Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (lower), VA
Summary: 3/20/25 - Striped bass catch and release anglers are working the steep edges of the main shipping channel by jigging with large soft plastic jigs this week. Most anglers are reporting limited success along the channel edges. The warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Power Plant offers a little better odds, but once a group of boats begin drifting and working the discharge current, success diminishes. Catch and release of striped bass in the Maryland portion of the Bay is allowed through the end of March. The DNR website offers information on responsible catch and release techniques with striped bass. The Patuxent and Nanticoke rivers are closed to the targeting of striped bass, including catch and release, since they are spawning rivers. The Potomac River mainstem is open to catch and release from January 1 through May 15. However, please note that the tributaries on the Maryland side of the Potomac River are closed. The first hickory shad and American shad have been reported at the Fletcher’s Landing area on the Potomac River within the boundaries of the District of Columbia. Water temperatures are about 50 to 52 degrees. Anglers must obtain a District of Columbia fishing license to fish these waters. The yellow perch spawning runs in the region’s spawning rivers are about over and white perch are quickly filling in. There are still opportunities to catch post-spawn yellow perch in the rivers below the spawning reaches. Small lip-hooked minnows are the most popular bait. The white perch can be caught on shad darts and small soft plastic jigs. The tributaries to the Potomac River, the Patuxent River, Wicomico, and Nanticoke rivers all have good white perch spawning runs. Blue catfish are an excellent target species this month, they are becoming more active and can be found in some of the deeper holes in the tidal rivers. Cut bait of gizzard shad, menhaden or white perch make excellent baits. The Potomac, Patuxent, Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers offer excellent fishing opportunities. Even small tidal rivers can offer good fishing for blue catfish.