Weekly Fishing Report
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Weekly Fishing Report Posted by TBNDavid On 06/29/2017 For many it seems hard to believe that the 4th of July holiday is upon us, for others it probably seemed like it would never get here. One thing is for certain, the kids are out of school and ready to have some vacation adventures with their parents or smaller outings which are often more cherished and meaningful. The important thing is to enjoy time together with family and few things offer better one on one time together than fishing. Striped bass fishing in the lower Susquehanna River and the flats area are moving towards a summer mode of fishing as water temperatures warm. The Conowingo Dam is releasing large amounts of water for power generation in the mornings and into late afternoons which helps cool water temperatures in the river and creates faster flows in the river. Those casting with surf rods into the dam pool with weighted swim shads are catching some nice striped bass. The best fishing for striped bass has been at day break and it usually only lasts till the sun clears the horizon. Topwater lures have been a favorite around the flats edges and in the river. It is becoming the best of times for upper bay fishermen as more striped bass tend to be moving into the upper bay this week. Chumming has been very popular at Swan Point, Love Point, the Triple Buoys and Podickory Point. There are a lot of two and three year old striped bass being attracted to the chum slicks but there are good numbers of larger fish deep and back in the slicks. Trolling is a good option and often accounts for a better grade of fish. Working the channel edges around 35′ deep with a variety of bucktails dressed with shads or twister tails, swim shads and surge tube lures in tandem or behind umbrella rigs are admission to the show. Inline weights or planers are needed to get down to the fish where they are suspended on the steeper edges. At the Bay Bridge piers and rock piles there are striped bass and large white perch holding and waiting for someone to drop soft plastic jigs to them. A good running current is needed and heavy enough jigs to get to where the fish are holding. Jigging there has been excellent for the past few days and with a little luck the fish will hold there through the weekend. Below the Bay Bridge striped bass fishing has been very good on the outside edge of Hackett’s Bar for those chumming, jigging or trolling. Chumming has been the most popular way to fish and a large portion of the fish being caught are over 28″ in length. As painful as it might seem, more than a few reported that they had to toss several striped bass back into the bay that went 30″ or better while trying to catch a fish less than 28″ to finish out their daily limit. Breaking fish are being reported along the western and eastern edges of the shipping channel and also near anchored ships in the middle bay region. The surface action tends to be 2 and 3 year old striped bass with larger fish holding deeper so jigging deep is the way to go unless you fish light with poppers and enjoy the entertainment. As most know though you can’t always count on things when it comes to fishing and some are surprised to find 30″ striped bass mixing it up on top and smashing poppers. Watching depth finders as one slowly motors along channel edges or watching for slicks which indicate fish holding deep and on bait can be a good tactic. There have not been many bluefish in the middle bay region, so sea gulls sitting in groups is also a good sign to indicate periodic action in the area. Shallow water fishing for striped bass with poppers in the lower sections of the region’s tidal rivers remains good this week but it is quickly becoming a dawn and dusk window of opportunity as water temperatures creep into the 80’s this week. Eastern Bay, Poplar Island and the lower regions of the Severn, Choptank and Little Choptank have been offering some of the best action. Grass has been growing well this season so topwater lures have been the best way to fish to stay above the grass. Various poppers and Zara Spooks have been two of the most productive topwater lures. Fishing for white perch continues to be a fun summer time activity in the tidal rivers and creeks in the middle bay region. Except for early mornings and late evenings when they might venture close to shoreline structure the perch have been holding in deeper waters over oyster bottom or near piers. Grass shrimp is perhaps one of the best baits to use but requires an investment in a shrimp dip net and time to catch your own bait. Pieces of bloodworms will fit the bill for those that wish to purchase bait. A simple one hook bottom rig that puts the hook about a foot off the bottom is near perfect presentation. A shad dart tipped with bait and worked close to the bottom is also an excellent option. The Kent Narrows, Matapeake Fishing Pier and the Bill Burton Fishing Pier are just three public areas that offers a great place to fish for white perch for shore bound anglers. Lower bay region fishing for striped bass has been focused on chumming, trolling, jigging and casting to fish near shallow structure. Chumming has been the most popular and areas like the Middle Grounds, the channel edge from the HS Buoy south to Buoy 72, Cove Point and Point No Point as well as the steep channel edge near St. George’s Island on the lower Potomac. Bluefish are part of the mix and hopefully cobia will start to move in soon. Trolling along channel edges with a mix of swim shads, bucktails and surge tube lures down deep with inline weights or planers has been a good way to catch a nice grade of striped bass, The lower bay region has a lot of two and three year old striped bass that miss the 20″ mark so throwbacks are common at times. When suspended fish or breaking fish can be found or even slicks; jigging deep is a good way to find larger striped bass. Bay anchovies are being pounded by a mix of striped bass and bluefish in the region, often along channel edges with stiff currents. Soft plastics tend to be the most popular jigs to use in chartreuse, pink and sparkle pearl. The mouth of the Patuxent and the St. Mary’s River continue to hold a lot of action for striped bass and bluefish, with a lot of throwbacks. On the eastern side of the bay, the marsh edges and tidal creeks continue to be great places to find speckled trout and striped bass with bluefish also being part of the mix. Casting topwater poppers has been productive and popping corks with a white Gulp Mullet trailing has also been a great option. Drifting peeler crab or soft crab in the ebbing currents of the tidal creeks is also a great way to catch speckled trout and striped bass. Once again though many of the striped bass fail to meet the 20″ minimum. There are some croakers and spot being caught on both sides of the bay and plenty of white perch in all of the tidal creeks and rivers. Those that target them are catching flounder along hard-bottom channel edges in the Tangier and Pocomoke Sound areas. Recreational crabbers continue to find crabs in a wide variety of water depths. Some have had the best luck in 10′ to 15′ of water and others report they are doing the best in shallower waters. Regardless of your preference for water depth, there is little room for discussion that razor clams are the top catching bait and early Page 1 morning crabbing offers the best catches. This will be a very busy weekend for those who have promised crabs for the 4th of July holiday; please be patient and tolerant of those who cross you, for they know not what they do. This will be a bit of a crazy weekend to try and fish at Deep Creek Lake due to holiday and vacation boat traffic so if you do go out; try to go very early and be careful out there. Smallmouth bass should be found on rocky flats in 6′ of water or more and swimbaits and jerkbaits are good baits to target them. Floating docks are a great place to cast for largemouth and smallmouth bass if no one is bouncing on the dock, again it will be a busy time at the lake. There might be some refuge in the shallower coves where largemouth bass, chain pickerel and bluegills can be targeted. John Mullican was kind enough to send us a great report from the upper Potomac and a few fishing suggestions: The upper Potomac River is in good shape and fishing well. Fishermen are finding lots of eager smallmouth bass, walleye, and catfish. Bass can be taken on a variety of lures, but I always have a topwater tied on to one rod and a tube or similar jig on another. Weightless soft plastic minnow baits or wacky rigged stick worms will catch plenty of fish too. River temperatures are near 80°F so fish are generally in or near grass beds, boulders, and ledges with good current flow.