Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Update 2/23/2018:
Staying in the Bay’s tributaries and/or hitting the creeks seems to be the best move for anglers looking to pick up some fish this week – Mike Ditmars and Bill Rader slayed the white perch at Red Bridges just this morning.
Island Tackle Outfitters reports that yellow perch have started to run in most local creeks and rivers and are typically being caught on shad darts and minnow near bottom. Denton Rod and Tackle reported that further upriver, the area between Denton and Greensboro has been experiencing a pretty hot yellow perch run. Bloodworm, grass shrimp, and minnow have been the baits of choice, and some catfish have been in the mix especially in Martinak State Park (named one of our Top 10 Spots for Shoreline Fishing), where fishing has been particularly hot. They also mentioned that the Tuckahoe and Unicorn Branches have been fully stocked with trout, and are producing some amazing fishing.
On the Western side, anglers continue to sporadically catch fish at the Power Plant (including a few biggies here and there) but more surprisingly, there’s been a steady and decent bite on 20-something stripers in the Severn. Fish have been holding on drop-offs to 20-plus feet and striking BKDs and similar lures (try smoke or churple) fished slowly near bottom. We also spoke with one angler who fished the creeks off the South this week, and caught a couple of perch plus a pickerel on minnow lip-hooked behind small shad darts and fished slowly along bottom.
NEWS FLASH: This is a busy weekend for Maryland mid-Bay anglers. Don't forget that Saturday is the Annapolis Saltwater Fishing Expo, at Elks lodge 622 on Solomons Island Road, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. FishTalk will be there - stop by and say hi! Then head over to the Lefty Kreh Tie-Fest in downtown Annapolis at the Loews. It's open Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Yes, FishTalk will be there, too! Learn more at the Tie Fest Facebook page.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Update 2/15/2018:
Yellow perch have been the name of the game in the northern-most areas of the Chesapeake. This week's warm (yet rainy) weather provided a much needed opportunity for anglers to head out onto the Bay and local rivers. Yellow perch haven't been far from home, primarily hanging out in shallow water in rivers and creeks, although Alltackle reports some guys have caught them in deeper water, mixed in with the catfish bite. Anglers recommended using minnow as bait when possible, as yellow perch, catfish, and crappie have all been taking them. Anglers reported a few catch and release rockfish around Thomas Point, but hasn't heard what they've been caught on.
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Update 2/8/2018:
Marty's Sport Center reported that some crappie have been caught on the Eastern Shore, in tidal creeks on little jigs. Anglers heard that white perch have been frequenting tidal rivers of the Chesapeake, primarily the Magothy (see the Upper Bay report). Perch have been hanging around the drop offs from deeper water to shallows, and are taking a plethora of baits. Small jigs or shad darts with a minnow or grass shrimp have been successful, as well as tiny Bass Assassins and two-inch straight tail grubs with minnows.
Some rockfish have been caught around the bridge, however, of course they are out of season. Some have also been caught along drop-offs and the channel edges of the Severn. Jigging on bottom with smoke-colored plastics was the successful maneuver and if you scroll down into last week’s reports, you’ll see reader Kevin Thomas was also successful with churple.
We didn’t get any new reports from the CCNPP this week (though the Tackle Box mentioned some people have been going there) but we did hear from a reader who visited Brandon Shores and despite finding a 20-degree temp spike (wow!) didn’t have any luck. We’re wondering if it was the tide or the lures—when there’s a temp spike that big, there should be some fish around!
February 2018 Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Update:
Alltackle in Annapolis and Anglers reported that the fishing has been as dreary as the grey skies that have been a trademark of the past few weeks. High wind and cold temperatures have kept sensible anglers from stepping out on the water. That, however, may be something of a mistake.
Reader Kevin Thomas checked in for the second trip in as many weeks, after finding 20-something rockfish willing to bite in the Severn and providing the photo documentation to prove that there are stripers in the middle Bay willing to bite right now. He reported that the fish - one was 29-inches - were hanging near ledges and struck churple 10-inch BKDs. He also reported that the only other boats on the water were the Navy rowing team and the Whalers that follow them. Where are you, hearty winter anglers?
Meanwhile, a bit farther to the south we've heard about an on-again, off-again bite at Calvert Cliffs. Ten inch BKDs and similar plastics are the ticket here, too, though you need a head of an ounce or more so you can work it tight to the bottom in the roiling water. As is often true at this time of the year it can be hot one day and not the next; be sure to read Fishing For Trophy Rockfish in Warm Water Discharges, to find out the tactics.
In the next few weeks the yellow perch run should begin for real, and we look forward to letting you know where they're at. Anglers suggested trying the Chester, Wye Mills, and local creeks as starting points.