Lower Bay

The large bluefish that have dominated the fishing scene out in the bay channels have headed south this week as water temperatures steadily decline. There are still some smaller bluefish to be found in the lower Potomac River and Tangier Sound this week, but they will also head south shortly. 

Anglers are enjoying good fishing for slot size red drum and ones smaller than the 18-inch minimum in the shallower portions of the region’s tidal rivers and sounds. Striped bass, small bluefish, and speckled trout are rounding out the mix for those casting paddletails, soft plastic jigs, topwater lures, and crankbaits. Popping corks with a soft plastic shrimp as a trailer is a favorite for speckled trout and red drum when fishing over grass. The lower Potomac River, the Patuxent River, the Hoopers Island area and Tangier Sound are several of the best locations to get in on the action.

Jigging in the deeper waters along the main channels in the Bay has also been very productive this week. Many of the striped bass being caught are over the 24-inch maximum but offer plenty of fun catch-and-release action. Trolling along the deeper channel edges in the lower bay and lower Potomac River is also a productive method to catch striped bass and bluefish this week. To get down deep to where the fish are suspended, umbrella rigs pulled behind heavy inline weights are preferred, and white sassy shads are the preferred lure for a trailer this week. There are still some large red drum in the lower Bay near the Target Ship providing some catch-and-release action, and trolling large spoons or jigging with large soft plastic jigs tends to be the best way to target them.

The spot, croaker, and kingfish are on the move to more southerly and warmer waters this week, so catches have declined in the past week or so. There are still some small black sea bass around the reef sites, and it is hoped that larger black sea bass will move into the lower bay in the next few weeks. The minimum size for black sea bass is 13 inches excluding the tail filament, so there will be a lot of throwbacks if you fish for them. The daily bag limit is 15. 

White perch are feeling the urge to move to deeper waters as water temperatures decline. They can be found near some of the deeper structure in the region’s tidal rivers and creeks. Fishing with small jigs or spin jigs tipped with grass shrimp or peeler crab is a good way to target them. A bottom rig baited with grass shrimp, peeler crab or small minnows works well also. 

Recreational Crabbing

Recreational crabbers continue to find good crabbing in most areas this week with a few minor adjustments. The shallower waters that are less than 8 feet tend to produce the best catches. Those using trotlines report a lot of crabs dropping off the line before they can be netted. Many are also using collapsible crab traps to supplement catches. Sooks and small crabs are abundant and chewing up baits.

Freshwater Fishing

Deep Creek Lake is really offering a world of fishing opportunities to anglers, especially now that the summer crowds are gone and the water is cooler. Many of the floating docks are now gone and the ones that are still deployed are very attractive to both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fishing jerkbaits and spinnerbaits near points, lake flats, and shallow weed beds has been very productive for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Walleye fishing has also been very good near various points and deep weed beds, and yellow perch can be found close to shore.

Fall trout stocking this past week included many small community ponds that offer some fun trout fishing close to home and a perfect place to take our younger anglers to fish for trout. The fall stocking program will soon come to a close but many of these stocked locations will offer good trout fishing throughout the fall. To get the latest trout stocking information, check the DNR website. 

Fisheries biologist Josh Henesy reported that grass beds in the upper Potomac are starting to break up, but still are rooted in lots of places. He and other biologists were continuing with their fall survey for smallmouth bass, and report that conditions are extremely low and clear. At least one angler at the ramp told Josh he was having success on jerkbaits in 5-7 feet of water, and indicated that making long casts were a key factor in success. 

The central region reservoirs are noted for their excellent fishing opportunities for a wide variety of freshwater fish such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, chain pickerel and white perch. You can also catch landlocked striped bass that were stocked as fingerlings. Unlike the Chesapeake Bay, in Maryland freshwater reservoirs, the striped bass regulations are: 18-inch minimum size; two fish per person per day— but only one of those fish may be larger than 30 inches.

Fishing for largemouth bass is about as good as it gets this week. Largemouth bass are roaming in waters less than 8 feet and looking for baitfish or crayfish leaving the shallower grass beds and headed for deeper cover. Casting spinnerbaits, soft craw jigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits are good choices when fishing these transition zones. In tidal areas, fishing the outside edges of the grass beds or spatterdock fields on a falling tide is a good bet. Casting topwater lures over grass is another good tactic and in tidal waters Chesapeake Channa can often be part of the mix.  

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays

Most surf anglers are fishing the tail end of the southerly push of large red drum along the beaches of Assateague Island. Using cut mullet has been the most popular bait and a mix of stingrays and small inshore sharks have been keeping anglers busy. A bluefish can be thrown into the mix also at times.

There continues to be plenty of action in the Ocean City Inlet and Route 50 Bridge area this week. Anglers are enjoying good fishing for sheepshead along the South Jetty and bulkheads. Sand fleas have been the most popular bait and at times tautog can be part of the mix. Striped bass and bluefish are being caught by anglers casting soft plastic jigs and bucktails dressed with twistertails. 

The waters of the back bays are beginning to show significant cooling and as the daylight photo period shortens, flounder are going to feel the urge to move out of the back bays and travel through the inlet to their offshore spawning grounds. The channels leading to the inlet would be a very good place to consider drifting baits for flounder this week. Live spot, finger mullet, Gulp baits, and even large minnows are a good choice to target the largest flounder. 

The anglers headed out to the wreck and reef sites are experiencing mixed results when fishing for black sea bass. At some sites, the fish do not seem to be interested in biting so sometimes a move to another location means all the difference. Anglers are reporting large bluefish can be pesky at times, chomping sea bass in half before they can be reeled to the surface.

We’ve not heard much from boats headed out to the canyons this week, but a few boats tangled with some impressive bluefin tuna inside the 30 Fathom Line this week. This weekend promises to offer some tuna and deep drop action for anglers if good sea conditions prevail.