(Photo: Tidal Fish poster stripper911 nailed this nice shark in the recent Mako Mania Tournament in Ocean City. “I was in third place for about an hour, but then I was quickly humbled by larger fish. It was still great fun and pretty
awesome competing with more skilled anglers than myself.)
Pasadena Sportfishing Group meeting and fishing presentation
Monday, June 11 at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company,
161 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park
Doors open at 6, meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.
Guest speaker Hal Sparks will discuss “Best Vacation Fishing Spots.”
Meeting is free and open to the public.
Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reports:
Angler’s Sport Center in Annapolis:
Chummers have caught good numbers of 20- to 28-inch stripers at Hacketts, Gum Thickets and Podickory, according to Johnny at Angler’s. He also reported stripers moving into the shallows, where he has caught 18- to 25-inch rockfish in 10 to 12 feet of water on 1-ounce bucktails. Trolling action has been slow, although some anglers have scored while trolling 30 to 60 feet of water on the channel edges with tandem spoons, particularly Tony Accetta spoons in sizes 14 to 18. White perch have been caught on bloodworms and Roostertails. Some good-sized croaker have also come from hard-bottom areas. Only a few spot have been caught, but that bite is expected to improve soon. Johnny said crabbing has been outstanding with jumbo crabs caught in 9 to 12 feet of water.
Breezy Point Marina reports:
“The fishing really picked up this week, although there were several days that the weather kept everyone onshore. But on the days and evenings you could go, you got your limit very quickly. Nothing of great size but good eating.” Croaker and spot are starting to show up. “They are not plentiful yet, but at least we know there are a few out there finally. Both are hit-or-miss on where to catch them, but the rockfish are hanging on our side in about 40 to 50 feet of water.”
Buzz’s Marina in Point Lookout:
“Croaker big time” have been caught at oyster sanctuaries and other hard bottom areas. Small rockfish are around but they haven’t schooled yet, however, anglers have managed to find them and catch them from time to time. Jigging bottom structure with Bass Kandy Delights (BKDs) has produced striper strikes. Bluefish have been showing up in more catches. An angler, unable to fish the bay because of wind, instead plied the waters of St. Jerome’s Creek and managed to put together a real nice catch of four speckled trout.
Captain Sonney Forrest at Reel Relief Charters in Solomons:
“Spot are here, finally. Seems overnight they came in the Patuxent River. They are small for the most part and excellent striper baits for livelining.” Captain Sonney and his anglers caught white perch by casting small Beetlespins to the shoreline. “We fished for three hours and landed over 100, and kept 81 of the bigger fish.” They also caught limits of 18- to 25-inch stripers. Croaker to 15 inches were caught in the river.
Captain “Walleye” Pete at Four Seasons Guide Service:
Wind wiped out some fishing plans a couple of days last week, especially in areas where the water was churned up and muddy; however, Captain “Walleye” Pete caught real nice speckled trout, including a dandy 24 incher, at Bloodsworth, Holland and other Eastern Shore islands. Pete said the following are crucial to the success of speckled trout fishermen: clear water, points with current, and bug spray, as he reported an unbelievable hatch of “biting greenheaded monsters” that would leave you alone if you sprayed. Without bug spray, it got real ugly real quick. Pete said he takes care not to spook specks as he approaches his shallow-water fishing locations. Specks, plus a few keeper stripers, have been caught on 6-inch chartreuse Bass Kandy Delights (BKDs), and 4-inch Berkley Gulp! Swim Mullets and Swim Shads. A 24-inch speckled trout Pete caught recently had a large 9-inch menhaden in its stomach. In the main stem of the bay, Pete said stripers from the power plant to Chesapeake Beach have been feeding on May worms and have been difficult to catch. Pete expects May worms to fizzle out soon which should result in a significant improvement in rockfish action on the bay.
Captain Walt at Light Tackle Charters in Crisfield reports:
“Still catching speckled trout in the shallows of both Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Striped bass also continue to add to the mix. We're even finding flounder feeding in the same shallow-water areas as the specks and stripers. We're employing light 10- to 15-pound tackle and fly as we cast to the grass banks, points and rocks along the many islands of both Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Fish are feeding in as little as one foot of water and often we can see them before we cast to them.”
Ocean City, Maryland, Fishing Reports:
The following report is from Sue Foster at Oyster Bay Bait & Tackle:
As striper fishing slows, shark fishing is starting to heat up with catches of makos and threshers reported. Sue said several shark fishing customers have been purchasing bunker. Frederick Weimert nailed a blue shark while chumming at the Ham Bone. While flounder fishermen reported rather slow action, Ocean City anglers have had a blast with bluefish and shad. As water temperatures in the surf continue to warm, Sue said get ready for summer fishing with spot and kingfish. Anglers on the Oceanic Pier have been hoisting up blues and shad along with a few legal seatrout. “After dark is always good but some days they bite just before dark too.” Spec rigs and Gotcha plugs have triggered strikes from blues and shad. Sue reminds us that “The Oceanic Pier is the one place in Ocean City you can fish without a fishing license.” The Route 50 Bridge has also featured bluefish and shad action. At times when the water has cleared, some flounder have been caught. A few flounder have been pulled from the inlet. Paul Coughlin told of a productive trip aboard the Morning Star which produced seven nice sea bass and a fat legal flounder.
Captain Monty Hawkins aboard the Morning Star:
Anglers on the Morning Star have been catching sea bass, although the “throwback ratio is high. I’d say our keeper average is in the lower/mid teens with some anglers better or worse, and an occasional limit too.” A few flounder have also been included in the catches.
Captain Sean Welsh on the Restless Lady:
A few nice yellowfin have been caught in the Baltimore.
Fishing Reports provided by Charlie Taylor:
UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Throughout the upper bay, snapper blues may be taken trolling the channel edges. Shallow water along the shorelines are producing good flounder action, while spot, croaker and spot are being taken by bottom fishermen near Cook Point and Sandy Point. Anglers fishing the Broom's Island area and the mouth of the Choptank River are making good catches of spot, croaker, flounder, grey trout and an occasional black drum.
MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Stripers are still thick in the chum lines of charter boats plying the Southwest Middle Grounds and the mouth of the Potomac River. Mixed in the lines are bluefish around the change of tide and an occasional cobia. Bottom fishermen are taking good numbers of spot, croaker, pan trout and whiting from Kedges Straits and Blackberry Hang. Drifters are taking flounder and grey trout from the Cornfield Harbor area. Smith Point Light and Jetty are producing large grey trout and flounder. Just off White Stone, anglers are catching some #1 spot, with decent croaker mixed in. Spanish mackerel are found at the mouth of the Rappahannock River, off Bluff Point and at Blackberry Hang. Trolling small spoons in 30 feet of water produces the best results.
OCEAN CITY - Anglers fishing from the jetty are catching bluefish, grey trout and some rockfish. Anglers drifting the back bay are taking good hauls of flounder. Offshore sharkers are finding plenty of 150- to 300-pound makos at the 20 Fathom Fingers. Some bluefish and occasional white marlin are also taken. Head boats fishing the wrecks are making good catches of tautog and sea bass.
Potomac River Fishing Reports:
Potomac River and freshwater reports from Captain Ken Penrod:
I’m sure that in my nearly 40 years of experience on this water that fishing has been better, but I really can’t remember when it was. SAV seems to be greatly reduced throughout the river and that could account for the seemingly increased population. The numbers of bass over 5 pounds has been outstanding.
WASHINGTON DC: The recent heavy rain created some stain in the water but the traditional fish haunts such as Washington Channel, bridge foundations, old wharf locations and Pentagon Lagoon entrance have been steady. Four-inch Mizmo tubes, Rapala DT6, Thug crankbaits, and green pumpkin/gold Magic Sticks are recommended.
WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE: We like Fox Ferry Point when you can see the piling tops, remnants of the former bridge foundations, some of the new foundations, Penrod Cove islands, Smoot Bay points, Hog Island, boat docks below Hog Island, and coves in Piscataway Creek. For the shallower grassy areas we totally endorse Case Magic Stiks. Skip Mizmo tubes under docks and use Rapala DT6 crankbaits around hard cover and drop-offs. Below Piscataway, use Big Mouth Penrod Special spinnerbaits, Big Shakeys, Grass Jigs and buzzbaits at Greenway Flats and Pomonkey Bay. Pohick Bay and Hallowing Cove get better each week.
MATTAWOMAN CREEK: I especially like the grass beds between the park and the river where Case Magic Stiks and grass jigs account for bass to 6 pounds. Nearby Belmont Bay, Chickamuxen Bay, Mallows Bay and mouth of Aquia have been productive. Captain Keith Barker is also fishing the Mattawoman area and is doing well in the Grinder area. Don’t neglect the inside edge of grass beds (and shore cover) during high water.
DEEP CREEK LAKE: Our guides, captains Brent Nelson Bret Winegardner, are still finding spawning bass in coves as well as post-spawn bass throughout. Bret says “there is a good early morning topwater bite for smallmouth bass with Pop-R’s and prop baits. Look for spawning bass in the back ends of shallow coves and around shallow docks where Stiks and finesse baits do the job.” Brent Nelson agrees and adds, “Walleye are prolific in parts of the lake and they eat small crankbaits or curly tail grubs.” He also says that monster bluegills at Turkey Neck will keep the kids excited. Use garden worms under a bobber; adults will like this action also!
POCOMOKE RIVER, MD: Bass fishing success is typically dependent upon the lower flows of the tides on most Eastern Shore rivers, but more so here where everything that you look at on this river is “fishy.” Big Mouth lures such as Big Shakeys, Penrod Special spinnerbaits and Grass Jigs are best sent to spatterdock between Shad Landing and Dividing Creek, or Nassawango Creek. Find those numerous tidal ditches along the spatterdock, or any wood including cypress knees. Two other considerations: (1) fish the inside edge of the spatterdock to the shore during high water; (2) use Rapala DT6 crankbaits on the dropoff adjacent to the vegetation.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS, PA: A reminder that if you seek black bass, it must be done above the Route 75 Bridge on the Juniata and above the inflatable dam where the West Branch and North Branch meet. Walleye and Musky fishing has been poor below the dam and that could be caused by dirty water. It’s practically impossible to fish for walleye without catching bass. Keep the bass in the water while removing the hook.
SINNAMAHONING BRANCH (tributary to West Branch): Wet-wade for some really fine smallmouth bass and cast small tubes on 6- or 8-pound test mono.
CURWENSVILLE RESERVOIR: The backed-up water of the West Branch is fishing quite well, especially uplake, where Magic Stiks, crankbaits and spinnerbaits cast to shoreline cover are recommended.
More Potomac River reports:
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Very few stripers, some white perch and lots of catfish are available at Fletcher's Boat House. The War College Wall in Washington Channel is giving up some bass for anglers using topwaters early and late in the day, and plastic worms when the sun is up. Main river grassbeds are also giving up bass to anglers using topwaters and plastic worms. Catfish are available on flats adjacent to the channel on clam snouts, cut bait and cut crab.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Bass are holding in the main river grassbeds, where they are taking plastic worms, frogs and jerkbaits. Topwater baits produce at times during low-light hours. In the creeks, fish submerged wood and lily pad edges. Catfish are very active and will take almost anything thrown their way. Concentrate on main river dropoffs for large fish. Eating-size fish may be taken on nightcrawlers around bridge and dock pilings. Crappie action is slow. Carp are taking doughballs and cut corn.
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