Maryland Fishing Reports sponsored by Solomon's Charter Captain's Association and Tri State Marine.
As the month of August is quickly coming to close we will find fish drifting out of summer pattern behavior as the cooler weather and water temperatures set in. Overall, it has been a good month for stripers, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on the middle Chesapeake. Spanish mackerel action is still very good with the better catches being made
trolling small gold spoons around the mouth of the Potomac. Additionally, you will find puppy drum in every creek biting on live minnows. If it’s white perch and catfish you’re looking for, you need to head to the upper bay where you find these species on most of the tidal rivers biting on bloodworms and rigs. For those of you headed to OC you need to check out the deep waters near the inlet where you will find excellent croaker action. You will also be able to catch limits of flounder offshore at the wreck.
(Photo: Tidal Fish Poster heresricky reports that while fishing with his kids he caught a Red, a rock, a perch, a pike, and a sunfish in that order just 100 yards from the dock. His daughter named this spot “close spot.”) http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...ds-on-the-drum
Tournament:
MSSA Beach ‘n Boat Flounder Tournament
Saturday, August 25, in the Atlantic Ocean by boat, beach, bridge or jetty
$1,000 top prize for largest flounder checked in
Registration from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. at AKE Marine, captain’s meeting at 8:30 a.m., fishing 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weigh-in 3 to 5 p.m.
6th Annual Buck Wild Outdoors Expo
August 24-26
Charles County Fairgrounds
8440 Fairgrounds Rd, La Plata, MD
Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reports:
The following Middle Maryland Chesapeake Bay report is from Breezy Point Marina:
The bay is full of action right now; everywhere you troll or live line, even though they might not all be keeper you can always find fish.
The stripers and blue fish are schooled and breaking everywhere; mostly hitting on spoons. The croakers still don’t want to show no matter what time of day. A few Spanish mackerel have come in nicely at 23-24 inches for citations.
Fishing Reports provided by Charlie Taylor:
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA: Large spot are available around the First and Second Island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Cobia blitzed the CBBT this past week. Best Spanish mackerel catches continue to come from the Third Island area, while impressive catches of flounder are being made on the bayside of the Fourth Island. Croaker, to two pounds, have moved into the mussel beds at the First Island, but more consistent action is found around the Lesner Bridge and inside Lynnhaven Inlet. Spot and croaker are caught by bottom anglers working just outside the Lesner Bridge and along the Small Boat Channel. An increase in flounder action was noted from the mouth of Back River to the Bell Buoy. Large croaker and spot, plus a few pan trout, in the vicinity of Q-1. The Twin Stakes area continues to hold good numbers of spot and croaker plus a few keeper flounder. Puppy drum continue to provide good sport on Back River, with most fish exceeding the 14 inch minimum size limit. Good catches of spot were made near the Back River Bell Buoy and Buoys 17-18 this past week. Flounder, to four pounds, were taken from the area around buoy 42, located at the Cell. Good catches of spot are being made at buoy 22 on the York River. Puppy drum are caught during high tide, inshore of buoy 22, along
the grass beds, on peeler crab. The Ware River has also been good for puppy drum, plus a few speckled trout. Offshore, consistent action is seen on dolphin at the NOAA weather buoy, located just NE of the Cigar. This same area is producing scattered catches of 30-60 pound yellowfin tuna. The Southern Tower, located 50 miles SE of Rudee Inlet, still holds good numbers of willing amberjack and a few large barracuda.
MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA: Blues, 2-6 pounds, are being taken by chummers south of the Middlegrounds, when the rockfish will leave the baits alone. Spanish mackerel action is good, with better catches being made trolling small, gold spoons around the mouth of the Potomac, and in 60 feet of water in the vicinity of C-73. Puppy drum are being found in every creek, with live minnows being the better bait. Bottom fishermen report good catches of spot at the N-2 buoy, around C-34 and at Blackberry Hang. Pan trout are also available at Blackberry Hang. Peeler crab, cut spot and bloodworm are the preferred baits. Bluefish, 3-6 pounds, are available at the mouth of the Coan River. Bottom anglers are catching croaker and spot in the 50 foot hole just south of the Tangier Light. Fair to good numbers of Spanish mackerel are available west of Windmill Point and along Cut Channel. Best lures are #1 planers and small spoons. A few cobia are still available beneath the Cut Channel buoys. Speckled trout and puppy drum continue to provide good action in the Windmill Point area. Fair catches of flounder in the White Stone Bridge area. Spot fishing is good in the Rappahannock River.
UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA: You will find a mix of channel catfish and white perch in the upper bay area on most of the tidal rivers. Anglers are also finding white perch and an occasional spot on the reefs and knolls; they’re currently biting on rigs and bloodworms. Further down the bay in area spanning from the Bay Bridge to Rock Hall you will have luck finding schools of bluefish and small striped bass. If it’s larger stripers that you’re looking for you have better luck jigging under the breaking fish; they are also holding to structure. Lots of striper and bluefish action can be found chumming and live lining spot near the piers and Love Point.
OCEAN CITY: This area continues to produce a nice mix of small fish in the surf; mostly spot, trout, and kingfish. Anglers are catching bluefish and an occasional striper at night and sheepshead during the day in and around the inlet. The deep waters close to the inlet are also producing good croaker action; you will also find small sea bass and flounder. Anglers are also catching limits of flounder offshore at the wreck. Farther offshore, boats trolling the canyons will find the occasional yellowfin tuna, gaffer sized dolphin, multiple releases on white marlin and a few blue marlin and wahoo.
Potomac River Fishing Reports:
Potomac River and freshwater reports from Captain Ken Penrod:
On the Tidal Potomac, it was good tide weekend with struggles in reliable areas some days only to find active fish days later. Additionally, there has been a massive snail (all sizes) die-off from Pomonkey Creek to Possum Point. After checking some snails it was discovered that they were in the “totting” stage. The MDNR Tidal Bass manager, Dr. Joe Love, reported that this was due to “low oxygen” or reproductive stress and was not concerned. Currently, the mouth of the Mattawoman has a “land-mine” like river surface; the “land-mines” are densely placed crab pots which are dangerous to boaters. Also, the salt wedge is such that we are seeing blue crabs all the way upriver to Piscataway.
WASHINGTON DC: It’s been tough in this area. About the only reliable patterns have been Mizmo tubes to bridge foundations. Even the Washington Channel was stingy this week and it was an ideal tide-week.
WOODROW WILSONBRIDGE: Another tough are; however, low tide was pretty productive on hard cover areas such as Fox Ferry Point, Hog Island, barge on South Point and channel markers near Swan Creek. You can trust the deeper water lures such as Mizmo tubes and Rapala DT crankbaits. There are some bass in the back end of Broad Creek and Little Hunting Creek. Further south, you will do okay in Pomonkey Creek and Gunston Cove with Penrod Special spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and Magic Stiks.
MATTAWOMAN VICINITY: Mattawoman & south sector, the “creek” is still stingy; you will do best near the mouth and on main river grass beds. Grinders Cover is OK, and there are still a few fish in Long Bay. Grass beds between Chickamuxen and Mallows are your best bet and grass between Leesylvania and Possum point hold bass. The best baits have been swimming jigs, Magic Stiks, buzz baits and frogs.
DEEP CREEK LAKE: The water temperature in this area is near 70 degrees and the largemouth bass catches are improving. The MDNR is aware that the largemouth have been scarce and they are currently looking for reasons; MDNR reported that LMBV had been discovered but no other news so far.
Morning is the most productive time by casting topwater prop baits for smallmouth bass; largemouth can be found in and around grass beds.
POCOMOKE RIVER, MD: The water temperature is declining in this area causing the action to pick up.
Your best bet is to use Buzzbaits to spatterdock near Shad Landing and Magic Stiks in Nassawango during low water.
More Potomac River reports:
POTOMAC RIVER – DC: Bass anglers in the city are finding bass on the main river bridge pilings, riprap and other man-made structure. Lots of good bass are also being taken from Blue Plains Sewage Treatment outfall and The Spoils. Best choices of lures are crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish anglers are taking some large catfish on cut bait, cut crab and clam snouts. Some smallmouth bass, an occasional walleye and some crappie are being caught above Key Bridge by patient anglers. Stripers and catfish are being taken in Washington Channel and the Anacostia River, particularly after rains that decrease water temperatures.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE: Main river grass beds, with adjacent drop-offs, are producing limits of bass. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and plastic worms are the better lures. Bass are also being caught in the very back ends of creeks where the baitfish are thick. Best
lures are topwater poppers, spinnerbaits and small plastics. Catfish are taking cut bait, crab and clam snouts from deeper holes, adjacent to flats. Lots of catfish are being caught on shallow running crankbaits, fished parallel to the outside edges of grass beds. Bass and perch are also taking
Beetlespins fished in the outside edges of the grass beds. Crabs are showing in the grass beds. Northern snakeheads are present in almost any shallow grass bed. These fish are suckers for white topwater baits and spinnerbaits.
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