A Case of the Blues

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

Good thing I got my fishing fix last week because this week is a washout. Hopefully, everyone here has survived the wrath of Sandy.

Last week, I fished the Potomac River twice and also joined Mike Henderson (Mr. Buzz's Marina) and Dan Campbell on the Chesapeake Bay chasing birds and jigging at the edge of those feeding schools.

The lesson we learned on the Bay is to stay with the technique that is producing. Chasing trout after we put a few blues in the cooler was not productive. Better for us to have stayed with the birds and put more bluefish in the cooler.

On the Potomac, my homemade spider rig worked really well with fresh cut alewives to take lots of blue cats out of the eco-system. A 35 pounder is my best so far but I have ordered a much bigger landing net. Now, I'm catching 80% blue catfish and releasing most of the channel cats. Those channels are looking a little scrawney. I think the big blue kitts are crowding out their cousins.

Between the blue cats and Chesapeake snapper (snakeheads) there is enough good eating for me to target these invasive predators for a long long time. I can't wait for the weather to clear. In the meantime, Mike smoked some bluefish that I have been snacking on during the storm. Grilled blue cat for dinner this evening. Having the blues is not as bad as one might think.

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Tags: blue catfish

Snakehead For Dinner

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

I caught this 30 inch, 10.5 lb male snakehead Saturday, October 27, 2012 on the Potomac River. It hit a gold Strike King Redeye Shad. This is my first one and it’s a big one, killed and gutted it right away and was absolutely amazed at the size of it organ cavity. It extended all the way to the end of its anal fin. Picture was taken just before I filleted it and can’t believe the amount of meat that came off of this fish. Looking forward to eating it.

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Tags: northern snakehead

Mallows Bay Snakeheads

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mallows Bay

I spooked a bunch of snakeheads today, 10/19/2012 and I lost 4 whoppers but I did manage to land these two, 9.5" & 19" long....arch gills removed... Not too much blood on my kayak...I gave them to 2 bank fishermen, one of whom wanted to try eating snakehead for the 1st time. The bigger one took a topwater 5/8oz Live Target frog at 4:30pm, the little one chased down my shallow-running Rapala rattle-minnow at 2pm after I saw it chasing minnows along the shoreline.

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Tags: northern snakehead

Young Snakehead in Madison Bay

Type: Tidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Tobacco Stick Creek in Madison Bay

My son, Ben Leib, 9, caught this snakehead fish with a crabbing net in Tobacco Stick Creek in Madison Bay (Little Choptank River) on 10/16. We are from Dover, PA, vacationing in Madison at our parents' summer home.

DNR Response.: Thanks Megan for reporting the snakehead! The one you reported looks young-of-year and probably hatched in late spring/early summer. Last year we received a report of a snakehead being caught in the Little Choptank River as well. I believe a few of the fish are getting there by traveling upstream on Blackwater River. Several have been caught in Nanticoke River, Wicomico River, and one from Blackwater River. Because the species likes to move upstream as far as they can go, it's likely that the fish moved upstream on Blackwater River until it reached the Little Choptank River. Thanks again for catching it and helping to control the species from expanding further than it already has!

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Tags: northern snakehead

Perch on Mallows Bay

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mallows Bay

I went to Mallows Bay, it was in the 60's and sunny. No snakeheads for me today but here's a picture of one of numerous 11" yellow perch that I caught. I only kept three big ones and one 10" white perch for dinner.

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Tags: white perch, yellow perch

Mattawoman Snakehead

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mattawoman Creek

On October 5, 2012 I was able to catch this 11lb, 12oz snakehead at Mattawoman Creek on a top water frog.

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Tags: northern snakehead

Fish and More Fish!

Type:
Region: Southern and Upper Bay
Location: Bumpy Oak Rd Pond and Sandy Point

On friday, 10/5/12, I launched my kayak at Bumpy Oak Rd Pond and caught this 19" snakehead using a 5/8oz Live Target topwater hollow frog right in the middle of the pond (see picture )It was sunny and mid 80s. Besides a few other blowups, it was very quiet in the pond. Gill arches removed, another snakehead becomes a meal.

The day before I caught close to 100 undersized rockfish, 3 dozen white perch, a couple bluegill, and my 1st ever flounder…about 6" long from the beach at Sandy Point State Park and also from the old rt 450 bridge in Annapolis. Did I mention I caught all those fish in less than 3 hours in the late afternoon. All fish were released back into the water. Next time I hope to catch 2 keeper-sized rockfish.

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Tags: northern snakehead, striped bass, white perch, bluegill, flounder

First Stiped Bass of 2012

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

I caught my first keeper striped bass of 2012 here in the upper reaches of the tidal Potomac. I do primarily freshwater fishing, so the Striped Bass fishing is typically best from October through the end of the season. This fish was caught on a clacking buzzbait in 1/4oz. size.

The topwater bite has been incredible for LMB these last few days with the warmer temperatures and overcast conditions. I have been catching some nice fish in the 4-5lb, range too. My go to has been spook type walk-the-dog baits, and a small buzzbait as a follow up bait. When topwater fishing like this, a follow up bait is essential to have rigged and ready to go. More than half of the time that I get a short strike/missed fish on the walking bait, I immediately follow up with the buzzbait and nail the fish. Focus on shallow flats with sparse weeds, near larger weed beds. If there's a drop off nearby, all the better.

I also caught this 31" and 9.5lb. snakehead on my crappie rig with a small shallow running crankbait. Ultra-light, ultra-fast action rod… the fight was epic.

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Tags: Striped Bass, Northern Snakehead

How To Verify a State Record Catch

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mallows Bay

This has been a year of first fish for me: first blueline tilefish, first blackbelly rosefish, first chain pickerel, first tidal largemouth bass, first northern snakehead and the first blue catfish that I caught early this week at Mallows Bay on the Potomac.

The blue cats taste great. Even the channel cats from the Potomac don't have the muddy flavor that channel cats in the Patuxent are tainted with. And, the Potomac cats get much bigger!

This afternoon, I caught 14 channel cats, 1 blue cat, and a white cat on the incoming tide plus plenty of white perch and about a dozen fiesty under 18" channel bass.

Remember that this is the first year that white cats will be documented by DNR for record status. They don't grow super big. The Virginia record is just over 7 lbs. If you catch a big headed catfish with a moderately forked tail and white lower chin barbels, you likely have a white catfish. If it is over 5 lbs., you could have this year's record. I caught a 4+ pounder in August but the record keeping did not start till Sept. 4.

Questions to DNR Staff: What is the largest white catfish presently logged in? What is the process to officially verify species of potential record fish?

DNR Response: Sounds like you’ve had quite a year on the water! The tidal Potomac has some great opportunities for catfish. Our latest rules for state record consideration are as follows:

1. Entries must be submitted within two (2) weeks of the date the catch was made. If the Citation Center you visit does not have a certified scale; it is strongly suggested that every effort is made as soon as possible to obtain an accurate certified weight; since dead fish will lose weight quickly. Local deli meat stores, U.P.S or similar mailing and shipping stores are good locations to look for a scale that is certified by Maryland Department of Agriculture’s "Weights and Measures". A copy of the certified weight with the scale operators witness signature and date are required.
2. Fish must be a species commonly fished for with rod and reel and caught by legal methods during a legally open season.
3. The fish must be considered "trophy sized" if a new species category is to be opened for recognition.
4. The catch must be weighed on certified scales and inspected in person by a designated biologist from the Department of Natural Resources.*
5. It is the responsibility of the angler to fill out completely and accurately the official Maryland Sport Fishing Tournament entry blank. A side view photograph of the catch must accompany the entry and the actual tackle used must be exhibited to the agent of the citation center if requested.
6. Fish which are caught from pay to fish areas are not eligible for record consideration.
7. Citation centers and anglers should immediately notify the Maryland Sport Fishing Tournament Office of a potential State Record fish as soon as possible.
• Tournament Manager: Keith Lockwood
• Direct: 410-226-0078 Fax: 410-226-0120
• Late day or weekend catches should be immersed in ice water until the tournament office is notified.
8. Positive identification of the species of fish is mandatory for consideration of State Record applications. The actual fish must be inspected by a DNR biologist.
9. The Maryland DNR reserves the right to investigate the methods used in catching the fish and the accuracy of measuring and weighing. It also reserves the right to reject any application.

*Although citations are awarded based on length only, all fish being considered for State Records must be weighed. This is because existing records have been maintained by weight.

Sorry but we do not keep records of fish not of state record consideration, no one has yet to submit a record white catfish (7lb min).

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Tags: blueline tilefish, blackbelly rosefish, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, snakehead, blue catfish, channel catfish, white catfish, white perch

2012 Fall Patuxent River Tidal Bass Electrofishing Survey

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Patuxent River

Fisheries personnel are in the middle of the 2012 Fall Patuxent River Tidal Bass Electrofishing Survey. It has been an interesting survey to say the least. So far sites have been surveyed from Wayson’s Corner downstream to Western Branch. The bass collected have been looking fat and healthy and have been ranging from 4 inches to 3.5 pounds so far. Many other species of fish were observed during the survey. Several of the normally expected fish species such as channel catfish, white and yellow perch, several sunfish and minnows were collected. Like in many other bay tributaries, a red drum and some spot were also netted and documented. Unfortunately, 3 juvenile northern snakeheads and one blue catfish were electrofished as well.

We stopped and spoke to an angler fishing for carp and had caught 15 as of noon on his home made dough balls. If you are looking for a different species of fish to catch, carp can definitely be a challenge. They are a wary fish that can be quite finicky and at the same time can test your best freshwater tackle with a tremendous fight.

Please, if you catch a northern snakehead in any waters of the state destroy it immediately. Also, keep in mind if you do happen to catch one, that they do make a nice meal. Signs have been posted at many access points along the Patuxent River asking anglers to keep an eye out for snakeheads.

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Tags: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, whiteperch, yellow perch, sunfish, red drum, spot, blue catfish, northern snakehead, carp