Chesapeake Bay Baltimore Washington D.C. Fishing Report Today

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Dive into the latest updates with the "Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore/Washington D.C. Fishing Report Today" podcast. Stay informed on daily fishing conditions, tips, and hotspots in the Chesapeake Bay area, including detail-rich reports for Baltimore and Washington D.C. Ideal for anglers of all levels, our expert hosts deliver timely advice on bait, tackle, and the best catches. Tune in for your essential fishing guide in the Chesapeake region! For more info go to https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ Get all your gear befoe you leave the dock https://amzn.to/3zF8GXk This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

  1. 8h ago

    Warm Waters and Long Days: Upper Bay Rockfish and White Perch Heat Up

    This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–Washington corridor. We’ve got a warm, early-summer pattern setting up across the upper Bay and tidal rivers. Around Baltimore, air temps are riding the upper 70s into the 80s midday, with sticky humidity and a light south to southeast breeze most of the day. Skies are partly cloudy with a chance of a pop-up shower inland by late afternoon. On the Western Shore near Annapolis and down toward the mouth of the Potomac, winds are a touch stronger in the afternoon, enough to kick up a light chop on open water, but still very fishable. Sunrise is lining up right around 5:40 a.m. on the upper Bay, with sunset about 8:30 p.m. That gives you long low-light windows at dawn and again the last two hours of daylight. Those have been the best bite windows for most species. Tide-wise, the upper Bay around Baltimore Light and the Key Bridge sees a pre-dawn high, sliding toward a mid-morning ebb, with low tide late morning to midday and a strong incoming through the afternoon into early evening. Farther south near Annapolis and the Bay Bridge, shift those tides roughly 30–45 minutes later. That afternoon flood has been key for pushing bait up onto points, riprap, and bridge pilings. Fish activity has ticked up with the warming water. Rockfish are still the headliner. Anglers working the Patapsco, Back River, and around the Key Bridge have reported steady schoolie action with some keeper-sized fish mixed in, especially early and late in the day around current seams and structure. Down by the Bay Bridge, fish have been holding tight to the pilings and under birds when bait gets pushed to the surface. White perch are running thick in the upper Bay rivers and creeks. Folks soaking bait on simple bottom rigs around piers and channel edges are putting good numbers in the bucket, with the better fish coming on the top and bottom of the tide when current’s not ripping. Catfish remain very active in the Patapsco, Patuxent, and upper Potomac, with plenty of eater-sized blues and some bigger fish showing for those soaking cut bait on deeper ledges. Recent catches have been dominated by rockfish in the 18–24 inch range, fair numbers of white perch, and consistent blue cats. A few speckled trout and puppy drum have been reported farther south and east, but close to Baltimore and D.C. it’s mostly stripers, perch, and cats carrying the load. For lures, think natural baitfish profiles. For rockfish: 4–5 inch soft plastic paddletails in pearl, chartreuse, or alewife on 1/4 to 1/2 ounce jig heads are producing, especially around bridge structure and channel edges. Small bucktail jigs tipped with soft plastics, along with silver or gold casting spoons, are also solid. At first light, topwater plugs like Spooks and poppers along shoreline points and riprap can be deadly when there’s visible surface activity. Best bait right now: bloodworms or fishbites-style artificial strips for white perch and smaller rockfish; fresh cut bunker, shad, or alewife for blue catfish and bigger stripers; and live minnows or grass shrimp where you can find them for perch and mixed bag fishing near docks. A couple of hot spots to circle on your chart: • The Key Bridge and adjacent Patapsco River channel edges. Work jigging plastics around pilings and current breaks on the moving tide. Early morning and that afternoon flood have been best. • The Bay Bridge pilings and rock piles. Vertical jig soft plastics or bucktails tight to the structure, and keep an eye out for birds and breaking fish on either side of the bridge during tide changes. If you’re closer to D.C., the upper tidal Potomac around Fort Washington and downstream toward Indian Head is a solid bet for numbers of blue cats and some mixed bass action along grass lines and laydowns. That’s your Bay beat from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    4 min

  2. 1d ago

    Early June Stripers and Perch: Bay Bridge to Key Bridge Fishing Report

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–D.C. crew. We’re sitting on a classic early‑June pattern. Mild morning temps sliding up into the upper 70s to low 80s, light southwest breeze, and just enough humidity to remind you it’s summer on the Bay. Local marine forecasts are calling for mostly clear skies with a chance of a pop‑up afternoon shower. Water temps are hovering in the upper 60s to low 70s in the upper Bay and slightly warmer down toward the main stem. Tides around the Bay Bridge and Baltimore Harbor are running a standard mixed semidiurnal cycle: an early morning low, building to a late‑morning to midday high, another drop in the afternoon, and a smaller evening push. You’ll want to time your trips around the moving water; that first couple hours of incoming and the start of the outgoing have been the most productive. Sunrise is right around the very early 5:40s, with sunset a little after 8:30 in the evening, giving you a long window to chase the bite. The low‑light edges have definitely been the prime time. Recent reports from local tackle shops and charter captains up and down the central Bay say striped bass are still the headliners, though more catch‑and‑release focused in some areas. Anglers working structure near the Bay Bridge pilings, the Key Bridge, and deeper channel edges have been boxing decent keepers where regulations allow, with a good number of throwbacks mixed in. Folks are talking 18–28 inch fish pretty regularly, with an occasional larger fish for those putting in the hours. White perch are chewing hard in the rivers — Magothy, Patapsco, Severn, and up the Chester. Bank anglers and small‑boat folks are bringing in healthy numbers once they find a little current break or some hard bottom. Spot are starting to show in better numbers on the deeper edges, and there’ve been some croaker and catfish in the mix, especially farther up the rivers and around Baltimore Harbor’s deeper holes. Artificial‑wise, this has been a jigging game. Quarter‑ to half‑ounce jig heads tipped with 4–5 inch paddletails in chartreuse, white, or alewife patterns have been the go‑to for stripers. Metal jigging spoons and smaller flutter spoons worked vertically around bridge pilings and channel ledges are putting fish in the boat when they’re holding deeper. For perch and spot, small shad darts, beetle spins, and tiny soft plastics on 1/16‑ to 1/8‑ounce heads are doing work. For bait, bloodworms are still king for perch and spot, with razor clams and soft crab chunks getting the nod for stripers on the anchor. Fresh bunker and cut alewife are producing steady catfish bites, especially up the Patapsco and in the upper reaches of the Bay’s tributaries. A couple of hotspots to circle on your chart: First, the **Bay Bridge area**, especially the eastern side pilings and nearby rock piles. Vertical jigging on the up‑current side of the structure during moving water has been consistent for stripers. Slide off to the adjacent flats and ledges and you’ll often find perch stacked up. Second, the **mouth of the Patapsco** and out toward the Key Bridge. Work the channel edges, submerged structure, and any bait marks you see on the finder. Early and late, there’s been a solid mixed bag here: schoolie stripers, catfish, and some perch closer to shore. One last tip from a local: don’t sleep on the evening bite. That last hour of light on a falling tide has been just as good as dawn, and you’ll dodge some of the weekend traffic. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    4 min

  3. 2d ago

    Early Summer Striper Bite: Bay Bridge to Potomac – Tides, Topwater, and Schoolies

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–D.C. stretch. We’re riding a warm, early‑summer pattern now. Light southwest breeze this morning, picking up a bit in the afternoon, with air temps climbing through the 70s into the low 80s and scattered clouds. NOAA’s marine forecast calls for relatively manageable chop on the main stem, but it’ll get bumpy once that afternoon breeze stacks against the tide, so plan your run times. Tides around the Bay Bridge and mid‑Bay are showing an early morning incoming, topping out mid‑morning, then a solid outgoing through the afternoon. Down toward the mouth of the Potomac the timing lags a bit, but you’re still getting that classic morning flood and afternoon ebb. That moving water is your feeding window, especially for stripers. Sunrise came early and sunset’s late now, so you’ve got generous low‑light windows. First light to about 9 a.m. and the last two hours before dark are your prime casting times. Midday will fish, but you’ll work harder and likely have to go deeper. On the catching side, the upper and mid‑Bay have been giving up good numbers of schoolie striped bass with some keepers mixed in. Anglers have been boxing fish in the 18–24 inch range, with the occasional mid‑20s and better when you find tighter bait balls. White perch are stacked on hard bottom in the rivers and bridge pilings, and croaker and spot are starting to show more consistently on soft bottom edges. Catfish are still chewing hard in the Potomac and upper tributaries, especially where fresh water meets a bit of salinity. Artificial‑wise, this is a great time for **soft plastics** and **bucktail jigs**. Try 4–5 inch paddletails in bunker, pearl, or chartreuse on 1/4 to 3/4 ounce jig heads, depending on current. Classic white bucktail tipped with a curly tail or a small strip of soft plastic is still deadly around pilings and channel edges. Topwater is absolutely in play at dawn and dusk: walk‑the‑dog plugs in bone or black, and prop baits over shallow grass or riprap. For perch, small Beetle‑spin style spinners and tiny grubs will keep rods bent. If you’re running bait, fresh cut bunker or soft crab for stripers, bloodworms or fishbites for perch and spot, and fresh cut shad or eel for big blue cats will all produce. Live spot, when you can get them, remain money for larger rockfish on lumps and channel ledges. A couple of local hot spots to put on your list: – The **Bay Bridge pilings and rock piles**: Work jigs tight to the structure on the edges of the tide, especially the up‑current sides. Let that lure sweep naturally in the current and hold on. – The **mouth of the Patapsco and Key Bridge area**: Birds and bait have been showing here on moving water. Cast soft plastics into breaking fish or vertically jig marks on your sonar along the channel drop. Inside the rivers, look for current seams, points, and any hard bottom with a bit of depth change. If you’re not marking bait or fish in 10–15 minutes, move. Early summer is all about staying mobile until you bump into life. That’s your on‑the‑water rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    3 min

  4. 3d ago

    Early June Striper Bite: Key Bridge to Bay Bridge – Incoming Tide is Your Ticket

    This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–D.C. corridor. We’re sitting on a classic early‑June pattern. Around the mid‑Bay, NOAA tide tables show a pre‑dawn low and a strong incoming through mid‑morning, then another push late afternoon into dusk. That incoming tide has been the ticket all week. Sunrise is right around 5:40 a.m., sunset about 8:30 p.m., giving you a long window, but the best bite has been first light through about 9 a.m., then again after 6 p.m. once the sun drops and the wind lays. Weather-wise, regional marine forecasts are calling for a light southwest breeze, generally under 10 knots, with daytime temps in the upper 70s to low 80s and decent visibility. That SW wind piles bait along western‑shore structure, so think points, riprap, and bridge pilings from the Patapsco down toward the Bay Bridge. Rockfish (stripers) are still the main show. Local reports out of Baltimore charter docks and tackle shops say schoolies in the 18–24 inch class are pretty thick around the Key Bridge, the Patapsco channel edges, and the Bridge pilings, with an occasional keeper mixed in. Anglers jigging 1/2–1 oz soft plastics on 3/8–1 oz jigheads in chartreuse, white, or “electric chicken” are putting good numbers in the boat during the morning tide. Trollers running small umbrellas and tandem bucktails with 4–6 inch shads along 20–40 feet of water are also doing steady business. White perch are chewing hard in the upper Bay rivers and creeks. Folks hitting the Magothy, Severn, and the upper Patapsco are reporting plenty of hand‑sized perch on bloodworms, grass shrimp, and small pieces of soft crab on bottom rigs. Tiny spinners and shad darts tipped with grass shrimp under a float are great if you like to keep it light on spinning gear. This is an easy play for kids or a quick after‑work run. Catfish remain a reliable backup plan. The upper Bay and the tidal Potomac are holding good numbers of blue cats. Fresh cut bunker, gizzard shad, or chicken breast soaked on fish‑finder rigs in 10–25 feet of water will get hit. If the striper bite slows with the sun high, slide upriver and soak some bait; you’ll usually find action. Best lures this week: - 4–7 inch soft plastics on jigheads (chartreuse, white, or pearl for stripers). - 1/2 oz bucktail jigs with a curly tail trailer. - Small inline spinners and shad darts for perch. Best natural baits: - Bloodworms, grass shrimp, and soft crab for perch and stripers. - Fresh cut bunker or shad for catfish and opportunistic stripers. Couple of local hot spots to circle on the map: - The Key Bridge and Patapsco channel edges: working great at first light with soft plastics and shallow‑running plugs on the moving tide. - The Bay Bridge pilings and rockpiles: classic early‑summer striper structure, especially on that stronger part of the incoming tide and again at dusk. If you’re launching after work from the D.C. side, the tidal Potomac’s channel edges and creek mouths are worth a look for cats and random stripers; focus on moving water around points and bends. That’s your on‑the‑water rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    3 min

  5. 4d ago

    Early Summer Striper Bite: Bay Bridge to Love Point – Upper Bay Hot Spots

    Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–D.C. crowd. We’re working a classic early-summer pattern now. Water temps in the mid to upper 60s to low 70s across the upper Bay and main stem, with decent clarity on the eastern side and a little more stain on the western shore after recent winds and boat traffic. Light to moderate south to southwest breeze, making open-water drifts manageable if you watch the whitecaps and keep an eye on the afternoon chop. Tide-wise, we’ve got a solid moving tide morning and late afternoon. Think low before sunrise, pushing in through the early morning, then a falling tide toward evening in most of the upper Bay and Patapsco/Severn stretches. Check your specific station, but plan to fish an *hour on either side of peak current* for the best bite. Sunrise is right around the early 5 a.m. hour, sunset near the 8:30 p.m. mark, which gives you prime low-light windows for stripers. Recent chatter from local tackle shops and Bay regulars has the striped bass bite improving around the Bay Bridge pilings, Love Point, and the shipping channel edges. Fish have mostly been schoolies to mid-20‑inch class, with a few bigger mixed in when the bait balls stack up. Anglers trolling tandem bucktails and small shad umbrellas are putting decent numbers in the boat, while light‑tackle folks jigging 1/2–1 oz soft plastics in chartreuse, pearl, and bunker patterns are doing well when they mark arcs tight to structure. White perch are thick in the creeks and along hard-bottom shorelines of the Magothy, Severn, and Patapsco. Small bottom rigs tipped with bloodworms, grass shrimp, or Fishbites are producing steady action. Pan-sized perch limits have been common for patient anglers sitting on shell or rock. Catfish remain reliable in the upper Bay and river mouths; cut bunker or chicken soaked on the bottom is filling coolers, especially in the Patapsco and Bush. For lures, think **chartreuse and white** as your confidence colors. Soft plastic paddletails, 4–6 inches, on 1/2 oz jig heads are money around the Bay Bridge, Love Point, and channel edges. Metal jigs and spoons will shine if you find breaking fish or tight bait schools. In shallower morning and evening water, small topwater plugs and walk‑the‑dog baits can coax stripers along riprap and points. Best natural baits right now: soft crab, peeler crab, live spot where available, and fresh bunker. Soft crab on a light fish‑finder rig around bridge pilings and rock piles has been scoring quality stripers when the current’s right. Peeler and bloodworms are your go‑tos for perch and mixed bottom species. A couple local hot spots to keep on your short list: • Bay Bridge Piers and nearby rock piles: great for jigging stripers, especially at dawn, dusk, and during strong current. • Love Point and the surrounding channel edges: trolling lanes for stripers, plus solid bottom fishing nearby for perch and cats. • Backup options: Magothy and Severn River mouths for perch and the occasional striper at first light along points and oyster bars. That’s your on‑the‑water rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    3 min

  6. 5d ago

    Early June Stripers and Perch: Baltimore-DC Bay Report

    This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–D.C. stretch. We’re sitting on a classic early‑June pattern. Around Baltimore, National Weather Service marine data calls for morning temps in the upper 60s to low 70s, pushing into the upper 70s and low 80s by afternoon, light southwest breeze building to 10–15 knots, and only a slight chop on the open Bay. Skies are partly to mostly sunny with a low chance of showers later. Sunrise comes a little before 5:45 a.m., sunset just after 8:30 p.m., giving you a long, fishy day of light. Tides in the upper Bay today run a predawn low followed by a mid‑morning flood, then an afternoon ebb. The best window is that first two hours of incoming and the first of the outgoing, especially around structure with moving water—bridge pilings, channel edges, and rip‑rapped points. Current is your friend: if it’s not moving, keep moving until you find it. Recent reports from local tackle shops and charter skippers around Hart‑Miller, the Key Bridge, and down toward the Bay Bridge say striped bass action has perked up on the edges in 15–30 feet. Schoolie rockfish in the 18–24 inch class are the main players with a few bigger keepers mixed in. Anglers drifting soft plastics and small jigs have been putting numbers in the boat, and light‑tackle trollers have been picking off fish along the channel contours. White perch are thick in the tidal rivers—the Patapsco, Magothy, Severn, and South—all the way up into the creeks. Bank anglers are reporting steady action on hand‑sized perch with the odd catfish and small rock mixed in. Catfish, especially blue cats, are still chewing hard in the Potomac and upper Bay tributaries; cut bait on bottom rigs has been putting up some real tug‑of‑war sessions. Best artificial lures right now: - For rockfish: 3–5 inch soft plastics on 1/4–3/4 oz jigheads in chartreuse, alewife, and white; small paddletails and straight tails are both working. - For topwater around dawn and dusk: small walking baits, poppers, and spooks in bone or silver/black. - For perch: 1/16–1/8 oz shad darts, tiny spoons, and beetle‑spin style jigs. For bait: - Rockfish: live spot or soft crab if you can get them, otherwise cut menhaden. - Perch: bloodworms, grass shrimp, or small pieces of nightcrawler. - Catfish: fresh cut menhaden, gizzard shad, or chicken soaked in your favorite stink. A couple of hot spots to circle on your chart: - **Key Bridge / Patapsco River mouth** – Work the bridge pilings and nearby channel edges on the flooding tide. Bounce jigs downcurrent of the structure or slow‑troll small bucktails and paddletails. Good shot at schoolie rock plus a mix of perch and the occasional catfish. - **Bay Bridge pilings and rock piles** – Classic early‑summer pattern. Hit the shadows at first light with soft plastic jigs and topwater. As the sun climbs, drop heavier jigs straight down along the pilings and rock piles in 20–40 feet. Expect mostly schoolie rock with some better fish if you’re patient. If you’re shorebound, the fishing piers and access points on the Severn, Magothy, and local Patuxent and Potomac spots are giving up perch and cats on simple bottom rigs and small jigheads—perfect for an after‑work session. That’s your Chesapeake Bay report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next tide. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    4 min

  7. May 21

    Late Spring Striper Bite Heats Up Around the Bay Bridge

    This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–D.C. stretch. We’re sitting on a classic late‑spring pattern now. Water temps in the upper Bay are riding the low 60s, with a light south breeze early turning southwest and building through the afternoon. Expect partly cloudy skies, scattered showers possible late. Sunrise came just after 5:50 a.m. with sunset near 8:20 p.m., giving you a nice long light window. Tides around the Bay Bridge and Baltimore Harbor are running a predawn high, dropping to a late‑morning low, then a solid afternoon flood. That first outgoing tide after sunrise and the start of the afternoon push are your prime feeding windows. Current is the whole game today: where it squeezes around points, pilings, and channel edges, the bite turns on. Rockfish (stripers) have perked up since the last front slid through. Folks working the Bay Bridge pilings and nearby channel edges have been finding keeper‑class fish with a mix of schoolies. Reports from local charter captains out of Sandy Point and Annapolis say most boats are boxing a handful of solid stripers, with catch‑and‑release numbers much higher when the tide is moving. The better fish are holding 15–25 feet down on structure and bait balls. Best offerings: 4–6 inch soft plastics on 1/2 to 1 oz jigheads in chartreuse, pearl, or bunker patterns, slow‑rolled just off bottom. Light‑tackle trollers are pulling small tandem umbrellas and single deep‑divers in white or “electric chicken” and doing well along the main channel edges. If you’re live‑baiting, spot are starting to trickle in but aren’t thick yet; bloodworms and soft crab chunks are still producing on fish‑finder rigs. White perch are showing strong in the tributaries – Patapsco, Magothy, Severn, and up inside Eastern Bay creeks. Anglers working docks and riprap in 4–10 feet with grass shrimp, bloodworms, or small pieces of soft crab are bringing home nice mixed coolers. Tiny spinnerbaits, shad darts tipped with worm, and 1/16 oz beetle spins in white are all money when the tide is moving. Pan‑fry size is common, with the occasional jumbo. Catfish action remains steady in the upper reaches of the Patapsco and Potomac. Fresh cut alewife, bunker, or chicken soaked on bottom is accounting for plenty of blue cats and channels. Not glamorous, but if you’ve got kids or just want steady rod bends, that’s your ticket. For lure junkies, think subtle in the clear water early, then upsized profiles once the sun gets up and wind puts a chop on. Low‑light topwater for stripers around bridge pilings, riprap, and shallow points could be sneaky good today – walk‑the‑dog plugs, small poppers, or 4–5 inch spooks in bone or chrome. Give each piece of structure a few fan casts, then move; the fish are roaming. A couple of local hot spots to circle on your chart: First, the Bay Bridge corridor. Work both the eastern and western rock piles, plus the pilings on the down‑current side during peak flow. Jig the shadow lines, especially that first hour of moving water, and be ready – bites are often on the drop. Second, the mouths of the Severn and Magothy. Current sweeping over the channel edges and adjacent flats has been stacking bait. Drifting and casting soft plastics or small metal spoons where 6–8 feet drops into 15–20 has produced mixed bags of stripers and perch. If you’re launching closer to D.C., the middle tidal Potomac points and channel ledges are worth a look for blue cats and the occasional striper; fish the bends where the current slows and the bottom breaks off sharply. Fish smart today: time your trips around tide changes, keep an eye on building afternoon winds funneled up the Bay, and match your presentations to the current and clarity. The bite’s not a lights‑out blitz, but if you work structure and pay attention to the water, you can put together a very respectable day. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more on‑the‑water updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    5 min

  8. May 20

    Chesapeake Bay Spring Bite: Stripers, Perch, and Catfish Under Clear Skies

    Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore–Washington corridor. We’re sitting under a classic late‑spring pattern. Around Baltimore and Annapolis, the National Weather Service is calling for morning temps in the upper 50s rising into the low 70s, light northwest breeze 5–10 knots, and mostly clear skies. Barometer is steady, which generally keeps the bite predictable. Water temps in the upper Bay are running in the low to mid‑60s, creeping warmer down toward the Bay Bridge and Poplar Island. Tides today: at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, look for an early morning low around daybreak and a strong incoming through mid‑morning, with high tide late morning into early afternoon, then an outgoing tide through evening. Sunrise is just after 5:45 a.m., sunset a bit after 8:15 p.m., giving a long window, but the best push will be that first good chunk of the incoming and the first half of the outgoing. Rockfish (stripers) are the main story. Maryland DNR’s recent reports, plus the word at Sandy Point and local tackle shops around Pasadena and Annapolis, have keepers coming off the pilings and channel edges in 20–35 feet. Early in the morning, guys are doing well casting 4–5 inch paddletails in alewife, opening night, or chartreuse on 3/8–1/2 oz jig heads, especially around bridge structure and rip lines. Once the sun gets up, trolling small umbrellas and tandem bucktails with 6‑inch shads in white or chartreuse along the 25–35 foot contours has been putting a mix of legal fish and shorts in the box. White perch are waking up nicely in the upper rivers — Patapsco, Magothy, Severn. Anglers fishing the docks and creek mouths with bits of bloodworm, grass shrimp, or Fishbites on bottom rigs are picking up good numbers, mostly 7–10 inches. Ultralight jigs tipped with Gulp or tiny crappie tubes around pilings are also producing when the tide is moving. Catfish action remains solid in the upper Bay and tidal Potomac. Blue cats in particular are chewing in the deeper bends and channel edges. Fresh cut menhaden or gizzard shad on fish‑finder rigs is the ticket. Folks on the Susquehanna Flats and down the Potomac toward Fort Washington have been reporting steady action with plenty of 5–15 pound fish and an occasional bigger one. In the middle Bay, there’s been some early chatter of speckled trout and the odd puppy drum on the Eastern Shore side marshes and grass edges. Soft plastics in natural patterns and small topwaters right at first light can surprise you if you work those shorelines quietly. For bait and lure choices: • Stripers – 4–7 inch paddletails, bucktails with curly tails, small metal spoons when fish are deeper. Color favorites remain white, chartreuse, and anything with a bit of sparkle. Live spot will come into play more as they show up in numbers, but for now soft plastics are king. • Perch – bloodworms, grass shrimp, or artificial strips on high‑low rigs; tiny jigs under a float around docks at moving tide. • Catfish – fresh cut bait, not frozen if you can help it; heavier leaders and circle hooks to handle the blues. A couple of hot spots to keep on your list today: 1. Chesapeake Bay Bridge (both sides of the spans, plus the rock piles) – target stripers on the incoming tide, jig the shadow lines early, then troll the edges once traffic and sun pick up. 2. Mouth of the Magothy and nearby Bay shorelines – working the channel edges and points around 15–25 feet has produced a mix of schoolie stripers and good perch; fish the moving water around the turns of the tide. Remember to check the latest Maryland regulations before you head out — size, season, and slot limits on striped bass in particular have been shifting and enforcement has been active. That’s the word on the water from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

    5 min
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Dive into the latest updates with the "Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore/Washington D.C. Fishing Report Today" podcast. Stay informed on daily fishing conditions, tips, and hotspots in the Chesapeake Bay area, including detail-rich reports for Baltimore and Washington D.C. Ideal for anglers of all levels, our expert hosts deliver timely advice on bait, tackle, and the best catches. Tune in for your essential fishing guide in the Chesapeake region! For more info go to https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ Get all your gear befoe you leave the dock https://amzn.to/3zF8GXk This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

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