Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (lower), VA
Summary: 4/9/25 - Although the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay is now closed to all striped bass fishing, lower Bay anglers can still practice catch-and-release fishing for them in the Potomac River mainstem through May 15. However, please note that the tributaries on the Maryland side of the Potomac River are closed as of April 1. The spring striped bass spawn occurred last week along the Nanticoke, Patuxent, and Potomac rivers, although there will be some continued spawn in the next week or so. Anglers are enjoying some exciting catch-and-release action with hickory and American shad on the Potomac River, just across the District of Columbia border. One must purchase a District of Columbia fishing license to get in on the action at the famous Fletcher’s Landing area. American shad are being caught on shad darts in the main channel of the river, mostly from small boats and kayaks. Hickory shad can be caught by casting from the shorelines or from boats, shad darts and small silver spoons are the most popular offerings. There is also an excellent run of hickory shad in Mattawoman Creek and the upper reaches of the Patuxent River. Chesapeake Channa, commonly called northern snakeheads, are becoming more active as water temperatures rise. Because grass beds are not fully developed, they can be found in more open waters. The sunny side of creeks is a good place to look for Channa as they seek warmer waters.White paddletails are one of the most popular lures to cast and fishing large minnows under a popping cork is another favored way to catch early in the season. The backwaters of Dorchester County, along with the tidal Potomac and Patuxent, are excellent places to find them. Blue catfish are active and moving out of the deeper channels and foraging along channel edges and adjacent flats. The tidal Potomac from the Route 301 Bridge to the Wilson Bridge holds great numbers of blue catfish. The upper Patuxent from Benedict to Jug Bay and the Nanticoke near Sharptown also hold large numbers of blue catfish. Most any kind of fresh cut bait works very well and many anglers have good luck with chicken parts. A 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook, rigged with a torpedo float and a sliding sinker is one of the best rigs to use. White perch are beginning to descend from the spawning reaches and move downriver. They can be found moving in the deeper channels and can be caught on bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm or by casting shad darts. Some of the tributary creeks to the tidal Potomac, the upper Patuxent and the Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers on the Eastern Shore are good places to fish for them.