Many mothers enjoyed Mother’s Day weekend on the water with their families last weekend, casting lines together in what turned out to be a wonderful celebration. This week brings numerous angling opportunities across Maryland waters, from offshore black sea bass fishing near Ocean City to striped bass action in the Chesapeake Bay and freshwater species including chain pickerel.
Beginning May 16, striped bass closure boundaries will shift upstream in tidal rivers, providing anglers with greater access to the bay’s tributaries. While the current dry spell has challenged gardens, lawns, farmers and some fish spawning runs, the bay’s water clarity has become remarkably clear. Many locations now feature five to six feet of visibility, and Chesapeake Bay grasses are thriving.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources fisheries management programs urge anglers to participate in volunteer angler surveys available on the DNR website, helping fisheries managers gather crucial catch effort and harvest data.
Weather Outlook: May 13 – May 19:
Water temperatures are expected to climb gradually throughout the week as summer-like conditions arrive in the Maryland Bay region. Buoy reports show main Bay surface and river mouth temperatures holding around the low 60s. Smaller rivers and streams are also maintaining temperatures in the 60s, though smaller waterways and downwind areas on sunny days will warm more quickly, often reaching the upper 60s.
Most Maryland rivers and streams will experience below normal flows this week. Water clarity should remain at typical levels for most Maryland sections of the Bay and rivers. Tidal currents will be stronger than usual all week due to the May 16 new moon.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Fishermen working the lower Susquehanna River this week are finding excellent blue catfish action in the Conowingo Dam pool and near the river’s mouth. Dam flows have been extremely low. White perch are present in the lower Susquehanna, providing entertaining fishing. Anglers are also targeting largemouth bass in the Susquehanna Flats and smallmouth bass in the river.
The waters above the Abbey Point to Worton Point boundary line remain closed to striped bass fishing until June 1, and the area between that line and the Brewerton Channel stays catch-and-release only until June 1.
Striped bass fishing within the 19-24 inch slot has been productive since the season opened below the Brewerton Channel on May 1. Anglers are locating striped bass along Bay shorelines by throwing paddletails and soft plastic jigs in deeper waters. The “electric chicken” color pattern has proven extremely popular with both anglers and striped bass. Experienced fishermen note that other colors also produce well. When working shallow areas during early morning and evening periods, poppers provide unmatched excitement as striped bass attack them.
Trolling offers another method for catching striped bass this week along channel edges. Many anglers use umbrella rigs equipped with medium bucktails fitted with sassy shads or twistertails. Tandem rigged bucktails also work, and when trolling shallower channel edges, diving crankbaits can be effective at slower speeds.
Blue catfish and channel catfish fishing has been excellent this month. Both catfish species are moving freely through various water depths and can be found in every tidal river, with some reaching impressive sizes. The Chester River ranks among the top tidal rivers in the upper Bay for blue catfish.
White perch have settled into their typical summer habitat near oyster beds, deep water docks and piers, or submerged rocks. Casting small soft plastic jigs, spin-jigs, and spinners works well along shoreline structure. Grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces on bottom rigs are effective near deep structure.
Middle Bay
The piers on the Bay Bridge’s east side are drawing charter and private boats during early morning tides. Boats anchor upcurrent and drift various baits back to pier bases. Cut menhaden, soft crabs and small white perch have been popular choices. Other anglers cast soft plastic jigs at pier bases with success on slot-size striped bass.
The middle bay region provides light tackle anglers with abundant shallow water action this week in multiple locations. Shoreline structure, grass beds, prominent points and submerged rocks remain excellent spots for casting poppers, paddletails, crankbaits and jerkbaits. The water clarity is something anglers wish would persist year-round. Poplar Island rocks, Thomas Point and waters near the Naval Academy represent just a few productive areas. Morning and evening hours typically offer the best shallow water fishing. Saturday, May 16, the Choptank River mouth will provide expanded fishing areas as closure boundaries move upriver.
Trolling will appeal to many striped bass anglers this week. Numerous main channel edges in the Bay and at tidal river mouths are promising locations for striped bass suspended near the bottom. Most large spawning striped bass have departed the region, so anglers focus on slot striped bass measuring 19 to 24 inches. Umbrella rigs with bucktail trailers dressed with sassy shads or twistertails remain popular trolling choices.
White perch now provide enjoyable fishing around various structure areas in the lower portions of the region’s tidal rivers and creeks. Evening hours offer exciting light tackle action by casting various small lures, from spin-jigs to Clouser flies along shoreline structure. Deeper waters around piers and oyster beds can be fished with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces on bottom rigs.
The Choptank River continues delivering some of the week’s best blue catfish action. The catfish are in a pre-spawn feeding frenzy, creating excellent fishing conditions. Anchoring and chumming while presenting baits is an effective way to fill an ice chest with blue cats. The river section from the town of Choptank to Denton offers some of the finest fishing opportunities.
Lower Bay
The lower Bay presents numerous striped bass fishing opportunities this week. Bay fishing has been productive along shorelines, and Saturday May 16 marks the opening of the tidal Potomac River to striped bass fishing, with the Patuxent River opening downstream of Point Patience. The Potomac offers promising fishing along steep channel edges from Piney Point to St. Georges Island. Anglers typically find good striped bass fishing below the Route 4 Bridge over the Patuxent River.
Jigging and trolling are favored methods for fishing these edges, and live lining will become popular once spot arrive. Jigging anglers typically use 3/4-ounce soft plastic jigs in 5-inch sizes. The Potomac, St. Marys, and Patuxent river shorelines, Cedar Point rocks, and the Calvert Cliffs Power Plant warm water discharge represent just a few excellent jig-fishing locations. Trolling anglers usually employ umbrella rigs with inline weights to reach suspended fish. The 35-foot edge near Cove Point and the eastern main channel edge from Buoy 76 to 72B are additional striped bass locations to explore.
Casting poppers and paddletails provides entertaining striped bass fishing in shallower Bay and Tangier Sound shoreline waters. Grass beds are developing well, and striped bass can be found in shallow areas during morning and evening periods.
Black drum are appearing in Tangier Sound waters, the Northwest Middle Grounds and near the Target Ship. Anglers spot them on depth finders then drop soft crab baits to them. Large red drum are entering the lower bay region and can be found in Tangier Sound and Target Ship areas.
Far up the tidal Potomac River to waters below Little Falls and the District of Columbia, hickory shad and American shad spawning runs have nearly concluded this week. A few hickory shad were caught and released by anglers last week but only scattered fish. Poor river flows from lack of spring rains severely impacted this celebrated catch and release fishery. Activity was strong in late March but then declined. There’s always next year.
White perch are providing abundant enjoyable fishing in lower sections of the region’s tidal rivers and creeks this week. They have moved into typical summer locations anglers expect. Evenings can be spent casting small spin-jigs, spinners, and small jigs along promising shorelines. Fishing from docks and piers with grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces remains a fun summer activity, particularly for younger anglers. The lower Patuxent usually provides good white perch fishing, and soon spot and perhaps larger croaker will return to the lower Patuxent and other Bay waters.
Freshwater Fishing
Trout stockings are beginning to slow in the state’s central region and focus more on western areas due to warming water temperatures. Time remains to enjoy recent trout stockings from last week, with a few more scheduled this month. As June 1 approaches, some delayed harvest trout management waters will open to five trout per day harvest until October 1.
Smallmouth bass fishing in the upper Potomac and Monocacy rivers has challenged anglers due to low flows and clear waters. Using light lines and making long casts helps fool these cautious smallmouth bass. A combination of tubes, swimbaits and crankbaits work well in deeper pockets and current breaks. Poppers always provide exciting fishing near rocky shelves and grass bed edges during morning and evening hours. Smallmouth bass can also be found in Deep Creek Lake, Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs, and the lower Susquehanna River.
Largemouth bass are delivering excellent fishing this month in small ponds to large reservoirs in nontidal waters and upper sections of the bay’s tidal rivers. In many areas largemouth bass are in post-spawn behavior, and with water temperatures still cool they can be found in diverse locations. The most common areas for larger female largemouth bass are mid-depth transition areas outside shallower grass beds and near structure in those areas. Structure includes fallen treetops, sunken wood, bottom structure like lumps and drop-offs, and creek mouths. Targeting grass bed edges with spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and soft plastics, and deeper spots with paddletails and crankbaits proves effective.
Chesapeake Channa are active near emerging grass beds, often with afternoons providing the best action on sun-exposed shallows. Buzzbaits, chatterbaits, and frogs work well when fishing grass beds, while paddletails are effective near shoreline brush and grass bed edges.
Crappie fishing is productive this month in many tidal and nontidal waters. Crappie tend to hold close to structure including marina docks, bridge piers, sunken wood, rocks, or fallen treetops. Slowly drifting with a small minnow under a slip bobber is very popular, but casting small lures or flies also works well.
In many Maryland areas, larger chain pickerel have completed spawning or are nearly finished. Once this occurs, they will feed aggressively to rebuild body stores. Look for large chain pickerel in more open waters near structure. Anglers are encouraged to use single inline hooks on lures to minimize gill damage to these aggressive fish.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Surf anglers fishing Assateague and Ocean City beaches are catching mixed bags of black drum, large striped bass and a few large bluefish. Black drum are taking sand fleas and clams, while striped bass and bluefish prefer cut menhaden or mullet.
Flounder continue moving through Ocean City Inlet toward back bay waters. The inlet and channels leading from it are good targeting locations. Some larger flounder are taking Gulp baits. Summer flounder minimum size is 16 inches until June 1; the minimum size then becomes 17.5 inches, with the four flounder per day limit continuing.
Tautog are being caught in the inlet area near jetty rocks, bulkheads and bridge piers on sand fleas. Striped bass are being caught in the inlet, with some large ones taken by drifting cut baits at night. Casting soft plastic jigs near structure provides plenty of striped bass fun, though most fall short of the 28-inch minimum. The inlet and Route 50 Bridge areas, plus Route 90 and Verrazzano bridge piers, are excellent places for casting soft plastic jigs and paddletails.
The 2024 black sea bass season started strongly with good fishing at wreck and reef sites. Anglers enjoyed catching chunky sea bass, with some reaching their limits and all going home with plenty of fish. Flounder were mixed in for those targeting them.
