Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (lower), VA
Summary: 9/11/25 - The lower Bay region offers a variety of exciting fishing options this week. An influx of Spanish mackerel in the past week has livened up the trolling community who have been catching mostly bluefish for the past month. Most anglers who are targeting the Spanish mackerel are trolling small Drone spoons of various color schemes and gold Clark spoons behind planers. Mixing in surgical tube lures will attract the bluefish. The channel areas near the Target Ship, Cedar Point, and Point No Point are a few of the better places to target these two fish. Striped bass are being found in the tidal Potomac this week. Jigging along channel edges or live lining spot are two very popular ways to target them. The steep channel edge from St. Georges Island to Piney Point has been a good place to live line and jigging near the Route 301 Bridge has been popular. The cobia season will end on September 20, and it seems to be going out with a fizzle. Cobia are being caught but many fail to make the required 43-inch minimum. Chumming and drifting live eels to the back of the chum slick has been a popular way to fish. Large red drum have been elusive, but some are being caught near the Target Ship, the Middle Grounds, and Tangier Sound. Often, they are spotted by slicks or by depth finders and jigging with large soft plastics or dropping soft crab baits are popular ways to fish. Sheepshead are being caught near the Target Ship on fiddler crab or peeler crab baits. Fishing for a mix of spot and croakers is very good this week at the mouth of the Patuxent, Tangier Sound, Pocomoke Sound, Point Lookout, and near Hoopers Island. Many of the croakers are now measuring over the 9-inch minimum and the spot are now pan size. Anglers may also see a mix of kingfish, small black sea bass, and northern blowfish in the mix.