Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (middle), VA
Summary: 3/20/25 - Anglers in the middle Bay are exploring channel edges looking for catch-and-release action with pre-spawn striped bass moving through the region. The Choptank River is a major spawning river so many striped bass will be making a right fin turn and moving up the river this week. The striped bass headed to the upper Bay spawning sites will be following the main shipping channel on their way north. Jigging with large soft plastics will be the most popular way to fish since this is a catch-and-release fishery for the excitement of tussling with a striped bass. The current water temperature in the middle Bay is 47 degrees, in the lower Choptank River 50 degrees. The Choptank River is closed to all catch-and-release fishing for striped bass. Catch and release of striped bass is currently allowed below a line between Abbey Point to Worton Point, and south to the Virginia state line, including Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. The DNR website contains a map of Maryland’s striped bass fishing areas and seasons. The spawning runs of white perch are underway this week and the Choptank River is front and center for anglers. The white perch are moving up the Choptank and can be found as far north as Red Bridges. The best catches recently have been coming from the Greensboro area. A smaller number of white perch are being encountered in the Hillsboro area of the Tuckahoe. Casting shad darts with an enticement of Gulp bait or a piece of minnow or grass shrimp is very popular. A few hickory shad have been caught in the Greensboro area by anglers casting shad darts for white perch. A mix of channel catfish and blue catfish can be found in all the region’s tidal rivers this week. The blue catfish can be found in all of the region’s tidal rivers, but the Choptank River holds the greatest number of blue catfish. The section of the Choptank from the Dover Bridge area to Denton presents the greatest promise. Cut bait of gizzard shad, menhaden or white perch tend to be the most popular baits.