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Fishing Reports
Weekly fishing reports for the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic and surrounding region. If you would like to be notified via e-mail when our weekly fishing reports are updated, click here to sign up.
FishTalk fishing reports are presented by Anchor Boats, Brown Dog Marine, CCA MD, Riverside Marine, Suzuki Marine, and Tri-State-Marine
Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
The ocean has been providing plenty of bounties this spring with several bites going strong along the coast. FishTalk’s Zach Ditmars spent a breezy afternoon on the back bay of OC recently and said that despite tough conditions, he found a 24” rockfish by the Rt. 50 bridge and saw a couple of bridge anglers reel up tautog. In the Thoroughfare he caught a keeper flounder, and said the other boats seemed to be making slow but steady catches. A… Read more from Coastal...
Freshwater Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
Ponds and lakes are very productive this time of year as several species are spawning or are transitioning to post-spawn patterns. A reader checked in after kayak fishing at St. Mary’s Lake this week. They said that small bass were willing to hit panfish jigs in the shallows, but that was not their main target. They were searching for “eater” sized bluegill. After spending a half-hour fishing the shoreline, he located an area covered with bluegill beds… Read more from Freshwater...
Way North Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
Anglers were enjoying several fishing opportunities this month, which included shad, catfish, smallmouth bass, and snakehead, but the river conditions have quickly gone downhill. Hickory shad have just about wrapped up their spawning run, but there are still some in the area. Earlier in the week, anglers were still catching hickory shad at Octoraro and Deer Creek. One angler reported catching close to a dozen while casting shad darts in… Read more from Way North...
Upper Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
Catfish have been a popular target while stripers have been off limits this spring in the Upper Bay. FishTalk contributor Adam Greenberg ventured out on the Magothy this week in search of catfish, but said that five rods, tons of bunker chunks, and five hours on the water didn’t produce any bites. He was fishing at night during a strong incoming tide, which is usually a recipe for success, but not this time. An angler checked in after fishing… Read more from Upper Bay...
Middle Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
We are one week away from the opening of striped bass season on the Chesapeake Bay and anglers are eager to get out and chase them. Since they have been off limits since March, we don’t have much intel on where they are being caught, but popular Middle Bay locations such as the Bay Bridge, Poplar Island, and the remnants of James Island should be holding fish. Luckily, some other species are starting to show up for us to chase while the… Read more from Middle Bay...
Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
Fishing is heating up as the lower Bay has come to life this spring. The Tackle Box is reporting that there have been a handful of puppy drum caught in the St. Mary’s River. Some have even been caught by anglers live lining small spot at night. They also report that stripers seem to be plentiful in several areas where they are off limits right now. Anglers who are searching for early season speckled trout and red drum are finding a lot of… Read more from Lower Bay...
Tangier, Pocomoke, and Lower Shore Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
The shallows of the Eastern Shore are coming to life and as long as the weather cooperates, there have been plenty of opportunities to chase down some fish. Captain C.L. Marshall of Tangier Sound Charters has been enjoying a spectacular run of black drum into the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds this spring and the action stayed hot this week. One of his trips produced seven drum in two hours, up to 47”. The black drum have been… Read more from Tangier and Lower Shore...
Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, May 9 Update:
Several bites are going strong as we are in one of the most action-packed times of the year to be on the water. Bluefish have made a big push into the Virginia Beach area over the past few weeks, with fish being caught along the oceanfront and in the local tributaries. Blues in the 20” range are now being caught in Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, the Elizabeth River, the York River, and on the beaches. Many anglers encounter them when… Read more from Way South...