The best upper bay action is between Rock Hall and the Bay Bridge. There is a lot of bait in the water right now and fish can usually be seen breaking in the evenings. Breaking fish are ranging from 12” up to 20”, anglers can sometimes jig lures below the school of breaking fish and pick up a better grade, sometimes up to 30 inches. When fishing schools of breaking fish, try to approach slow, and position your boat to where the fish are heading, not where they are when you locate them. Idle or shut off the engine to prevent from spooking the fish and you should be able to stay on a school much longer this way.
Chumming has been best around Love Point and the triple buoys on small to medium grades of fish. Anglers are picking up a slightly better grade by trolling or drifting edges, points, and rips with live perch or spot. Action can still be found casting or jigging lures around the Bay Bridge Pilings.
The Conowingo Dam continues to release water only when necessary but bass anglers fishing the Susquehanna River have been doing well. Jason Haney Jr. caught this nice bass all by himself on a yellow grub while his father was casting crankbaits. Jason cast the bait and was jigging the grub when the bass hit and he set the hook and reeled him in un-assisted by Dad, nice job Jason! Crabbing has been slow but patient crabbers are picking up enough for dinner, try to target incoming tides for the best action.
Mid Bay Region:
Live lining in the Middle Bay has been successful too as anglers are picking up quality fish drifting spot over shoals, drop-offs, and through rips. Light tackle and fly fishing anglers are having a blast casting to breaking fish in the morning and evening hours. The croaker fishing continues to be excellent in deep water during the day and over hard bottomed shoals in the evening.
Crabbing is doing well in many areas, especially in Eastern Bay and the Choptank River.
Live lining spot and trolling seems to be the best way to catch higher quality fish. Drifting spot or trolling along channel edges off Calvert Cliffs is a safe bet. Anglers are picking up nice rockfish jigging the Middle Grounds, channel edges, and the rocks off Point Lookout. There are plenty of breaking rockfish and blues around to entertain everyone.
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Lower Bay/Tangier Sound Region:
Bottom fishing in the Lower Bay is excellent right now. Croaker can be found in most locations mixed with white perch and spot. Flounder are becoming more abundant too, especially for anglers targeting them with strips of squid, mummichogs, or small live spot drifted along channel edges and points.
Recreational crabbings is good in most tidal creeks and tributaries.
Click here for information concerning harmful algae blooms
Click here to view recent bay satellite images at mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/NASAimagery/EyesInTheSky.cfm
