The Spring Trophy Striped Bass season ended Friday May 15th and we now move into a new set of regulations that last until Dec.15th: The striped bass season regulations are now 2 stripers 18”-28” or 1 striper at 18”-28” and 1 larger than 28” per person per day. Fishing is still restricted to the main-stem Chesapeake Bay from a line between Tolchester to the south pt. of Hart-Miller Island south to the MD/ VA Line plus areas of the Chester, Choptank and Patuxent Rivers.

While the big spawning striped bass are making their way out of the Chesapeake there are still good sized fish around. What is really exciting is that this time of year the stripers start to school a bit more which brings on the ability to target stripers with my favorite methods, light tackle and fly fishing.  The light tackle bite reports are pretty hot this week. Anglers are doing well from Breezy Point all the way down to Cedar Point Rip working the western edge of the bay in 30’-45’ of water. The key is to cruise this area and watch your fish finder for some good marks. Once you find the marks, drop the jigs and you are in business. There have also been some reports of bird activity and one of the biggest give-aways has been the sightings of large pods of bait/menhaden. Find the bait you find the fish more often then not this time of year, the birds will usually help you in this quest. With the recent warm weather water temperatures have risen; Thomas Point Light had a reading of 64.2F which is starting to get high, however with the approaching cold front this weekend it should curtail the water temperature from rising too much and prolong the good light tackle/fly fishing.

Trolling certainly has not stopped and anglers continue to catch keeper striped bass from the upper bay reaches in and around the Triple Buoy area down the eastern side in and around Love Point and following that edge all the way down past the bay bridge. Blue/white and chartreuse parachutes fished off planer boards seem to be a theme this week in the way of baits that are working well.

We also received a few reports of speckled trout being caught in and around the Honga River area. Most light tackle and fly anglers are fishing for striped bass, but the specks also in occupy the same areas and are finding the jig or fly. All this fishing has been fishing structure in less then 10 feet of water.

There have been some reports that the croakers are moving into the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake, most reports are coming from the lower portion of the Chesapeake.

Maryland Fisheries News
This week there is a  joint meeting of the Sportfish Advisory Commison and Tidal Fish Advisory Commision (SFAC/TFAC) meeting on May 19th at 5:00PM. This meeting is open to the public. Check this link for full details of the agenda. http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/chesapeake-angler-original-board-maryland-angler/261707-agenda-joint-sfac-tfac-meeting.html

Two Kent County watermen were sentenced this week, (John Franklin Riggs of Rockhall, Maryland and Stephen Lawrence Tyer of Rockhall) for multiple commercial fishing violations. Seems as though Kent County is easier on criminals like this that steal our natural resources then the judges in St. Mary’s county that seem to understand that if you to not send a signal when people steal like this they will just do it again, that’s just one man’s opinion. You can develop your own by reading more here: http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/chesapeake-angler-original-board-maryland-angler/261823-justice-served-again.html

President Obama signed an executive order this past week that marks the Chesapeake Bay as a national treasure. This should empower the federal Environmental Protection Agency to set a more demanding timetable, penalize states that fail to meet it and involve the feds in a more active role. You can read more about here: http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/chesapeake-angler-original-board-maryland-angler/261562-president-issues-exec-order-bay-cleanup.html

Tournaments, Events and Other Fishing Happenings
This Saturday is the Breezy Point Marina Rockfish Tournament info here

On Sunday is the 6th Annual Bay Hundred Ducks Unlimited Ladies Fishing Tournament in Tilghman, Maryland. Check here for more information

Upper Chesapeake Bay Region (Susquehanna River/Flats to Bay Bridge Waters)
The Susquehanna Flats Striped Bass fishery is now closed. A little further down the upper Chesapeake anglers are trolling from Rock Hall, west in the area of the Dumping Ground, and down in and around Love Point and down the eastern edge to the Bay Bridge with keeper srtipers success.

Jwhitman reported in from the Love Point area with this report that sums up the action: Headed to Love Pt. Saturday morning on the Miss Hanna, my buddies boat. Crew was our captain HVF21220 (Howard), cousin Tim, and good friend Dennis. Started putting lines out around the Dumping Grounds and it wasn’t long before our first fish hit. Took a white. Umbrella rig 125ft back. Dennis took the rod and after a tug-of-war match he soon had this 39” fish in the boat. The next few hours were slow until this 31” fish quietly took a board rod rigged with a 4oz. chartreuse parachute tandem with an 18” red hose. Wasn’t until I looked up and saw a line facing straight out the back that we knew the fish was there. See his report and pictures here

Roget T did manage to get out and do some light tackle jigging at the Bay Bridge with moderate success. He reported: Fished around the Bay bridge this morning and had a ok day Jigging the pilings,most fish caught on the eastern side pilings on chart BKDs.

Bite was good till the current dropped off didn't really have any big fish to speak of just around 18 or so , water was pretty clear considering all the rain we had lately the water temp was 62 give or take and not a whole lot of bait around far I could tell.Not that great but better than working. Report and pic here

Mid Chesapeake Bay Region (Bay Bridge to Honga River Waters)
The middle bay seems the place where all the action is happening for trolling, light tackle and fly fishing anglers. The Thomas Point and Bloody Point areas are producing good catches for trolling anglers.  The hot spot for light tackle and fly fishing anglers has been the western edge from out of Deale all the way down to Cedar Point Rips. Trolling anglers are also working this edge with good success. The key has been working water from 45-35 ft.

Captain Walleye Pete from Four Seasons Guide Service reported that he has been about all week and is having hot success with light tackle clients. He has been fishing mainly the area from the gas docks to Parkers Creek along the western side of the bay and on the western side, the Honga River working shallow water structure. The has had some nice fish early in the mornings on poppers with stripers up to 32”. When that bite and/or current dies he has been working the western side and once he located a school of fish has been able to stay with them to drop the jigs down. Hot sure for him has been Storm Shads steadily retrieved, Smack It baits and 10” BKD’s.

bgelety posted a great trolling report with pictures this week out of Breezy Point:
Left Breezy around 5:45am with a buddy from work. Running one of my new planer boards for the first time (not my son's mini-boards though). Wind was pretty gusty and we took quite a few waves over the bow but we decided to carry on.

First lines in the water around 6:10am just West of 78a. Around 6:30AM zzzziiiiinnngggg a 35" on a 9/0 Silver CA back about 250'. Next one around 6:50am a 37" on an 8oz White Grub from C&K Tackle back about 70'. Just as we got the fish to the boat 3 other rods started singing at the same time (and a cell phone ringing  ). With the wind and keeping the boat under control we couldn't give them the attention they needed and none stuck. Next hit was not until around 9:00am. A 37" on a chartruese umbrella with a 9" Para/Shad on a downrigger at around 20'. We decided to head south around 78 which was not productive for us so we headed back shallow west of 78a and put out the board. Just after noon we hung a white umbrella back about 60' with 9" para/shad. Not long after :POP: a 30" snagged it. A few minutes later and the CA spoon gets hit again. Our biggest fish of the day 38" from 250' back. We kept the 35" for dinner, everybody else went back to get bigger. By far our best day on the water yet. 6 Fish, 3 on a Silver Crippled Alewife, 2 White, 1 Chart. New boards worked great and we got to see the benefits they provide immediately. Fish were all in 45 to 65 feet of water.
Good luck out there! Bob. Check here for all Bob’s pictures

There are way too many fishing reports to quote here on the Tidal Fish Maryland Chesapeake Angler message board, check here for more action

Lower Maryland Chesapeake Bay (Honga River down to the Maryland /Virginia Line Waters)
Fishing from the Honga River south to the Maryland line has been slower then the middle Chesapeake for light tackle and fly anglers, but still very good for trolling anglers targeting striped bass. There have been a few reports of croaker in the area as well on the oyster bars that can be found on both the eastern and western shores.

Bring_em_on posted a good report that sums up the action in the area:
Fished out of Buzz's this morning with a buddy and an older guy named Ted who was having a 64th birthday today. He's never caught a Rock and his biggest fish ever was a 15 inch Croaker...I think we can do him better than that!

Started getting the lines out around 5:30 just north of 70 in 35ft and trolled east. Made a couple of passes in the 35 - 50' range and nothing. Tide slacked so I knew we were in for a slow morning. Once the outgoing tide kicked in, so did the bite.

Today's bite defied the season strategy that has worked so well up to this point. Rather than shallow out of the channel, they were in deep water in the channel. Boat rods out performed board rods, WWB did nothing for the 1st time this season.

Trolled eastern channel edge and the bite kicked in around 8:15 for us. Got three off boat umbrellas fairly quickly and had our limit by 9:30 (36/36/31 inch). Ted was happy to have caught his biggest fish ever!

Continued to fish another hour and landed 4 more. One chart Tandem went down and Ted hauled in a nice 42" (two personal bests for him in one day!).

We totaled 7 fish with two over 40". Four came off boat umb (2 white/2 chart). Two came off Tandems (1 white/1 chart) and 1 off single white alien. All were caught in the channel in 55' - 80' (mostly in the 60' neighborhood). Had numerous knockdowns. Very little snot. Temp around 62*. Lost two rigs due to bite offs (one bit a daisy teaser and snapped right through the 80lb mono leader....think our Blue friends are showing up).

Thanks to Mike at Buzz's for the Intel. Keith

Ocean City Maryland Offshore and Inshore Fishing Reports
Sue Foster from Oyster Bay Tackle and Fenwick Tackle gives us this report of the action from the Maryland and Delaware Coast: We had several big stripers weighed in over the weekend.  Apparently, the "bite" started on Thursday. One angler came into Fenwick Tackle and showed Larry several pictures of "keepers" on his cell phone that he and friends had caught in the Delaware State Park. More were caught on Friday and Saturday. It wasn't a blitz by any means on Friday and Saturday.... Just a nice "keeper" here and there. A real good striper bite happened on the Rt. 50 Bridge Friday night as well, for anglers using Swimming Shad Lures and other lures.  On Sunday, while not that many anglers were fishing as it was Mother's Day, more big stripers were caught in the surf.

When big fish are in the surf, it can be "hit or miss."  Some anglers caught nothing. A couple bluefish, sharks, and skates were caught. And then some lucky anglers came away with the prize! You just had to be there fishing when they came through!

We at Oyster Bay and Fenwick Tackle weighed in several. On Saturday, Steve Oxendine from Reistertown, Md came into Oyster Bay with a 15.8 pound Striper caught from 139th Street while fishing the beach in Ocean City using Fresh Bunker as bait.

A little later Keith Pentz from Reamstown, PA came in with a beautiful 35 1/2 inch Striper he caught while camping on Assatague using a Bunker Head on the outgoing tide weighing in at 10 pds 3 ounces.  Keith also caught a 18 inch Bluefish while fishing on Friday using Finger Mullet.  Congratulations Keith, You finally got yours. Great Job!

On Sunday Ronnie Rueter from Ocean City, Maryland came into Fenwick Tackle
with a 39 inch Striper caught from Fenwick State Park using Fresh Bunker. He said earlier that day he caught a 34-inch striper.

Also on Sunday, Justin Lynch came in with his cell phone to show and send me
his pictures. G.W. Lynch had a 36" Striper caught in Del surf on fresh bunker on Saturday.  Justin then went out with some fresh bunker and later sent me a picture of a 38-inch striper he caught from the North Ocean City surf on a bunker head Sunday
late afternoon!

Clark from Old Inlet (302-227-7974) reports on May 11th: "299 anglers participated in the one day surf fishing tournament on Saturday. Great weather and good fishing prevailed. Striped bass were the big story with more than 10 keepers being scored. Bluefish and kingfish were sparse, but one lucky angler landed a 21 inch blue bringing in the the Calcutta money. The Biggest Fish of the Tournament: Thomas Thompson, Arlington VA, 38 inch striped bass, $1000. Biggest Bluefish: Andy Twardus, Wilmington, DE, 21 inches, $2000.

Surf fishing action has been good. There has been a good run of striped bass on the beach since Thursday. Fresh bunker has been the hot bait. There are some bluefish, kingfish and blowfish in the mix as well. Fenwick and 3R's Road have been the hot spots.

Please be advised that tautog season will be closed in Delaware waters from Monday, May 11 through June 30.

Striped bass fishing in the Inlet has been good. The nightime bite is steadily improving. Live eels, bucktails and swim shads are all effective. Both sides of the tide are productive. Live eels are available.

Good flounder fishing in the bays.  On May 11th the minimum size will be
reduced to 18.5 inches with a 4 fish a day limit."

That's it for this week. Remember to post reports and check for reports on a daily basis from other Tidal Fishers on the Maryland Chesapeake Message Board, tons of reports daily.

If you are looking for an archive of past weekly fishing reports you can find them here.

Good luck fishing this week, go get’em!

Brandon
Chief Angler, TidalFish.com

* I use a variety of sources to compile these reports and would like to give credit to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Weekly Fishing Report Staff as well all the local tackle shops, charter captains and guides in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Water

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Chesapeake Fishing Maps
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USEFUL LINKS

Tidal Fish Fishing Reports
Tidal Fish offers weekly fishing reports from the Northeast, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida.

NOAA Real Time Marine Forecasts and Buoy Reports
Real time Buoy data and Marine Forecasts for different locations in the Chesapeake Bay

Rutgers University's Sea Surface Temperature of Chesapeake Bay Region and Offshore Waters
Great site to check out sea surface temperatures which are vital to know for fishing

Real Time Conowingo Dam Flow Information
Check this link before fishing the Susquehanna Flats to check flow level. High flow levels could mean muddy water and not the best fishing conditions.

Real-time water information at selected points in the Chesapeake Bay
This site gives real-time water information: water temperatures, water clarity, dissolved oxygen and more.

Susquehanna Flats Real Time Water Flows
This site gives real-time water information: water temperatures, water clarity, dissolved oxygen and more for the Susquehanna Flats area.

Maryland Public Boat Ramps Map With Locations
Find out where all the public boat ramps are in Maryland. Please note that some ramps in Maryland require a ramp permit which can be purchased at many local tackle shop in the county you are fishing.

Maryland Fishing Rules and Regulations
Check this link for the latest Maryland Tidal and Non Tidal Rules and Regulations

Maryland Fishing License Information
Fishing license information and link to get your fishing license online.

Locations Where to Buy Maryland Fishing Licenses
A listing of all the locations of where to buy fishing licenses in Maryland

Lateral Line Fishing Blog
Daily Fishing News, Fishing Reports, Fishing Tips, Fisheries Conservation News and fishing rap.

How to Tie Fishing Knots
Learn how to tie all your fishing knots!

Capt. Mike Benjamin Tidal Fish Sponsor
Herbs Tackle Shop Charter Fishing
410-287-3615
email: herbstackleshop@comcast.net

Capt. Skip Slomski Tidal Fish Sponsor
Jenny Beck Fishing Charters
410.746.6907
email: captainskip@cablespeed.com

Capt. Tom Hughes Tidal Fish Sponsor
443-690-3164
email: capttomhughes@att.net

Middle Bay
Light Tackle/Fly Fishing Guides

Capt. Pete Dahlberg Tidal Fish Sponsor
Four Seasons Guide Service
703-395-9955
email: WalleyePete@comcast.net

Capt. John Deering
Shady Side Charters
703-407-0319
email: deerings@verizon.net

Capt. Richie Gaines Tidal Fish Sponsor
Anglers Connection Guide Service
410-827-7210
email: fishster1@aol.com

Capt. Mark Galasso
Explore Delmarva
410-827-5635
email: capmarco@friend.ly.net

Capt. Gary Neitzey
Fish Hawk Guide Service
410-758-4262
email: fishhwk@aol.com

Lower Bay
Light Tackle/Fly Fishing Guides

Captain Dan Harrison
Salty Fly Guide Service
(410) 968-0219
Email: captdanh1@verizon.net

Capt. Kevin Josenhans
Josenhans Sportfishing
(410) 883-2648
email: kjosenhans@aol.com

Captain Matt Tawes Tidal Fish Sponsor
Chesapeake Angling
(410) 968-3286
Email: capttawes@charter.net

Capt. Bo Toepfer
410-535-6259
email: 410-535-6259

Maryland Coast, Ocean City
Light Tackle/Fly Fishing Guides

Capt. Mark Sampson

Fish Finder Adventures

(410) 213-2442

Email: mark@bigsharks.com

* If you have a link that you would like to suggest that would be helpful to anglers please email me 1) the name of the site, 2) the exact URL, and 3) a short description of the information the site provides.