributaries

August 21, 2024
Catch the biggest! Catch the most! Out-fish the other guys! Most anglers want to score big on their fishing adventures, with results like these as the goal. So we go cruising for the canyons or…
August 13, 2024
To the human eye, many areas look like good habitat for the fish. But fish are pickier. Typically, they inhabit only a small fraction of the available shorelines. There are things about those small…
July 27, 2024
Docks offer built-in habitat for small fish and crustaceans, which then attracts predator species like striped bass looking for an easy meal or a place to hide from the bright sun. Whether it was…
March 2, 2024
Wrecks and structure that we might routinely pass over in the Patuxent River enroute to the Chesapeake ruins are seldom fished. But when conditions on the Bay main stem are too rough for small…
February 19, 2024
As early spring dawns in the Mid-Atlantic region many anglers from Delaware to Virginia will have the same thing on their mind: the yellow perch run in tidal creeks and rivers up and down the coast…
October 19, 2023
What’s worse than waking up to discover a 20-knot breeze when you’re bound and determined to try some Chesapeake Bay fishing? Not having a backup plan. Push your luck and head for open waters on a…
October 12, 2023
Just south of Annapolis, MD, the South River can be a confounding place to fish whether your'e hoping to slam the stripers, whack the white perch, or set your sights on any of the many other species…
May 24, 2023
Among the Northern Neck, VA, tributaries which have extensive oyster farming operations is the Yeocomico River, a small tributary to the Potomac River near its junction with the Bay. This practice…
August 24, 2022
Tributary light tackle trolling is an excellent tactic to apply when the water begins to cool, the bunker push out of the creeks and rivers, and the striped bass move in to intercept them. Since most…
June 4, 2022
My Brother once commented “Fish are where you find them.” We laughed, but what could be closer to the truth? Striped bass, rockfish as we call them in Maryland, are fairly easy to catch once you find…
November 27, 2021
To Chesapeake Bay fishing sharpies and non-fishers alike, the names are unmistakably Native American in nature: Pocomoke, Wicomico, Rappahannock, and of course, Susquehanna. These Chesapeake tribs…
September 13, 2021
When the wind kicks up a nasty chop at favorite main-stem hotspots, knowledge of Bay area geography and tributaries like the Chester River can save a fishing day. Advance preparation enables…
March 12, 2021
Most anglers know that freshwater fish like to eat small rodents and snakeheads in particular will eat just about anything, but we’re not about to suggest that anyone swing by the pet shop to grab…
March 10, 2021
The Patuxent River is the largest river with its watershed entirely in the state of Maryland, and has fisheries for species ranging from freshwater crappie to salty Spanish mackerel. From its…
December 17, 2020
Pop Quiz: When does Chesapeake Bay fishing season end? A. In November B. In December C. In December or January, depending on the weather D. Never! Yes, bass are on the menu when winter fishing…
December 7, 2020
One target that can be depended on to bite right through the winter months is catfish, including those monster blue catfish found throughout our region. You’ll catch them by putting cut fish, chicken…
October 13, 2020
Pounding is a great tactic to use when fish are hugging super-tight to structure, and a prime example is when perch are staging right next to pier pilings but won’t move away from them to take a lure…
October 11, 2020
October is usually the month when peanut bunker migrate out of the rivers, and rockfish move into tributary mouths to ambush them. It’s also a time of year when blustery winds can keep you off the…