Hurricane Isaac brought a lot of heavy rain recently, causing a lot of flooding. Nevertheless, all regions of the Chesapeake Bay are still seeing good mixes of Spanish Mackerel, bluefish, and striped bass; the relatively high salinities of the tidal rivers are bringing these and other visitors such as small sea bass and spadefish to the region. In the upper bay, angler are having success chumming, trolling, live lining spot, and jigging and anglers in the middle bay are still seeing Spanish macks, striped bass and bluefish chasing bay anchovies. Finally, anglers in Ocean City are seeing a nice mix of kingfish, croaker, spot, small bluefish and flounder due to the cooler surf temperatures.
(Photo: Tidal Fish SUPER Subscriber seapromike reports that he “found lots of breakers in about 25ft. Trollers were all around. Every time a school popped up and started feeding on the surface they would troll through and spook the fish off. After about 45 minutes of running from school to school we found what we were looking for. Caught about 30 fish from 20 inches to 32. Also some nice blues.”) http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...-up-to-32-inch
Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reports:
The following Middle Maryland Chesapeake Bay report is from Breezy Point Marina:
There are still plenty of small fish being caught. Also, there was recently a report of a 21" red drum being caught off the BP pier. The macks have slowed a little, but they’re still out there. The blues and stripers are breaking all over the bay. Finally, croakers have not been cooperating at all this week, only had one report of a good catch.
Fishing Reports provided by Charlie Taylor:
Unable to get any valid information on saltwater fishing success this week as most of my contacts have not been out fishing due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA: Angler in the upper Bay are still catching channel catfish and white perch; lots of white perch action can be found in and around Baltimore Harbor out in the bay at the shoals, reefs and knolls outside the harbor. Anglers are having a lot of success chumming, trolling, live lining spot, and jigging.
MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA: Anglers are finding a nice mix of Spanish mackerel, striped bass, and bluefish and can be found chasing bay anchovies throughout the entire middle Bay region by jigging under the surface, casting small spoons or trolling along channel edges.
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA: The mouth of the Potomac River and the Middle Grounds are seeing large numbers of bluefish; anglers are having success chumming and trolling small spoons. The striped bass are out there but seem to be hit or miss. Additionally, the Gas Docks are producing striped bass on live spot. If you’re looking for bluefish, striped bass or Spanish mackerel trolling along channel edges with small spoons is the way to go
OCEAN CITY: Hurricane Isaac has caused trouble for anglers in this area but the current 76 degree surf temperatures are giving anglers a nice mix of kingfish, croaker, spot, small bluefish and flounder.
Potomac River Fishing Reports:
Potomac River and freshwater reports from Captain Ken Penrod:
On the Tidal Potomac, Bass fishing hasn’t been “lights-out” in any of the areas we guide but some are certainly better than others—but that too will change. Of interest this year is the lack of, or absolute absence of SAV in areas that were virtual golf-course green just a year or so ago. The salt wedge is further up the Potomac than it has been in years and it may be a good idea to hose your trailer when you get home—and flush your motor.
WASHINGTON DC: those dead blue crabs are not “throw-aways” by the seafood stores. Bass fishing here is quite poor but you can always get a few from the railroad bridge foundations; Key Bridge foundations; back end of the Washington Channel and the cover near Blue Plains.
WOODROW WILSONBRIDGE: sector is stingy these days but we catch some bass from small spots too fragile to write about. There are stripers on Fox Ferry Point, Blue Plains, Oxen Run Bridge and a hump just south of Hog Island. Look for bass in Little Hunting Creek, Pomonkey and Gunston Cove. It’s hard to beat Big Mouth Lure Company spinnerbaits, chatterbait imitation and swim jigs. If you are not using some of the various Case Plastics, weightless, you are missing-out on a good formula.
MATTAWOMAN VICINITY: Do not be surprised to catch redfish and see swarms of blue crabs. By the way, a blue crab bite is often thought to be a largemouth bass strike. Makes for good hook-setting practice however. Best lures are swinbaits, case sticks, frogs and buzzbaits. By the way—it is unlawful to have live snakeheads in your live well no matter your desire to take it home to eat. If you want it—kill it, and even if you don’t want it—kill it.
POCOMOKE RIVER: bass are still in the summer pattern and that while the main river and Nassawango seem to hold the larger bass—it’s the Snow Hill sector that’s best for numbers. Like most eastern shore rivers, a falling tide is bet by 10-fold so if this river is in your plans—look ahead to the better tide. You can use the tide tool on the face page of our website to get that info—for any day, any year.
DEEP CREEK LAKE: this area has had improved fishing for both bass species and the “topwater bite is still the strong pattern in the morning.” Fish the points in the AM but go to the grass beds when the sun gets high. “If the wind is blowing, use spinnerbaits around the grass but if it’s calm, use toads, buzzbaits and Magic Stiks.
More Potomac River reports:
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Crappie are beginning to school around the Fletcher's Cove area with some catches made on small minnows. Catfish are still biting well on nightcrawlers and clam snouts. Smallmouth bass are taking small crankbaits, live crayfish and spinnerbaits along the banks, above Fletcher's. The Virginia shoreline is holding good largemouth bass all the way to National Airport. Rattling crankbaits are the preferred baits. Main river bridge pilings are giving up some good fish to patient anglers fishing soft plastic baits and deep diving crankbaits. Washington Channel sea wall is holding crappie schools and some bass. Plastic baits, fished slow, are taking the bass. The cover around Blue Plains and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge are also producing good bass on topwater baits and plastic worms.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Bass are holding in the main river grass beds below Piscataway Creek. Better choice of baits are buzzbaits, frogs, soft jerk baits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and jig 'n pig. In the backs of the creeks, crankbaits and plastic worms are producing well around submerged wood. Plastic worms, tossed into spatterdock fields, are taking lots of largemouth bass in the creeks. Zoom Horny Toads are taking fish from thick matted grass beds. Spinnerbaits and Storm Chug Bugs are taking fish from the marsh grass banks. Crappie are schooling up tight and biting well on small, live minnows. Catfish are taking cut bait, live minnows, clam snouts and nightcrawlers. Northern snakeheads are taking topwater baits tossed in weed choked waters 1-2 feet deep.
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