Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report 2/23/2018 Update:
Tochterman’s reports that although last week was tough for some of the guys out on the water searching for yellow perch, fishing has picked up in the Perryville area, and yellows and whites have been caught in abundance. Many guys out on the Bay are heading down to the Calvert Cliffs warm water discharge to try and get in on some action, however, traveling so far may be unnecessary as this week – Tochterman’s received a report of a 36-inch rock caught out of the warm water discharge near Middle Branch on the Patapsco. That’s the first report of a big Baltimore-based striper we’ve nailed down this February, but if history is any indication, Brandon Shores and out in front of the hospital should be good bets for the immediate future.
Meanwhile, the Magothy is still producing both white and yellow perch for anglers casting shad darts and jigs tipped with grass shrimp. Bull minnow are also working on the yellows. Beechwood has been a good spot, but has also been quite crowded on nice days. Many anglers are launching kayaks and heading up-river, fishing along the docks and deadfall. A reader reported that some of the other creeks off the Magothy were also full of perch, but didn’t specify which.
Catch-and-release anglers are still encountering stripers at the Bridge rockpiles, but they've been small.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report 2/15/2018 Update:
This week's weather allowed for anglers who have been land-locked this winter to get out on the water and enjoy some stellar yellow perch fishing. Tochterman's reported some good fishing in the Magothy and Severn rivers, primarily in creeks and near shore. Little shad darts have been a good bait, as well as grass shrimp when they're available. Tochterman's warned against using blood worms, as water temperatures have been low enough to kill the worms within a few minutes, leaving a bait that fish are finding unappetizing. In addition to perch, crappie are still being caught, as well as a good number of catfish, which are holding in deeper water. Fishbone's reported some small rockfish around the bay bridge pilings, however rockfish are not in season and barbless hooks must be used.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report 2/8/2018 Update:
The Upper Bay hasn't been experiencing the best fishing lately, although a few anglers did manage to get out on the water this week, weather conditions permitting. Tochtermans’ reported that most guys coming in have been getting gear for yellow perch, but haven't been having the best of luck. Channel catfish have been another option, and have been reported in the Severn (see the Middle Bay reports), hanging in muddy waters near bottom. Cut bait is still the go-to for catfish, as well as cut up chicken livers.
Many land-locked Upper Bay anglers are still casting for perch at Beechwood on the Magothy, and with a fair amount of success. Grass shrimp and small minnow on shad darts under bobbers are doing the best. The biggest problem lately has been the crowds, which have rather large for this relatively small spot. If you have a boat of kayak and can head up-river from Beechwood or fish some of the other creeks off the Magothy, you’re likely to have better luck and less competition. Note that the fish have been around docks and up on four- to five-foot flats relatively close to deeper water.
We heard 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! If the weather’s good and you have an itch to run the boat, visiting this spot could prove very interesting…
February 2018 Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report Update:
None of our sources had much good news for fishermen, however we should note that as the icy waters have thawed, more opportunities have opened up for anglers to hitch the trailer up to the truck and spend some quality time out on the water. We encourage you to hop out on your boat and fish around, and even if nothing is caught, there's no day better spent than one on the Chesapeake. (If you do catch something, however, make sure to shoot us an email and tell us where they're at!) The lone spot we've been hearing about is Beechwood, on the Magothy, where both white and yellow perch have made a showing for anglers casting small minnow and grass shrimp on shad darts and marabou jigs, under bobbers. However, the spot has been crowded and the local joke has become "leave a chair in your parking spot, or you might not be able to find a parking spot."
We haven't found anyone who's hit Brandon Shores or the Hospital, but both spots are worth checking out - this is the time of year when they can provide fantastic action. Read Fishing for Trophy Rockfish in Warm Water Discharges, to get the scoop on how it's done.