Frankie Goff hoists up this large blue catfish she caught at the Conowingo Dam pool. Photo by Don Goff
Maryland anglers will be dressing a little warmer this month, but the fishing action is still hot for a variety of species.
Forecast Summary: November 6 – November 12:
Expect more moderate, breezy weather to highlight our fishing conditions this week. Salinity in Maryland’s part of the Bay above Cove Point is running slightly saltier than average. In addition, there is adequate oxygen from surface to the bottom throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay. Main Bay surface water temperatures and the well mixed water column are in the low 60s with the rivers running slightly cooler. In comparison to historical Bay conditions, the main Bay water temperatures are average but all tributaries running into Maryland’s portion of the Bay are either warmer than average or at historical maximums. These above average river temperatures may delay the push of baitfish from the rivers into the Bay. In addition, air temperatures are predicted to continue to be mild for the near future so the current pattern may continue. However, once rivers cool, anglers will be rewarded with great fishing conditions and more opportunities to catch fish near river mouths (as well as breaking fish) and the traditional places deeper in the water column such as channel edges, underwater points, hard bottom, and drop-offs.
Expect average water clarity for most of the Maryland portion of the Bay. To see the latest water clarity conditions, check Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps. Expect average flows for the Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal currents on Wednesday and Thursday as a result of the new moon on November 1. For more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area, be sure to check out Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Photo courtesy of Lee Kennedy
There is plenty of fishing action this week at the Conowingo Dam Pool and the lower Susquehanna River for blue catfish and striped bass. Anglers are using medium size surf rods loaded with thin braid to help in casting the long distance to the dam’s power generation tail race. Cut bait with enough weight to get down to the bottom is the most popular rig when fishing for blue catfish. Casting soft plastic jigs and paddletails are two of the most popular lures being used for striped bass.
There is plenty of blue catfish action down the Susquehanna and at the mouth of the river. Bottom rigs with sliding sinkers and circle hooks baited with cut bait are the most popular ways to fish for the blue catfish. Many of the blue catfish are large, often 30 pounds or more. Oily baits of gizzard shad, menhaden and eel are very popular baits, but chicken liver works well. Brining chicken liver ahead of time hardens up the chicken livers and helps keep them on the hook.
The area near Pooles Island, the mouth of the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor continues to be a good place to fish for striped bass this week. Jigging along the channel edges of the Patapsco with soft plastic jigs is an effective method to catch striped bass. There are also some good jigging trips being reported at the Love Point rocks. Casting paddletails near shoreline structure in Baltimore Harbor is also a good choice during the morning and evening hours. Anglers are live lining eels near the remaining portions of the Key Bridge and Pooles Island with good results. Large blue catfish can be part of the bargain when live lining.
Trolling umbrella rigs is an increasingly popular method of fishing for striped bass this week along the edges of the main channels. The 30-foot mark tends to be the sweet spot, and it takes heavy inline weight to get an umbrella rig down to those depths. Bucktails dressed with a sassy shad in white or chartreuse are the most popular trailers.
White perch are moving to deeper waters of the tidal rivers and the upper bay. Jigging with metal jigs with a small plastic jig tied in above has been the most popular way to fish for them this week. A careful watch on a depth finder can help locate schools suspended close to the bottom. Bottom rigs baited with grass shrimp or pieces of bloodworm work well also but the larger white perch tend to be caught by jigging.
Blue catfish can be found throughout the upper bay, often along shelves near the channels, shoals are also a good bet. The lower sections of the tidal rivers can offer good fishing for blue catfish also. The lower Susquehanna and the section of the Chester River above Chestertown are excellent places to fish.
Middle Bay
There is no way to put frosting on striped bass fishing prospects in the middle Bay – it has been disappointing for many anglers this fall. Once water temperatures hit 60 degrees and lower, the shallow water fishery that provided so much action for striped bass and puppy drum subsided. The striped bass headed for deeper water and the red drum headed south for the most part.
Deep water jigging at the mouths of the tidal rivers and the bird action over bait schools has been another story. Generally, many anglers have been left disappointed after checking out all the traditional fall jigging locations. Water temperatures out in the Bay are about 63 degrees this week and the Choptank River at Cambridge has jumped up a few degrees lately to 61 degrees.
Trolling deep with umbrella rigs has been a good alternative for anglers – it tends to not be as much fun as light tackle jigging, but it does put fish in the boat. The 30-foot channel edges such as those at the mouths of the tidal rivers, are good places to troll. Trolling is also a good way to cover a lot of water, heavy inline weights, braided line and heavy tackle are needed to get down to the depths where the striped bass are suspended.
White perch are moving to deeper waters this week and can be found over oyster reefs in the lower sections of the region’s tidal rivers. Jigging with metal jigs and a small plastic jig tied in above is the most popular way to fish for the larger white perch. The rock piles at the Bay Bridge are always a great place to find the largest white perch suspended deep. The currents there can be difficult to deal with and the heaviest jigs are needed to get down to the fish. As the month of November progresses, the deep channels areas off Matapeake and the mouth of the Choptank are good places to check for schools of white perch holding deep.
Lower Bay
This lucky angler got a surprise catch while jigging in the lower bay recently, a legal-size black sea bass. Photo by Travis Long
The lower Bay is offering some of the best striped bass fishing opportunities this week. Anglers are enjoying good fishing by jigging and trolling along the main channels of the bay and the mouth of the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. A fair portion of the striped bass are measuring over the 24-inch maximum size but are providing fun catch and release action. Anglers need not worry about catch and release mortalities as they did during the hot summer months, since water temperatures are now in the low 60’s. Colder water is a very important factor in catch and release survivability of striped bass, higher salinities and fighting time are the second most important factors. Anglers often see a fair proportion of striped bass during the fall months in the 26-28 inch size range.
Waters 25-30 feet deep tend to be where most striped bass are being located this week. Soft plastic jigs in the ¾ to 1-ounce size range tend to work well. In windy conditions that increase drift, a little heavier jig may be needed, white and chartreuse are the most popular colors. Umbrella rigs using hookless sassy shads on the umbrella arms and bucktails dressed with sassy shads as trailers are popular and heavy inline weights, braided line and heavy trolling rods are needed to effectively get down to where the striped bass are suspended.
There is still some shallow water fishing for striped bass this week along the bay shorelines and the lower Potomac, Patuxent rivers and the Tangier Sound region. Casting paddletails during the morning and evening hours tends to be the best time to go fishing in these areas. In the Tangier and Pocomoke sounds anglers are reporting that there are even a few puppy drum to be found.
White perch are steadily moving out of the shallower tidal creeks and tidal river waters to deeper waters in the tidal rivers. They will continue to move deeper and to the lower sections of the tidal rivers as November progresses. Jigging with metal jigs with a small plastic teaser tied in above is the best way to target the larger white perch. Fishing with grass shrimp or pieces of bloodworm on a bottom rig will work well in these deeper areas but tend to attract the small white perch.
The tidal Potomac River from the Wilson Bridge south to the Route 301 bridge is full of blue catfish and they are waiting for you to show up to fish for them. It doesn’t take much to entice them to take a bait. They are moving farther up the river this month; it is a seasonal movement and the higher salinities we’re experiencing in the lower sections of the river tend to give them an extra push. The same can be said for the Patuxent and Nanticoke rivers. A sliding sinker rig with a circle hook is the most popular rig and baiting it with cut bait from gizzard shad, menhaden or eel are good oily baits to attract their attention.
The 2024 recreational crabbing season is coming to an end as cooler water temperatures force blue crabs to head for deeper waters and slow down their feeding activities. Crabbers report the best success with collapsible crab traps set in 15 feet of water or more. Those crabbing with trotlines report a lot of crabs are dropping off before they can be netted.
Freshwater Fishing
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Frank Holden caught this chain pickerel in tidal waters recently. Photo courtesy of Frank Holden
Most of the rivers and streams of western and central Maryland are running very low this week. The lack of rain has affected the water levels and flows to a great degree. Trout anglers fishing for holdover trout in the put and take waters or the special trout management waters will need to employ stealthy approaches, light lines and long casts to fool the trout residing there.
The same can be said about the upper Potomac where water levels are very low, making it hazardous for anglers fishing from small boats. Despite these low water conditions there is good fishing for a mix of smallmouth bass and walleye. The low water does open an avenue for anglers to put on a pair of waders and carefully cut the distance to reach prime spots where smallmouth bass and walleye are holding. Submerged ledges, current breaks, and large boulder pools are all good places to target. Root beer-colored tubes, small crankbaits and soft craw jigs are all good choices for lues. Anglers will notice grass beds breaking up and floating leaves.
The annual fall turnover event at Deep Creek Lake should have happened by now or will occur shortly. When the fall turnover occurs, and cold surface water sinks to mix with bottom water, smallmouth bass and walleye tend to be found in shallower waters. Smallmouth bass will prefer rocky points and will be attracted to any remaining floating docks. Casting small crankbaits and soft craw jigs is a good way to target them. Walleye will be found along steep rocky shorelines towards the evening hours and can be caught on small crankbaits and jerkbaits. Northern pike can be found at the mouths of coves and will be attracted to large spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and spinners
Largemouth bass are active in the nontidal reservoirs and ponds across Maryland as well as the tidal waters in the upper sections of the bay’s tidal rivers. They can be often found in waters between 5 feet and 10 feet, waiting for baitfish and crayfish migrating from the shallow grass beds that are declining to deeper cover. Spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, soft craw jigs, and jerkbaits are all good choices to fish these transition areas.
Colder water temperatures and declining grass beds during the late fall set the stage for chain pickerel fishing. They can often be found holding near submerged wood along the shorelines of the upper sections of tidal rivers or nontidal reservoirs and ponds. Spinners, swimshads, and spoons are good choices for lures.
Crappie are holding tight to submerged structure this time of the year. Fishing with marabou jigs or small minnows under a slip bobber is a good way to target them. Bridge piers, marina docks, and fallen tree tops are good places to look for them.
Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays
Photo by Taylor Bakke
There are a lot of striped bass north of us this week along New Jersey Beaches, hopefully they will begin to filter along our Maryland beaches soon. Fishing for striped bass and tautog has been good at the Ocean City Inlet this week. Most of the striped bass are measuring a little short of 28 inches but there are some keepers being caught by jigging with soft plastic jigs. The tautog are being caught on sand fleas. Flounder are moving through the inlet as they leave the back bay waters and head to their offshore spawning grounds. Therefore, the inlet and the channels leading towards the inlet are a very good place to fish for the flounder.
Anglers are finding good flounder fishing outside of the inlet on some of the inshore shoals and the wreck and reef sites. The wreck and reef sites farther offshore are producing good catches of black sea bass and flounder can be part of the mix when anglers target them. Some impressive bluefin tuna are being caught with the 30 Fathom Line and at times just a few miles outside of the Ocean City Inlet.
“The love of angling increases with the lapse of years, for its love grows by what it feeds on.” – James Henshall, 1881
Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Click Before You Cast is written by Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Director Tom Parham.
A reminder to all Maryland anglers, please participate in DNR’s Volunteer Angler Surveys. This allows citizen scientists to contribute valuable data to the monitoring and management of several important fish species.
This report is now available on your Amazon Echo device — just ask Alexa to “open Maryland Fishing Report.”