MARYLAND FISHING REPORT: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland Coast, Freshwater - Updated October 19, 2012

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

The fall season is in full swing. The leaves are beginning to change and the cooler fall weather is definitely creating colder water temperatures. This is definitely the time for striped bass with many reporting excellent action in the lower Susquehanna River and channel areas around the Susquehanna Flats. In the lower Bay the red drum and speckled trout are still providing anglers plenty of action. If it’s trout you’re after than this is definitely the time as the fisheries crews have been stocking in many of the states waters – get out there and get in on the action!

(Photo: Courtesy of Tidal Fish Commercial Subscriber Lite CaptMike Starrett. MONSTER catfish!)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...ish-10-21-2012

Tournament & Events:

Monster Rockfish Tournament
October 26^th & 27^th, 2012
$130,000 in cash plus other prizes
To register visit http://www.monsterrockfishtournament...gistration.php
For questions or help: (443) 771-3200 | MonsterRockfish@gmail.com
Monster Rockfish Tournament Events:
October 22^nd - Captains Meeting
October 23^rd - Captains Meeting
October 24^th - Captains Meeting
October 25^th - Captains Meeting
October 26^th - Tournament Day 1
October 27^th - Tournament Day 2
October 30^th - Awards Ceremony

The Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic
20th Annual MSSA Fall Rockfish Tournament
November 17 & 18, 2012

2011 marked the best year in the tournaments long history with 250 boats and a payout in cash and prizes of $93,000.

2012 is looking to be even better with our neighboring states looking to come in and compete against us. Let’s not lose our tournament to Virginia or Delaware or New Jersey!

2011 Top Payouts (Total paid out over $93,000)
Andrew Turner – $43,225 – 42.45 lbs
Steve Dodson – $21,875 – 51.65 lbs
John Patchett – $15,410 – 41.5 lbs
Doug Scott – $8,100 – 41 lbs

How To Register:
ONLINE
Call: MSSA at 410-255-5535
Mail: 8461 Ft. Smallwood Rd., Suite C, Pasadena, MD 21122
Attend one/all of the four Captains meetings

CAPTAINS MEETINGS – (all meetings 6-8pm)
All Captains Meetings will have food and drink available. You may also register for the tournament at these meetings, OR, pick up your Captains Packet if you registered online. Door prizes will be at all meetings courtesy of Alltackle.

November 12th – BOE Marine – Kent Island
November 13th – Commodore Hall – Essex
November 14th – Alltackle – Annapolis
November 15th – Solomons Pier Restaurant – Solomons Island

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MSSA Online OR CALL 410-255-5535

Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reports:
Striped bass are ranging throughout the Bay and its' tributaries, with the best concentrations being found up the rivers. The middle bay is giving up large numbers of legal sized stripers to chummers on the Southwest Middlegrounds. The mouth of the Potomac and St. Mary's Rivers are experiencing a blitz, with huge schools of stripers, bluefish and some gray trout feeding on surface schools of baitfish. Some good catches of flounder are being made along the seaside inlets, as these fish prepare to move offshore to spawn. The Cape Charles area has good fishing for tautog, as well as the black drum, moving through the lower bay. The Western side of the middle bay region has grey trout in the 4-6 pound range for trollers along the Mud Leads and some fine speckled trout on the Tangier Target Ships for jiggers. Fair numbers of tautog are reported from the Cell, while taylor blues remain plentiful throughout the region. In the lower bay, anglers are catching grey trout, speckled trout, bluefish, flounder, sea bass and tautog all along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION – Anglers are finding plenty of stripers in the upper bay down to the Bay Bridge and most of the tidal rivers. Many are having success using topwater lures, soft plastic jigs, metal jigs, trolling and chumming. In addition, there are some bluefish north of the bridge.

MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION –
The following Middle Maryland Chesapeake Bay report is from Breezy Point Marina:

Well maybe it will finally happen; the water temperature is starting to drop. The local crabbers say it's been holding around 66 degrees all week, but no one has started bringing in any big boys yet. The main bite for the last couple of weeks has been Parker's Creek.

The main catching method is still live lining. It doesn't take as long to get your bait. The Spot seem to be from the green can to Holland Point.

LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION – There are plenty of stripers and bluefish spread throughout the lower Bay; many anglers are finding them chasing bait on the surface or holding deep. The bluefish are in most areas of the bay and tidal rivers with the largest being found near the edges of the shipping channel and the Middle Grounds. Also, the red drum and speckled trout are still in the mix and providing plenty of action. The large spot are on the move and will be making their exit very soon but they can still be found in Tangier Sound and at the mouths of the tidal rivers. The largemouth bass have been feeding aggressively to prepare for the upcoming winter and have been giving anglers plenty of action on topwater lures, near deeper structures on crankbaits and grubs.

OCEAN CITY – There are plenty of opportunities ranging from offshore trolling to casting from shore with surf anglers finding a nice mix of small bluefish, spot, kingfish, small red drum and even a few pompano. There are also sheepshead and tautog in and around the inlet. At the wrecks there is plenty of flounder action with and occasional tautog in the mix.


Potomac River Fishing Reports:
Potomac River and freshwater reports from Captain Ken Penrod:
On the tidal Potomac, bass fishing has been tough for a few weeks now and while quickly declining water temperature, up and down barometer and a seasonal transition can be blamed—I can’t remember a more prolonged slow-down. Clear water and green grass is the key for now.

WASHINGTON DC VICINITY: The river between Key Bridge and Chain Bridge just gets prettier every day as the leaves change color and the water clears. There aren’t many fishermen, well, legal fishermen in this area because of the “6-MPH” restriction and life jacket rule but smallmouth and walleye action really improves in October—every year.
There are some rockfish in the Washington Channel and the largemouth population has improved so cast Rapala Thugs, Mizmo tubes and 3/8^th ounce Penrod Special spinnerbaits. The bridge foundation pattern is improving so pitch tubes or cast crankbaits here. My favorites include Key & Long Bridges.
BELLE HAVEN VICINTY: This area is still depressing but we found small groups of grass by going back to basics. Look for clear water and green grass. Penrod Special spinnerbaits and Case Magic Stiks are the deal. Remember, mornings can be especially slow so don’t let that throw you off track.
MATTAWOMAN CREEK VICINTY: There are lots of bass in Chickamuxen Creek—that won’t eat. Anglers can see them but they want nothing to do with offerings. This happens every year—just not for such a long period.