The water temperatures at the upper end of the Chesapeake around the Susquehanna Flats is hovering around 85 degrees. The water temperature at Thomas Point is averaging 81 degrees....we are in the full summer fishing pattern! The heat wave brought with it spot to the region and anglers are catching them for the frying pan as well as for live lining stripers. Speaking of live-lining, it's in full swing from the Bay Bridge to the Gas Docks. Croaker fishing has been good through out the Maryland Chesapeake region as well. Some flounder reports this week in Maryland's lower Chesapeake and perch are plentiful through the main bay and tidal rivers. Fishing on the coast out of Ocean Cityis heating up. Anglers are catching yellow fin tuna, bluefin tuna, plenty of dolphin and the billfish are showing up in decent numbers. Check the full fishing report for all the details below.
(pictured above this week is Tidal Fisher Gerald and Joe's friend Linda with some nice fish from their recent trip the other day in and around the Bay Bridge. Check out the full fishing report of their day catching rockfish, perch and croaker that Gerald and Joe put together along more fishing pictures here. )
What's Going On: Fishing Shows and Happenings: Fishing Reports Upper Maryland Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Captain Mike Benjamin from Herb's Tackle reports in about fishing in the upper portion of the Chesapeake Bay in and around the Susquehanna Flats, Water temps are getting high and the rockfishing is hit and miss. Cut herring has been doing well as well as top water in low light conditions.
Catfishing continues to hot in the Susquehanna River and on the flats. Cut bait is the ticket.
Largemouth bass fishing continues to excellent using artificial lures. Fishing on the Susquehanna Flats proper in and around the grass beds has also been good in the early mornings and evenings. Go get'em. Good luck out there!"
Middle Maryland Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Capt. Richie Gaines from Anglers Connection reported, Fishing was quite good this week with plenty of fish in the 20-23 inch class. We did well cruising and findling schools of stripers in 22 to 26 feet of water over the hard bottom areas north and northeast of Polar Island. The fish were suspended at 10-15 feet and the traditional jigging on the bottom routine didn't work very well. We cast our 6-inch BKD's in Albino on 3/8 ounce heads, counted to 10, and swam the lures back with a hop & drop retrieve. This was very successful and we repeated it a few days in a row last week.This is the time of the year when water quality (= oxygen levels) really has an impact. Two weeks ago the fish related to the bottom, now there is no oxygen there and they have moved up in the water column. Pay attention to the depth at which you mark them and fish where they are. It's amazing how many anglers mark fish in the middle of the water column and then fish tight to the bottom. Remember, its easy to catch fish if you fish where they are, but, now matter how good you are you cannot catch them if you're fishin where they aren't....
Capt. Charlie Schneider Fishing on the " Big Will out of ", Tilghman Island, MD reported in
We are actively catching spot, now that they are starting to become more plentiful. All our fishing action has been centered around Live-Lining in the False Channel . It has been very good for the past week with fish to 35" coming aboard our boat. It has been an early bite and once the "fleet" moves in, it gets quiet quickly. Bottom fishing for Croaker remains strong in the Choptank. Heres a couple of pics from this week.
Tylers Tackle in Chesapeake Beach Maryland reported, Rockfish are being caught trolling and live lining. The live liners have been using live spot that are being caught in the Choptank between the number 9 and number 10 buoy using bloodworms, then they have been setting up for rockfish around the #4 buoy at the False Channel and inside the mouth of Eastern Bay in about 25-35’ of water. The rockfish are being caught trolling off of Breezy Point in 24-30’ of water – south to Parker’s Creek and from the Stone Rock to Poplar Island in 25-30’ of water using small tandem bucktails and #1 and #2 planners with #1 and #2 drone spoons. Bottom fishing for spot and perch has been good this week off Holland Point in 15-17’ of water. Spot, croakers and perch are also being caught in the Choptank at #9 and #10 buoys. The North Beach and Breezy Point Pier have been producing spot, croakers and perch using bloodworms, squid, shrimp and razor clams.
Capt. Walleye Pete from Four Season's Guide Service reported: Fishing from Solomon's North to the False Channel has been great the last few days. I've been launching before daylight and hitting shallow water structure early. Have had many fish in the 25-32" range on Stillwater Smack'it's, and BKD's on light jig heads. Thursday the bay was alive with breaking fish over a large area from from the Pax River north to Cove Point. Fly guys could have a ball in this situation. It's amazing how fish can seem nonexistent then all of a sudden a few billion show up. Amazing!!!Lower Maryland Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report
Capt. Greg Buckner from Miss Susie Charters fishing out of Solomons Island reported in with this hot fishing report.
The fishing action out of Solomons has been very good over this past week. Breaking Rockfish from 15 to 28 inches can be found almost every day early and late and occasionally in the middle of the day. Casting lures has been most effective since they are feeding on tiny silversides. Live lining has also been very productive when you can find fish on the fish finder away from the breakers. A decent number of the live lined fish are over 28 inches. Cruise around looking for these bigger fish on your depth finder and when you see them anchor up and drop your baits for fast action.
Places where the breakers have "shown" this past week: around the Targets, Cedar Point, mouth of the Patuxent River, Cove Point, Little Cove Point, around Gas Dock and around Parkers Creek. The larger fish live lining are being caught on the Gooses, around the False Channel and also around the Gas Dock.
The Spot fishing in the Patuxent river is very good right now on the numerous shell piles located at the mouth of the river. Croaker fishing has slowed considerably and we are waiting for the next wave of fish to come through. Blues are starting to show below Point Lookout and will be in our waters soon.
Capt. Kevin Josenhans from Josehans Fly Fishing fishing out of Tangier Sound area reported
Tangier Sound fishing has settled into a routine that I hope never stops. Early morning topwater for rockfish followed by late morning jigging for limits (or near limits) of flounder. On an average morning we boat six to ten stripers from 23" to 31" that have crashed our Storm Chug Bug and Stillwater Smack-it! poppers. This is fun shallow water fishing, but an early start is a must. We have been leaving the dock around 5:00 a.m. to enjoy the best action. Flounder have been taking Li'l Jimy bucktails of 1/2 to 3/4 oz. jigged in 15 - 20 feet of water. Berkley Gulp! Swimming Mullet may be added but is not always necessary. These fish have been averaging 18 to 23 inches and if you haven't tried jigging for flounder you don't know what you're missing. This technique will work all along the bay channel edges from the Maryland/Virginia line to Taylor's Island and points north. Work the jig close to the bottom in 15 - 25 feet of water, usually right outside the crab pot line.
Capt. Sonney Forrest from the Solomons Charter Captains Association is vacationing in Florida and searching for some of those southern fish. He'll be back next week.
Potomac River Fishing Reports
DC Area Fishing
Catfish continue to cooperate on clam snouts, nightcrawlers, cut bait or just about anything you throw in the water. Main river bridge pilings are holding good bass, with most of the fish being taken on deep-diving crankbaits, jig 'n pig or bottom-fished plastic lures. The War College Wall is producing good bass for anglers fishing spinnerbaits and plastic worms in the grass. Early and late in the day, topwater lures are drawing strikes from bass over the grass. Grass beds from the mouth of Oxon Cove to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge are giving up bass on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Blue Plains and Fox Ferry are giving up good bass to patient anglers fishing jig 'n pig, large crankbaits and plastic worms.
Below Woodrow Wilson Bridge Potomac River Fishing
Largemouth bass continue to orient to isolated wood cover and main river points above Mattawoman Creek. Best baits are deep-diving crankbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms. Below Mattawoman Creek, bass are still oriented to the main river grass beds. Topwater baits, early and late in the day, are taking some fish, while plastic worms and jigs, fished in the holes, are taking fish on outgoing tides. Rat-l-traps, retrieved parallel to the grass bed edges on low, outgoing tides, are connecting with 2-6 pound bass. Catfish are prowling flats adjacent to the channel and taking cut bait, clam snouts and crab baits. Beetlespins, 1/8 oz. size, in Catalpa color, are taking bluegill, yellow perch, white perch, bass, catfish and carp in the grass bed edges. Man-made, wood structure, such as boat docks, pilings and bridge structure are holding lots of bass. These fish are taking plastic baits, flipped tight to the wood and allowed to fall on slack line. Best action comes on either side of the low tide. The very back ends of shallow feeder creeks are also holding fish. Fish these creeks with spinnerbaits, casting parallel to the marsh grass, using a slow retrieve.
Ocean City Maryland Fishing Reports
Capt., Sean on the Restless Lady fishing out of Ocean City, Maryland reported in:
Fishing Report For: July 10, 2011. Restless Lady stop in 40 fathoms had a bite which then suddenly had a 200 pd mako one the end of tuna gear meanwhile the tunas were everywhere 5 miles away in the washington. Got their boats closing in had 9 nice ones on only got two had throw backs gaffers skippys all day, but the schools of tuna was huge. Bait, whales , birds, slicks lots of life happy crew ...giant bluefin over 500 released a couple big eyes,...still great fishing for all.
Fishing Report For: July 9, 2011, Rough water kept the restless lady in between hotdog and the hook. 12 tuna bites, very rough in the morning when he were jumped a couple times. Lost pair of big fish, brought three nice yellowfins home with 5 throwbacks, we should of had at least 4 more, but rough water was not in the anglers favor. Low numbers today through out the fleet. We're fishing everyday this week and we will keep the reports current all week.
Sunset Marina in Ocean City, MD reported in with the following daily fishing reports
Fishing Report For: 2011-07-10 Today was alot nicer offshore. Most of the boats went to the Washington: "Osprey" released a blue marlin and caught 11 yellowfin, "White Lightening" landed 4 yellowfin, "Billfisher" caught 3 yellowfin, "Reel Chaos" caught 3 yellowfin and released a white marlin, "Pumpin Hard 58" caught 3 yellowfin and "Marli" caught 3 yellowfin. "Zipper" went to the Poormans and caught a dolphin. "Grande Pez" caught 1 yellowfin, 1 dolphin and released 3 white marlin.
Fishing Report For: 2011-07-09 Rough weather caused most of the boats to stay at the dock today, but "No Quarter" picked up 5 yellowfin and a dolphin at the Teacup. "Zipper" went to the Poormans and caught 6 yellowfins and 1 dolphin.
Fishing Report For: 2011-07-08 We only had 2 boats fishing offshore today. "Predator" came in with 2 yellowfin, released several others and also released a white marlin at the Washington. "Marli" was fishing the Poorman's and released a white marlin, and brought in 4 dolphin and 2 yellowfin.
Fishing Report For: 2011-07-07 "McKenna Jane II" went to the Poormans today and caught 8 yellowfin and 5 dolphin. "Osprey" and "The Zipper" also went there, "Osprey released 3 whites and a blue and caught a yellowfin, "The Zipper" landed 4 dolphin and released 3 yellowfin. "Marli" fished at the Washington and released 2 whites and caught 9 yellowfin.
Fishing Report For: 2011-07-06 Today everyone went to the Washington: "Osprey" came back to the docks with 4 yellowfin and released a white marlin, "Marli" caught 2 yellowfin and a 280 lb big eye tuna, "White Lightening" caught 3 yellowfins and "Billfisher" caught 7 yellowfins. Fishing remains excellent, call Sunset Marina at 410-213-9600 to get your charter booked.
Fishing Report For: 2011-07-05 "White Lightening" went to the Baltimore(as did all the boats today) and caught 2 dolphin and 1 yellowfin. "Pumpin Hard 58" caught 3 yellowfins and "Reel Chaos" caught 2 dolphin and released a blue marlin.
Sue Foster from Oyster Bay Tackle Shop, Ocean City MD and Fenwick Island DE reports:
Fishing this week was good on flounder though there's a lot of "shorts" out there. Surf fishing has been mostly small stuff like spot, kingfish, and croaker. Good action for kids with Fishbites or bloodworms. Sharks and big rays for pullage... Route 50 Bridge has had a good bite of bluefish at night and early morning. Sea bass are biting offshore, with catches more flounder. Oceanic Pier has had and croaker action with lots of shad at night. Crabbing is still happening...Offshore, still good tuna fishing...
Bill Sports Center in Lewes, DE reports: "Kingfish and croaker were reported from the surf. Flounder are biting on Spec Rigs and Gulp! Yellowfin are biting in the Canyons."
Lewes Harbour Marina (302-645-6227) reports on July 7th: "
Flounder catches have been pretty good for guys who know how to work rough bottom structure. The rocks and sea trees of the Old Grounds between DB and DA Buoys, as well as the rubble of reef sites 9 and 10 have been holding fluke, and savvy fishermen have found that modifications to standard rigging helps them catch more flatties amongst that kind of cover. According to Captain Ricky Yakimowicz, short leaders are the key. He said a 3 to 4 ounce bucktail with a hair teaser on a 4 inch leader about a foot ahead of the jig works well. He mentioned that flukers also had success employing a rig with a sinker as heavy as necessary to maintain contact with the bottom, and a hair teaser hook on a short dropper about 6 to 8 inches above the weight. The jigs or hooks get sweetened with a strip of squid, shark, bluefish, a shiner, smelt, Gulp! or any combination of these. Anglers should constantly
bounce the rigs as they drift through the chunky grounds and be alert for the quick strike of a flatfish lying in ambush. The jigging action seems to provoke more aggressive strikes than when baits are drug casually over the bottom, and flounder just hang on while deciding to swallow or not. The short leadered setups are also less likely to get snagged....Triggerfish and sheepshead have shown up in warm water the Ice Breakers.... Tuna catches have slowed compared to the good bite over the past two weeks. However, chunkers did catch some bluefins in Massey's Canyon. Yellowfins popped up in the Baltimore and Poor Man's Canyons, but not in numbers like before. Good sized dolphin have been taken."
You can get daily updated Maryland Chesapeake fishing reports on TidalFish.com's Maryland fishing forum by clicking here , Ocean City, MD Offshore Fishing Reports on the Mid Atlantic Offshore Fishing Forum and Ocean City inshore fishing reports on the Mid Atlantic Inshore Fishing Forum.
That's it for this weeks report, have a great fishing week!
Brandon
Chief Anger, TidalFish.com
Follow TidalFish.com on Twitter: @TidalFish
Maryland Fisherman's 2011 edition is out on the shelves. It's a great publication with great fishing articles and information on how and where to fish in Maryland. You can check out an article I wrote for this year about the spectacular Ocean City offshore fishing that Maryland offers. Pick up a copy at your local tackle shop or buy it online here.
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