7/28/2017 Lower Chesapeake Bay Report:
The lower Bay is still full of life, from cobia to crabs to croaker. Cobia, spot, and bluefish have been hanging around the target ships, where chumming is the best bet. Chummers who bring some bloodworms and catch some spot then add live baits into the mix have a better shot the larger fish. Bluefish haven’t been the only species stealing bait, as the Tackle Box reported some sharks have been stealing baits intended for cobia. Anglers choosing to troll instead of chum and who add some small spoons into their spreads have started catching decent numbers of Spanish mackerel mixed in with the stripers and blues.
The Potomac has held large numbers of rockfish, as well as croaker, perch, and farther up-river also catfish. A few anglers have reported live-lining with spot in the Potomac has produced some large rockfish over 30 inches, however these reports have been few and far between and the bulk of the fish are smaller. The bite around Tall Timbers has slowed a bit but is still active for both chummers and live-liners.
Bottom fishing is a highlight right now from the mouth of the Patuxent to the mouth of the Potomac, with more kingfish (sea mullet) in the mix with croaker, spot (including some eating-sized), perch, and the odd flounder now and again. Bloodworms and peeler crab fished on bottom rigs are the best baits. We've had a couple reports from individual anglers of a particularly good bite for the bottom fish at the hard bottom just south of St. George's Island (with some small stripers mixed in) and also just off Point No Point.
7/21/2017 Lower Chesapeake Bay Report:
A variety of species have moved into the lower bay, affording for some interesting days on the water. The Tackle Box told us that rockfish have been plentiful near the target ships, as well as some cobia, bluefish, and spot. Anglers catching the spot (see How to Live Line with Spot, Part I, for the how-to info), have been using them to live-line, and catching larger rockfish and the occasional cobia. Cobia are also taking the bait for anglers who are chumming, although many fishermen who are focusing solely on this species have shifted to sight fishing. Chummers are also encountering more sharks than usual, for this part of the bay.
Speckled trout are being caught, mixed in the catch for bottom fishermen, however they are not abundant and are few and far between in most western shore locations. If you want to target this species heading east to the Tangier Sound is a better bet.
The Potomac is still holding large numbers of rockfish. Tall Timbers to St. Georges Island is still the hottest stretch, along the drop-offs from around 15' to 25'. Most anglers targeting them have been chumming, which is producing larger fish than using lures or jigging. White perch and catfish have also been plentiful, and farther up-river catfish are in the channel. Catfish are taking cut bait and perch are hitting bloodworms.
Crabbing remains solid, so if you're wondering about baiting up that trot-line, now is the time to go for it.
7/14/2017 Lower Chesapeake Bay Report:
The Lower Bay is currently full of life, full of diverse species, and lots of fish to catch. The Tackle Box let us know that bluefish and cobia are around the target ships, as well as on the middle grounds. Sight fishing for cobia has been one of the main methods of catching them, and large pink BKDs fished on skirted jig heads has been a top offering. Chumming is the other way to target these fish, especially on cloudy days when sight fishing isn't the best bet. Many anglers are reporting that sharks are mixed in the with chumming bite, and are stealing their eels intended for cobia. Some stripers and blues are also invading the chum slicks and hitting bunker chunks. Another nice diversion has popped up recently: Spanish mackerel are already moving up from Smith Point, and are hitting spoons pulled by trollers.
In the Potomac, rockfish have been plentiful. Most anglers have been chumming, which is producing larger fish than other methods of fishing. The stretch of water from Tall Timbers to St George's remains good with most anglers focusing on the drop-offs on the northern side, from 15' to 25'. White perch and croaker are also in the Potomac. Most of the croaker are taking cut baits such as squid, while perch are hitting blood worms and grass shrimp.
Farther up the Potomac, catfish have been taking cut bait fished on bottom along channel edges and in holes. Snakeheads are still a possibility for those probing up into the Potomac's creeks. Plastic frogs will give you a good shot at the Frankenfish.
Crabbing has been stellar, and most crabbers are taking home their limit within an hour.
7/7/2017 Lower Chesapeake Bay Report:
The Tackle Box reported that heavy rain this past week has already changed the dynamic of fishing in the lower bay. The bluefish and cobia bites have slowed down since the weekend, with colder waters pushing the fish back South. The rain also has muddied the water, making it harder than in past weeks to spot cobia while sight fishing. (Read The Cobia are Coming, to learn more about targeting this exciting species). Despite those lackluster bites, perch and jumbo spot have been consistent, as well as a slower, albeit still productive croaker bite. These smaller fish are abundant in local rivers, with the jumbo spot and croaker in open water as well. Some anglers have been using their less-than-jumbo spot to catch rockfish, as well as throwing some blood worms and light tackle on their rods.
Chummers are catching a mix of stripers and a few blues, in the Buoy 72 area and along the edges ranging down towards the Middle Grounds. They've also continued to have some good action inside the mouth of the Potomac, notably near Tall Timbers and St. George's Island.
Crabbing has been good recently, with a good number of large crabs. Trotlines are having more success than potters, however some pots out in deeper water are coming up full.