Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (middle), VA
Summary: 9/11/25 - Fishing for striped bass in the middle Bay can be a little frustrating for some anglers this week, but those that persist are getting into some action. Structure in depths less than 20 feet tends to be a key factor in many areas. The Bay Bridge piers on the east side of the bridge, near the 30-foot contour and shallower, are producing catches on a good running tide. Live lining spot or fishing soft crab or fresh cut spot have been working when drifted up near the pier bases. Casting soft plastic jigs at the pier bases also is worth the effort. The morning and evening hours on a running tide tends to be the best time to fish. Thomas Point, Sharps Island Light, the Poplar Island rocks, and promising looking shorelines of the Bay, Eastern Bay, and the lower Choptank are reported as good places to fish during the morning and evening hours. Overcast days extend those hours. Jigging with soft plastic jigs in the deeper waters and casting paddletails and poppers in the shallower waters have been working well. Bluefish of various sizes can be found in the middle Bay, mostly on the eastern side. The area around the Sharps Island Light and the False Channel area are reported to be good places to troll a mix of surgical tube lures and small spoons behind inline weights and planers. Fishing for blue catfish is good in the Choptank River and Tuckahoe Creek; many anglers have been fishing the upper sections of both waterways with good success. The blue crabs are beginning to descend the Choptank and will not be fussing with baits. Fishing for Chesapeake Channa is very good this month and fishing in the grassy areas of Dorchester County tidal waters is always fun. White perch can be found in the tidal rivers near docks, piers, and oyster reefs. In the deeper waters dropper rigs using small soft plastics or Sabiki rigs tipped with grass shrimp or peeler crab are working well. A simple one hook bottom rig baited with grass shrimp is a great way to fish for white perch holding close to dock pilings.