Next Update: November 11, 2009 (By 5pm)

Despite recent wind and rain, fishermen have been enjoying excellent fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers. The striped bass are schooling up as water temperatures cool and when they meet up with bait fish in the form of small menhaden and bay anchovies leaving the tidal rivers; the stage is set for some excellent light tackle fishing. Most fishermen are either casting to breaking fish or jigging underneath them. Other fishermen are trolling with equally good results and now that some of the first large fall migrants have showed up in the lower bay the large parachutes and bucktails will become more prevalent in everyone’s trolling spread. Mitchell Cratty got to spend some time with his dad trolling a Storm lure in the Severn River and proudly holds up one of the fish he caught.

Freshwater fishermen are busy fishing for some of the trout that have been stocked in many of the trout waters throughout the state. Conditions have been good with good water flows, cool water temperatures and plenty of elbow room for fishing. Largemouth bass are feeling the urgency of fattening up for the winter and crawfish and small baitfish is what is on the menu. The security of thick grass cover is in decline with cooler water temperatures and predatory fish such as largemouth bass are waiting near the edges for a quick meal. Walleye and smallmouth bass are more active now as water temperatures cool and the upper Potomac and lower Susquehanna are just two of the good locations fishermen can expect to find them. Fisheries biologist Josh Henesy holds up a pretty upper Potomac Smallmouth bass before returning it to the river.

Ocean City area fishermen are gearing up this week for some good fishing opportunities as the weather turns more favorable. Tautog fishing at the Ocean City Inlet has been very good as fishermen have been catching limits of the tasty fish. Surf fishermen are seeing the front runners of the fall migration of striped bass this week and the main body of fish is expected to be off Maryland’s beaches soon. The Ocean City party boat fleet was able to venture out to the wreck and reef sites this week and found good fishing for tautog. Limits of tautog were common around the rails.

Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 600 pixels. Please try to keep the file size small, under one megabyte. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please reference the Catch and Release information located at URL: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/articles/catch_release.html
Include the following information:

• Date
• Angler(s)
• Hometown(s)
• Photo credit

• Location

• Weight/length of catch

• Bait/lure

Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture. By sending any photos or art to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources you are giving DNR permission to use the image(s) online and in print. You are also giving DNR permission to distribute the photo for non-commercial purposes to other media, print, digital and television for their use. You are not giving up your copyright, but are allowing the photo(s) to be used for educational and news purposes.

Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood

Until next week,

Tight Lines,

Keith Lockwood
MD DNR Fisheries Service

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