Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 29 Update:
Rocktober is almost here but it looks like it is going to be less than an ideal start. The remnants of Hurricane Ian are likely to make their way up the coast this weekend bringing heavy rain and persistent wind to our region. This may muddy the water and make fishing conditions unfavorable for a few days. Hopefully by next week, things will get back on schedule. Prior to the incoming weather, the rock fishing has been great in a variety of different places. Fishbones reports that many boats are still live lining eels, spot, and small perch near Pooles Island, Tolchester, and the Patapsco, though they say trolling for stripers will become more viable as water temperatures drop. The fish will soon be schooled up in deeper water feeding on the abundance of bait coming out of the creeks and rivers. Troll along channel ledges and keep an eye out for bird action. Umbrella rigs with four-to-six-inch shad baits are especially effective this time of year. The shallows have been providing some great topwater action in the early mornings and late evenings. Any points, rock jetties, or other shoreline structure with moving water has been holding rockfish ready to ambush bait. The rockfish are fattening up for the winter and plenty of fish are being caught in the mid 20’s.
Bluefish are all over the Bay right now including areas north of the bridge. They are feeding on menhaden and bay anchovies so keep an eye out for breaking fish or oil slicks while out on the water. If you locate the blues breaking, cast metal jigs and spoons to them for some fun action. Most of the bluefish this far north are on the smaller end, typically in the 10- to 16-inch range. You can also catch these fish trolling small spoons on number one or two planers. Anglers reports that there are still plenty of white perch in the shallows of the rivers but there are reports of these fish moving into their fall pattern of deeper water. There has been a great perch bite at Six Foot Knoll, Seven Foot Knoll, the Bay Bridge, and the mouths of the rivers. Chesapeake Sabiki rigs tipped with soft crab or Fishbites is working great for those anglers bottom fishing. Let’s hope the weather settles by next week so we can enjoy the awesome fishing that October usually brings us.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 22 Update:
Water temperatures are finally cooling off and with another cold front coming it is shaping up to be a great start to fall fishing on the Chesapeake. Now can be some of the best times of the year to be out on the water so don’t be afraid to use a few vacation days. Fishing for rockfish is still great in this area of the Bay and the hotpots from the summer are still holding a lot of fish. Fishbones reports that Pooles Island, the lumps around Tolchester, Love Point, and the Key Bridge are all producing quality fish into the mid 20’s. Live eels are still a favorite along with spot and peeler crab. As spot get ready to head south soon, using small white perch for live lining will be just as effective. Light tackle jigging during a good running tide at the Love Point rocks and Key Bridge have also been effective for catching fish.
Cooling water temps have pushed more fish into the shallows as they feed on an abundance of peanut bunker. Shoreline structure at the mouths of the tidal rivers has been holding fish this past week. Underwater breakwaters, points, and rock jetties are all places you will want to target in the shallows. Topwater bites in the mornings and evenings have been giving anglers action packed fun. Topwater spooks, plugs, paddletails, and jerkbaits are all effective for catching these fish. On top water retrieves, try changing up the speed you are working the lure to see what the fish like the most.
Anglers says that the white perch fishing has been good in the rivers and along the knolls in the main stem of the Bay. Most fishermen are using bottom rigs tipped with bloodworms or peeler crab. The Bay Bridge has also had a good mix of white perch and spot on the western end.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 16 Update:
Cooler temps are on the way which means it’s time to gear up for some of the best fishing of the year. Striped bass around Pooles Island are still the big draw for anglers in this area of the Bay. Live lining eels and small spot are producing fish into the mid-20s for many anglers. Fishbones reports that other hotspots have been the various lumps and shoals southeast towards Tolchester and the Love Point rocks. Live lining with the aforementioned baits has been the go-to for anglers in these areas but throwing out peeler crab has been working too. The piers at the base of the Key Bridge are also a great place for live lining or drifting cut bait.
Another thing to get excited about is water temperatures beginning to drop and the bite in the shallows heating up. A reader casting the shallows reported good action on a chartreuse paddletail, capped by a chunky 21-inch striper. Fishing along shorelines with points, rock jetties, and other structure is a great tactic this time of year. If you can find deeper, moving water, close to shoreline structure, there will likely be rockfish nearby. Casting poppers, paddletails, and jerkbaits has been producing hookups for anglers and is a fun way to catch them on light tackle.
White perch fishing is still good and can be found throughout most areas of the upper Bay. Clyde’s says the hotspots in deeper water has been the Six or Seven Foot Knolls, but any shoal or area with oyster bottom should be holding perch. These areas are also holding spot and the yellow bellies are getting big. Spot up to 10 inches have been reported. In the shallows of the rivers there are plenty of perch to be caught along piers, and rocky shorelines. Casting spinners, twisty tail jigs, and small Rat-L-Traps are all effective.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 9 Update:
Action on the Upper Bay has been highlighted by rockfish for most of the summer and as we approach fall, that bite is still going strong. Bowley’s Bait and Tackle confirmed that areas around Pooles Island are still producing quality rockfish. The bait of choice has been live eels but live-lining spot or dropping down peelers has been working as well. Blue cats are in abundance throughout the area and many anglers targeting the rock are picking up catfish too. One reader checked in after a day of catfish fishing near Heart-Miller to report nonstop action on chunky catfish. During the mornings while water temps are cooler, there has been a decent light tackle jigging bite for stripers on the bay. Many of these fish are not keeper status but anglers who are persistent enough to weed through the schoolies have been rewarded with some fish in the low 20’s. Look for birds working bait or sitting on the water and the rockfish should be close by. It’s always a good idea to bring a pair of binoculars on the boat to scan the horizon for any action that may be happening.
In the Patapsco, Tochterman’s reports a great bottom fishing bite. Anglers have been catching a steady supply of spot with some breaking the 10-inch mark. Other bottom dwellers in the mix have been perch, catfish, and some croaker. They did note that there have not been any reports of keeper sized croaker this week and the largest ones seem to max out around eight inches. The Key Bridge has been a hotspot for steady action on bottom feeders. Tochtermans also let us know that the shallows have been good for stripers especially with the recent weather cooling off water temps. Throwing topwater baits, Sassy Shads, and paddletails are all producing striper bites in the shallows. This bite should only get better as we move into the fall.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, September 2 Update:
The species list is expanding in the Upper Bay, and there were a few very cool catches reported in the past week. Most notable, one reader picked up a 26-inch Spanish mackerel while jigging a spoon all the way up near Curtis Bay. Another reported a photo-verified flounder (small) in the Magothy, and a third had a pair of barely-keeper croaker along with numerous smaller ones near the Bay Bridge, mixed in with white perch. Speaking of the bridge: a reader who we will not name to save him the embarassment went out for a joyride there and reported that he didn’t drop a line (for shame Steve, for shame!) but says there were several charters slinging spot up to the pilings and he did see one pull up a barely-keeper rockfish. The Bay Bridge and Pooles Island are the best spots for rockfish right now, as has been true for most of the summer. Chesapeake Outdoors checked in to let us know that the bite at the Bay Bridge has been great for a variety of fish including stripers, perch, big spot, and some croaker. Spot and perch can be found on the shallower pilons by dropping down bloodworms or bloodworm flavored Fishbites. There are plenty of small spot to be caught for live lining though many boats have been making the switch to peelers which is a favorite of rockfish.
Shallow water fishing has picked up in both the main Bay and local rivers including the Magothy, Severn, Patapsco, and Chester. Topwater baits at sunrise or sunset and jerkbaits or paddletails later in the day are preferred baits for the rocks. Fishbones reports that schools of breaking fish and birds have been scattered around north of the bridge at the mouths of rivers with anglers catching a mix of rockfish and small blues. Anglers says the bottom fishing has remained excellent in the upper Bay. The Bay Bridge, Podickory Point, and the Seven-Foot knoll are all holding tons of white perch, spot, and croaker. A lot of people are having success bottom using small jigs or Chesapeake Sabiki Rigs tipped with Fishbites, lugworms, or soft crab. As we approach fall on the Chesapeake, the fishing can provide some spectacular bites for many species so be ready for steady action these next few months.