MARYLAND FISHING REPORT Chesapeake Bay, Inshore and Offshore Fishing: Updated February 18, 2012

Maryland Fishing Reports sponsored by Solomon's Charter Captain's Association and Tri State Marine.

Tog are available on ocean wrecks and snags, when the weather cooperates and the wind doesn’t blow too hard. Yellow perch, crappie and big pickerel continue to be pulled from the Pocomoke and other Maryland rivers and streams. Anglers are now gearing up for the catch-and-release striped bass season on Susquehanna Flats that opens March 1. Expect the best fishing, especially for monster 35- to 50-pound stripers, to kick into gear in late March and/or early April.
(Photo: The Pocomoke River produced this impressive stringer of yellow perch and crappie. Bob Carson caught the tasty panfish with Captain Walt at Light Tackle Charters. This winter’s mild weather has provided comfortable fishing conditions on many days, and anglers have been taking advantage of it. Eastern and Western Shore rivers and creeks have given up perch, crappie, pickerel and some bass.)

Fishing shows, Fishing Seminars, and other Fishing Events




February 17th – 19th

OC Seaside Boat Show

Ocean City Convention Center

$9 per person ($15 weekend pass)

Fri. 11 - 7; Sat 10 - 7; Sun 11 - 5



February 18th – 19th

PSG Fishing Flea Market

Earleigh Heights Fire Hall

$3 each day
Sat 8 - 2; Sun 8 - 2



February 18th

8th annual Chesapeake Bay / Delaware Bay Fishing Workshop

Quarryville, PA, 9am-3pm

Presentations on Chesapeake Bay rockfish trolling, jigging and live-bait fishing; Delaware Bay stripers and black drum, and better understanding your depthfinder / GPS. Call Keith Kaufman at (717) 284-3385.


February 23

Greater Washington Chapter of Maryland CCA 13th Annual Banquet and Auction

Women’s Club of Chevy Chase

301.587.4792 / frankngeri@erols.com

February 25th

MSSA Annapolis Chapter Saltwater Fishing Expo

Annapolis Elks Lodge #622

$5 per person
8am - 3pm



February 25th

MSSA Dorchester Chapter Fishing, Hunting, Boating Flea Market

American Legion Post #91 (Cambridge)

$3 (12 yrs and under FREE)

8 a.m. opens



February 25

Tie Fest, Kent Narrows Chapter of CCA of Maryland

visit www.CCAMD.org

March 3rd

MSSA Carroll County Chapter Bull Roast

WCVFD Social Hall

$40 per person

6pm - 11pm



March 11

37th Annual National Capital Angling Show

Georgetown Prep School field house, Rockville Pike in Bethesda

visit www.NCC-TU.org

March 17th – 18th

MSSA Essex/MR Chapter Fishing Flea Market

Commodore Hall

$3 per person

Sat 9 - 4; Sun 9 - 2



March 24th – 25th

MSSA Southern MD Chapter Fishing Fair

Solomons Firehouse

$3 (12 yrs and under FREE)

Sat 8 - 3; Sun 8 – 3

Maryland Fishing Reports:



From Captain Walt on the Pocomoke River:

Still catching way more than our fair share of crappie, yellow Perch and pickerel on the sweetwater of the Pocomoke River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We're still departing daily at 7 a.m. from the quaint town of Snow Hill, Maryland. Crappie and yellow perch are a lot of fun on the ultralight 4- to 6-pound tackle we're using, and pickerel are a challenge and a handful on the same gear, because some of the pickerel have reached 6 pounds. The mild winter has made for some very comfortable days but we'll continue to catch these three species well into March, even if the weather takes a turn for the cold. And if the wind blows we're able to find plenty of shoreline on the winding Pocomoke River that will shield us from the cold wind.


Tyler’s Tackle in Chesapeake Beach reports:

While the shop remains closed, everyone is already looking forward to Tyler’s Annual Sidewalk Sale coming up April 7th and 8th, and 14th and 15th. In the meantime, Tyler’s will have exhibits at the following shows and sales: Pasadena Sportfishing Group Flea Market February 18 and 19 in Severna Park, Dorchester Fishing Flea Market February 25, Essex Fishing Flea Market March 17 and 18, and the Solomons Fishing Fair March 24 and 25.

Potomac River Fishing Reports:
Potomac River - DC: This past weekend saw very few anglers on the river, and reported catches were not heavy. White perch are starting to move up the river. Largemouth bass are moving into the pre-spawn stage. This means that they are holding in 15 to 20 feet of water and moving up on shallow banks or flats to feed. Jig 'n pigs, small plastic grubs and Silver Buddies are the more successful baits. Some of the more productive areas are Blue Plains, the Spoils, main river bridge pilings, Washington Sailing Marina docks and Columbia Island Lagoon. Crappie are schooled and moving into shallow water. Live minnows and tiny jigs are the preferred baits. Yellow perch are being caught on live minnows and plastic grubs on the flat behind Roosevelt Island. Outflows from the Alexandria power plant and Blue Plains are attracting schools of gizzard shad, followed by channel catfish and largemouth bass.


Potomac River Report – Below Woodrow Wilson Bridge: 

Bass are being caught on main river points on jig 'n pig baits cast into the shallows and worked down the drop-offs. Plastic grubs, retrieved in a swimming motion, are taking smaller fish. Larger creeks are not producing as well as the main river; however jig 'n pig baits, retrieved down drop-offs on outgoing tides, are accounting for some bass. Crappie are schooled tight and holding in 8 to 12 feet of water, adjacent to shallow gravel banks, with good cover. Live minnows and plastic grubs are the ticket.


Ocean City, Maryland, Fishing Reports:

“Had some pretty tough fishing this week,” according to Captain Monty Hawkins on the Morning Star. “Days when it was hard to scratch everyone up a few fish. At one point two very talented anglers were shoulder to shoulder, rod tip to rod tip, and despite being a recent inductee to the 20-pound club, one togger had to watch - helpless without Lady Luck - as an old 8-foot blue St. Croix kept raising the bar on the fish-pool. Another day a gentleman I consider one of the top bottom fishers on the coast was positively trounced by all aboard. CSI Mike didn't mind taking the spotlight with a 14-1/4-pound fish; Two heartbreakers this week, including fish that straightened the hook – high dollar hooks too. Wasn't all tough, we also had fishing with a nice, evenly-paced bite around the rail and many, many limits for the week.”

Captain Sean Welsh on the Restless Lady will be one of the seminar speakers at the Saltwater Fishing Expo at the Annapolis Elk Lodge in Edgewater on Saturday, February 25. His presentation at 10 a.m. will cover how and where to catch all of our favorite offshore species, including tuna, dolphin and marlin. Other speakers will provide presentations on springtime rockfish trolling, livelining for stripers, and light-tackle fishing in Chesapeake Bay. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission is only $5.

Oyster Bay Tackle and Fenwick Tackle are closed and will re-open in March.

That’s it for this week’s report, new fishing reports coming on Friday. Have a great fishing week!