Fishing Report

Summary: Anglers in the lower Bay have a few options this week for catch-and-release striped bass fishing. The warm water discharge at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant is always a draw for anglers and striped bass during the cold month of March. Drifting through the discharge current and jigging with large soft plastics can offer some fun catch and release action. Water temperatures in the bay are cold, and school sized striped bass will be slow to show any interest in jigs. Maryland’s tidal rivers are now closed to catch and release fishing, but the tidal Potomac River is open to catch and release. It is still early for the anticipated spring runs of yellow perch, white perch, and hickory shad, but a few weeks can change things. Yellow perch are staging in transition areas below the spawning areas and can be found holding deep. Dropper rigs using minnows or small plastic jigs is a good way to target them. Fishing for blue catfish is a worthwhile endeavor this week. The Nanticoke River in the Marshyhope/ Sharptown area holds a lot of blue catfish, which will be holding in the deeper channel waters. The tidal Potomac is full of blue catfish, and the largest ones are often found in the deep channel waters of Fort Washington. 3/5/26 - Anglers will see yellow perch staging in many of the region’s tidal rivers on the eastern and western sides of the bay this week. The Wicomico, Pocomoke and Marshyhope are a few on the Eastern Shore. The Patuxent, Wicomico rivers and Mattawoman Creek are a few on the western side of the bay.

The Check Station

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