Upper Chesapeake Bay fishing report, March 27 Update:
Well anglers, we’ve been advised to stay home and keep at least six feet away from other people. Tough, right? We’re already feeling a little cramped up. But, we’ve got some groovy weekend plans that allow us to heed directions from our all-powerful, all-mighty regulators while getting off of the couch and onto the water. Is there ever a reason you should be fishing within six feet of another person anyway? Heck no! And is there ever a reason your boat should be passing six feet within another? HECK no! As long as we’re sticking by long-mandated water-going etiquettes – and only heading out with our families – fishing is a green light. And as Monthy Python reminds us, you’ve gotta look on the bright side of life!
On the panfish front, crappie are still running around the Laurel Spillway. Neon and highlighter colored shad darts tipped with a small minnow have been working well for them. Tailored Tackled reminded us that crappie will stick close to structure, so be sure to keep an eye out for submerged logs, trees, and other hiding spots. The carp and catfish are biting strong in the Back River. Carp have been quick to hit corn, and catfish are taking chicken livers and cut fish with a vengeance.
A few catch-and-release anglers have been trolling the Upper Bay and reporting some catches, however, we haven’t seen photo evidence as we have in the Middle Bay where a large number of readers have sent in some rather impressive photos of monster fish. Tailored Tackle did have confirmed reports this week of small stripers from anglers fishing the Nanticoke. They reported that the bulk of the striper catch was from anglers targeting white perch with bloodworms, which the little rocks are snapping up. We’d like to remind everyone to keep in mind that on April 1, targeting catch-and-release rockfish will be illegal. While this is a major bummer, we’re hoping that this summer brings another killer Spanish Mackerel run like it did last year so we have more diversity in the catch. Regardless, we’ve been very happy to see great catch-and-release cows in the Middle Bay recently. As much trouble as we’ve been encountering on the striper fishing front, it’s great to know plenty of jumbos are ready to spawn.
This week, we also spoke to the crew at Tochterman’s, in Baltimore. Their store is currently closed due to the national emergency, however, they’ve been getting tons of calls in from anglers throughout the area missing their services, hospitality, and legendary bloodworms. Tony and Dee provide us with a great deal of the information we publish in this report as well as big smiles every time we see them, and we’ll be sure to let you know when they open back up so you can swing in to stock up on bait, tackle, and lures. Next time you visit, be sure to head upstairs and check out the beautiful selection in their fly shop, too. We had no luck getting anyone at Clydes, but last we spoke with them they were still trying to sort out when and if they could open so give them a call at (410) 242-6108 if you’re headed that way.
Upper Chesapeake Bay fishing report, March 20 Update:
Yes folks, we know we’re all tired of hearing about CV-19, but we need to mention that due to the current situation we had a tough time getting a hold of some of our usual contacts this week. We apologize for the somewhat abbreviated reports. The good news? For as long as it remains an option, the best way to practice social distancing is to go fishing!
A few anglers have probed the Upper Bay in search of catch-and-release stripers prior to the end of March, but we only heard from one reader who caught a (35”) fish north of the Bridge this week. Anglers notes that most of the effort in this neck of the woods remains in the tribs, including Beechwood in the Magothy and the upper Chester, where there’s a mix of white and yellow perch being caught. They also said they’ve been hearing that the yellows are done, and it’s been up and down, by all reports, though other sources are saying some days are still hot (and some days not). We also heard from a couple of kayak anglers who had some success on pickerel in the creeks of the Magothy this week.
Upper Chesapeake Bay fishing report, March 12 Update:
MARYLAND SUMMER/FALL STRIPER SEASON RED ALERT: The public comment period is open (but only until March 18) regarding summer and fall regs. See the full details on the options in our Summer and Fall Striper Maryland Season Emergency Fisheries Update, but it all boils down to this:
- Option 1 – Recreational anglers and charter boat anglers get one 18-inch fish per person per day.
- Options 2 and 3 – Recreational anglers get one 19-inch fish per day with a two-week summer closure and five days shaved off December, while charter boat anglers get two 19-inch fish per day.
Since these options are calculated to result in the same number of fish being harvested/killed, please do not be misled into thinking that any of these options are more or less conservation-minded. That being the case, we strongly support Option One and hope you will send the DNR your comments ASAP. If you feel that we need better science to understand the realities of catch and release mortality regarding striped bass in the Chesapeake, please also be sure to make this opinion known—and request that the state do something about it—in your comments.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled fishing report: With the perch running thick, anglers have been headed back out onto the water in swarms after the winter fish drought. Tochterman’s suggested heading to Perryville, the creeks of the Magothy or Beachwood, or the Chester up near Millington if you’re hoping to catch the run. Although perch are spread throughout the creeks and rivers, these areas have the bulk of the schools right now. With yellows packed in so thick, Herb’s let us know that anglers have had their pick of who to keep, with yellows breaking the eleven-inch mark in no short supply. Colorful shad darts and bottom rigs tipped with small minnows or grass shrimp have been common offerings, with neither outshining the other. A few anglers reported success fishing with beetle spins and other small lures. Many anglers are also racing over to the traditional Eastern Shore perch run haunts, to get in on the run over there. (March 13 update to the update: action was fairly slow today at Red Bridges, Hillsboro, and Stony Point, with fish moving through in short waves. Grass shrimp was best for whites and minnow for the yellows. Slightly more whites than yellows, and mostly small ones). The action won’t stay good for long so get in on it while you can!
Catfish have proved to be a reliable secondary fishery, with plenty of blue and channel catfish available throughout the tribs of the Upper Chesapeake. Cut menhaden, gizzard, and chicken breast remain their favorite snacks. While the cats are already biting steadily, Herb’s let us know that they anticipate the bite getting better as the water temperatures warm up and yellow perch slow down.
Upper Chesapeake Bay fishing report, March 6 Update:
The yellow perch run is taking off in the tributaries folks, it's on! Herbs is reporting that the Chester and Magothy (Beechwood of course) saw signs of the beginning of a strong run earlier this week, with yellows biting in abundance. Multiple readers this week also identified the Tuckahoe as a yellow perch hotspot that's now happening, so a run across the bridge to hit the usual eastern shore haunts should now be productive. Tochterman’s reported that they’ve typically been taking grass shrimp or small minnows on bottom rigs or tipping shad darts, dropped in pockets and holes throughout the creeks and tidal rivers. With the bite strong, shore-bound and on-water going anglers both had great days earlier in the week when the weather was warm.
Be sure to check out our Perchapalooza 2020 article to get the scoop on targeting these tasty yellows, if you haven't already checked it out. The blue and channel catfish bite has been killer as well - Herb’s reported that regardless of where you’re fishing, dropping down cut bait gives you a shot at landing them.