Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (lower), VA
Summary: 3/27 - The striped bass catch-and-release season in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay will be open until April 1, so this weekend will be the last hurrah. 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 as of April 1. Jigging along the main channel edges with medium-heavy tackle and large soft plastic jigs is what it will take to get into the game. Marking schools of menhaden deep within the channels will up the odds greatly. The Calvert Cliffs Power Plant warm water discharge will be an attraction to both striped bass and anglers. White perch spawning runs are in full swing this week in many of the lower Bay tidal rivers. The tributaries along the Maryland side of the Potomac River as well as the upper Patuxent, Nanticoke, and Wicomico rivers are all excellent places to fish. Bloodworms have always been very popular when fished on a bottom rig in the deeper channel waters. At the spawning sites where waters tend to be narrow, casting shad darts is an excellent way to fish. Post spawn yellow perch can be found moving downriver from the spawning areas and lip hooked minnows fished close to the bottom is one of the best ways to target them. Hickory shad are showing up in the Potomac River near Fletchers Landing and Mattawoman Creek. Blue catfish are always present in the middle sections of the Potomac River up to the Wilson Bridge. The Patuxent River from Benedict to Jug Bay is an excellent place to fish for blue catfish on the Patuxent. The Sharptown and lower Marshyhope are two of the premier places on the Eastern Shore to target blue catfish.