Hey there anglers, it’s Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Wednesday, June 18th, bringing you the scoop from Baltimore and Washington D.C. down the Bay.

Today’s sunrise rolled in at 5:40 AM, with sunset slated for 8:32 PM, giving you plenty of daylight for a full day of casting lines. Tides will be running pretty average—highs around 2:11 PM and lows near 9:01 PM per the Bayville tide charts. With this moderate tidal swing, expect moving water and active fish especially around structure and shoals.

Our weather today is classic early summer—mild, low 80s with just a light breeze and mostly clear conditions. Water temperatures are up and hovering in the low 70s, which has really kicked off the summer bite.

Let’s talk fish: the striped bass season is in full swing. The bite’s been mixed—some days are hot, others slow, but there are solid reports of keeper rockfish (19-24 inches) from the Patapsco, Severn, and Magothy Rivers. The best action has been casting jigging plastics near the Bay Bridge or trolling ledges near river mouths. Pink, white, and chartreuse five-to-six-inch baits have been the ticket. Live-lining spot near bridge pilings and rockpiles—especially in the eddies during running tide—will get results, with several anglers reporting quick limits on the better days, according to FishTalk Magazine and Anglers Annapolis.

White perch are heating up big time on the rivers—Severn, Magothy, and Patapsco—showing up shallow around docks, riprap, and oyster beds. Charlie and Anna reportedly had a banner day just south of the Bay Bridge with good numbers of larger perch. A simple tip: Gulp! 2.5-inch plastics on top and bottom rigs, or small bloodworms and Fishbites on #4 hooks, are getting bit. You’ll also find some croaker mixing in, though nothing huge yet, but it’s a sign that the water’s finally in the perfect summertime range.

Down towards the mouth and Eastern Shore shallows, big schools of red drum and some early cobia are moving up—both are slamming large paddletails, topwater lures, and jerkbaits. Cobia season just opened June 15th, so now’s your chance if you want an early shot at these brutes. For bluefish, look to the open Bay near the Target Ships and various reef sites—two-to-three-pounders have been popping off, especially on topwater and shallow-diving cranks near structure, as reported by The Tackle Box.

For hot spots:
- Bay Bridge pilings and Love Point Light are holding stripers. Fish the backside of pilings for best results.
- Shallow points and grass beds in the Severn and Magothy Rivers are loaded with perch and a few specks.
- The Target Ships and surrounding open Bay structure for bluefish and the occasional red drum.

Best baits and lures:
- Jigging plastics and paddletails in pink, chartreuse, and white for stripers
- Topwater spooks for trout and rockfish at sunrise and sunset
- Bloodworms, Gulp, and Fishbites on bottom rigs for perch and croaker
- Large soft plastics and bucktails for cobia and drum

That’s it for today’s report. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates and tackle tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

# CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING REPORT: JUNE 6, 2025

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Friday morning fishing update for the Chesapeake Bay region.

The sun rose at 5:45 AM today and will set at 8:21 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours to get on the water. Tide-wise, we've got high tide at 5:36 AM and 6:03 PM, with low tide coming in at 11:22 AM. The tidal coefficient is dropping slightly today, from 52 yesterday to the high 40s by evening.

Let me tell you, the fishing action across the Bay is absolutely sizzling right now! The rockfish (striped bass) bite has been phenomenal this week, especially in the Upper Bay where the Magothy and Patapsco Rivers are producing monster catches. Anglers casting topwater plugs and paddle tails at shoreline structure are having tremendous success during early morning and evening hours.

In the Middle Bay, the Bay Bridge continues to be a hotspot with many folks either live-lining spot or jigging plastics. Your best bet is targeting depths between 10-20 feet with 4-6 inch jigs in the ½ to 1 oz range. The Eastern Shore rock piles have also been consistently productive.

Down in the Lower Bay, the St. Mary's and Potomac Rivers are on fire with a nice mix of rockfish, speckled trout, and small red drum. Recent reports indicate that schools of bull red drum are moving up the Bay with cobia following close behind.

Bluefish have shown up earlier than usual this year and are mixing in with the rockfish throughout the middle sections of the Bay. If you're targeting blues, metal spoons or jigs will save your plastic baits from destruction.

White perch action is heating up in the Upper Bay creeks, with Perch Hounders and other spinners proving effective. For bait fishermen, bloodworms or grass shrimp on sabiki rigs are your best options.

For those looking to fill the cooler, spot and croaker are slowly moving into the shallows and can be caught on sabiki rigs tipped with bait. Small black drum have also been reported in the Middle Bay area, with peeler crab being the bait of choice.

Hot spots for this weekend: For an epic adventure, hit the former Key Bridge area or Pooles Island with 4-6 inch baits. Thomas Point and Poplar Island are producing consistently for those targeting structure. And if you're after the trophy catches, the Upper Bay between Love Point and Tolchester seems to be holding the biggest stripers in the Bay right now.

Thanks for tuning in to this week's report, folks! Make sure to subscribe for more up-to-date fishing intel. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore/Washington D.C. fishing report for Wednesday, June 4th, 2025.

First off, we’re looking at solid fishing conditions across the region. Sunrise hit at 5:40 AM, with sunset coming at 8:27 PM—plenty of daylight to make the most of this active early summer bite. Today’s tides show a high at 2:26 AM, low at 8:48 AM, another high at 2:42 PM, and the evening low at 9:02 PM. That afternoon high tide is prime time for some shoreline casting or drifting near structure, so plan to be out as the water’s moving the most. Weather has been a mixed bag lately, but today expect a mild start warming into the upper 70s with a light southerly breeze—perfect for hitting the water.

Let’s talk fish: The Upper Bay rivers are now open for rockfish harvest and the bite has been strong. According to Anglers Sport Center’s June 3rd report, rockfish, speckled trout, and small red drum are hugging shoreline structure, with topwater plugs, diving plugs, and paddletails all producing. Jigging three to five-inch soft plastics—think paddletails and straight tails—has been especially hot around the Bay Bridge southern span and the deeper rockpiles. If you’re working the rocks or rip-rap in the Patapsco, jerkbaits and soft plastics fished slow are drawing aggressive strikes, and several boats have had double-digit days recently.

Red drum and bluefish are making more consistent showings. FishTalk Magazine notes that a shrimp or finger mullet under a popping cork, a go-to for the Gulf, is proving its worth here too—give it a try in the river mouths or marsh edges. Don’t rule out flounder either; there have been some good catches reported throughout the main Bay channels and near sandy drop-offs.

Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) are holding tight to grass beds in the tidal rivers of the upper Bay, presenting a fun challenge; weedless frogs or chatterbaits around the edges give you the best shot at hooking up.

For bait, live spot is an unbeatable option for rockfish, especially when livelining near structure or pilings. Cut menhaden, peeler crab, and bloodworms are also popular and effective—just remember, fresh is always best.

A couple of hot spots to check today:
- The southern span of the Bay Bridge and its nearby rockpiles for rockfish and drum.
- Patapsco River mouth and waters near the former Key Bridge—schooling rockfish have been feeding on surface bait here, with plenty of action reported.

That’s your Chesapeake Bay fishing update. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your next report! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for June 1st, 2025, serving the Baltimore and Washington D.C. region.

First light hit the water at 5:46 a.m., and we’re set for a sunset of 8:18 p.m., giving you over 14 hours of daylight to chase your trophy. The tides today at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge are running with a high at 1:00 a.m. (2.79 ft), low at 7:28 a.m. (0.27 ft), back up for a high at 1:33 p.m. (2.45 ft), and a low at 7:40 p.m. (0.36 ft)—classic two-tide day, plenty of moving water to get fish active. The tidal coefficient sits at 52 this morning, sliding down to 48 by dusk, so we’re looking at average tidal swings with steady current, a solid setup for ambush feeders around structure and points.

We’re just coming off a stretch of erratic late spring weather—lots of cold and rain recently, so expect water clarity in the upper rivers to be on the muddy side, especially near the Susquehanna. Still, fishing’s been heating up as the season kicks into gear. According to FishTalk, stripers (rockfish) are being caught in good numbers near the Bay Bridge, especially around the southern span and rockpiles. Slot-sized fish—19 to 24 inches—are showing up, with some overs and unders in the mix. Remember to keep only those in the slot and handle any releases gently.

Live-lining spot and jigging three- to five-inch soft plastics and straight tails have been the hot methods. Jerkbaits fished along riprap shorelines are also working, especially in the Patapsco and around the former Key Bridge area, which has been a real hotspot lately with boats reporting double-digit days. Pooles Island and the mouths of the upper bay rivers are also firing up—look for birds or surface action early and late.

Down in the middle bay, netters are seeing spot and small croaker showing up—great news for both bait and table fare. White perch are starting to slide into their summer haunts around oyster bottoms and creek mouths. For perch, try small spinners, artificial jigs, minnows, or grass shrimp. Blue catfish and channel cats are biting well on cut bait, especially in the upper Patuxent and Choptank.

With all the fresh water in the system, be ready to deal with debris, especially near river mouths. Check the weather before you head out, as conditions can change quick with fronts lingering. The bite will likely be best on the outgoing tide as it pulls bait out of the shallows.

Best hotspots today? The Patapsco near Key Bridge, the southern span of the Bay Bridge, and Pooles Island. All are producing stripers, perch, and cats. And don’t overlook the tidal creeks for perch and blue cats.

Top lures:
- Three- to five-inch soft plastic jigs (white, chartreuse, or pearl)
- Jerkbaits for shoreline casting
- Sabiki or bottom rigs for spot and croaker with bloodworms, Fishbites, or shrimp
- Cut gizzard shad for catfish

Thanks for tuning in, don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates and tips. Tight lines, everyone! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Saturday, May 31, 2025, straight from the waters around Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Let’s dive right into the weather. After a spell of tough wind last weekend, today’s shaping up mild, with sunrise at 6:05 AM and sunset at 7:57 PM. Tides near the Bay Bridge see a high at 12:08 AM and another around midday. With a tidal coefficient in the mid-50s to 60s, there’s decent current but nothing extreme—perfect for working those drop-offs and bridge pilings, especially as the water warms into the high 60s and low 70s. Fish will be moving to feed in these active periods, especially on the incoming tide.

Striped bass (rockfish) are the main players right now, as the season just opened and the bite is solid. Reports from Rudow’s FishTalk say slot-sized rockfish are scattered but consistent, especially in areas like Love Point, the Bay Bridge pilings, and drop-offs near the Patapsco and Chester rivers. White and chartreuse tandem rigs trolled along these contours are putting up good numbers, and live-lining spot—easy to gather off Sandy Point or the Bay Bridge on bloodworms or Fishbites—is producing limits for charter boats. Jigging with three to five-inch soft plastics is also working well, especially around bridge structure and in deeper water.

There’s also a nice run of smaller black drum in the 22–24” range, especially in the middle bay, with soft crab dropped near power plants producing a handful earlier this week, though some anglers report thick schools of rays muscling in on the action. Bluefish are popping up, particularly over 20 inches, found pushing bait and occasionally blitzing at the surface near open water and warm-water discharges.

If you’re after invasives or just want a break from the striper crowd, blue catfish action is heating up with the recent fresh water influx—try cut alewife or menhaden in the Chester River, Patapsco, or anywhere near Sandy Point for big cats.

For those who like specifics, two hot spots to check out today:
- The remains of the Key Bridge in the Patapsco, especially near pilings—striped bass and blues are both strong here.
- The drop-offs around Love Point—trolling and jigging both productive, with a bonus shot at some early season spot and croaker if you bottom fish.

In terms of gear, stick to chartreuse or white tandem rigs for trolling, soft plastics in chartreuse or pearl for jigging, and live spot or cut bait for the cats. Bloodworms and Fishbites are dynamite for catching bait and tempting the odd perch or spot.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s report! Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates and on-the-water tips. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, check out quietplease dot ai.

Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure here with your May 30th, 2025, Chesapeake Bay fishing report for the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region.

The sun rose at 5:47 a.m. and will set at 8:17 p.m., giving us a long day to chase linesides and everything else the Bay has to offer. Winds have moderated since last week’s blow, and today’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high in the low 80s and light southeasterly breezes. On the water, tide cycles show a low tide at 8:23 a.m., followed by a high at 1:27 p.m.—so plan to work the moving water for the best bite, especially in the early afternoon and during the evening ebb.

Striped bass season is in full swing, and the action has been consistent for those targeting the upper and middle Bay. According to FishTalk Magazine, Love Point and the Bay Bridge pilings are hot zones for slot-sized rockfish. White and chartreuse tandem rigs are getting it done for trollers, while jigging three- to five-inch soft plastics around structure has produced nice catches. Live lining spot—easily caught just off Sandy Point on bloodworms or Fishbites—has put fish up to 30 inches in the box for charter boats.

If you’re working the Patapsco near the Key Bridge, expect stripers holding near the pilings, with occasional schools popping up in open water. The Choptank’s shallows and Janes Island have been productive, too, particularly for morning anglers. Some speckled trout are mixed in with the rockfish in these areas—soft plastics and paddle tails in natural colors are your go-to.

Black drum are making a surprise appearance, with decent numbers of 22-to-24-inchers caught by dropping soft crab near the power plant earlier this week. However, be prepared to battle an abundance of rays if you’re soaking baits on the bottom.

Bluefish are here and hungry; several fish over 20 inches have been caught near the CCNPP discharge and in open water pods chasing bait. Use metal spoons or heavy leaders with your soft plastics—these blues have teeth and attitude.

As for those targeting cats, blue catfish have been very active, especially in the Chester River and around Sandy Point, due to recent lower salinity. Cut bait—alewife or menhaden—works best for these spring cats, and they’re thick enough to keep rods bending all day.

Top baits and lures for today:
- Soft plastics in white, chartreuse, or natural hues
- Tandem rigs for trolling rockfish
- Spot or bloodworms for live lining and bottom fishing
- Metal spoons and paddle tails for bluefish
- Cut bait for catfish
- Soft crab for black drum

Today’s hot spots include the Bay Bridge pilings, Love Point, the Patapsco River near the Key Bridge, and the mouth of the Choptank.

Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fishing fix. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for this fine Wednesday, May 28th.

The rockfish (striped bass) season is in full swing now, and folks have been having decent luck throughout the Upper and Middle Bay. Water temps are sitting in the mid-70s, perfect for active fish. The tides are running strong today with a high around noon and low tide coming in the evening - that moving water should trigger some good feeding activity.

Sunrise was at 5:43 AM with sunset expected at 8:26 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours on the water. We're looking at partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 70s - pretty much perfect fishing weather, if you ask me.

Since the striped bass season opened on May 16th, anglers have been finding good action around the Bay Bridge, Patapsco River, and Chester River. The slot limit remains 19-24 inches with a one fish per person daily limit. Remember to check those DNR regulation maps before heading out.

Spot have settled into their summer patterns and are plentiful around the Bay Bridge, mouths of tidal rivers, and Six and Seven Foot Knolls. Most are running 3-6 inches - perfect for live-lining. Small croaker are mixed in with them too, though most are under the 9-inch minimum.

White perch should be in their summer spots by now - look for them in the shallows of tidal tributaries, areas with oyster bottom, and artificial reef sites. Small spinners, jigs, minnows, and grass shrimp are working well.

For catfish, the tidal rivers are outproducing the main stem of the Bay. Blue cats are biting in the upper Patuxent and Choptank rivers - fresh cut gizzard shad has been the ticket.

Hot spots this week:
Love Point has been producing slot rockfish for trollers, with fish scattered across different depths. The shoreline points, docks, and rip-rap are holding fish, especially during strong tidal movements.

For bait and lures: Bottom rigs or Chesapeake sabiki rigs tipped with Fishbites or bloodworms (if your wallet can handle it) are working for spot and croaker. For stripers, live spot is king right now, but bucktails, soft plastics, and topwater lures are also producing in the shallows, particularly at dawn and dusk.

That's it from me today. Tight lines, and I'll see y'all on the water!

Hey there, fellow anglers! This is Artificial Lure coming at you with the latest from the Chesapeake waters for this beautiful Monday morning, May 26th.

Striped bass season is in full swing now, having opened up on May 16th, and the action has been hot! Reports from the past week show a good number of slot rockfish scattered around Love Point, with fish holding at various depths. The Bay Bridge area has also been productive, whether you're live-lining spot or casting jigs[1][2][3].

Speaking of spot, they've moved into their summer haunts and are plentiful around the Bay Bridge, at the mouths of tidal rivers, and at Six and Seven Foot Knolls. These little fellas are running between three and six inches - perfect for live-lining. Bottom rigs or Chesapeake sabiki rigs tipped with Fishbites or bloodworms have been doing the trick. There are also some small croaker mixed in with the spot catches[2].

Water temps are above 70 degrees now, pushing stripers into the shallows. Focus on shoreline points, docks, and rip-rap, especially during strong tidal movements. If you're heading out to troll, the Love Point area has some great ledges and contours that are holding fish[2][3].

Blue catfish have been a bit slow this spring, likely due to high salinity levels. Traditional hotspots like Podickory Point, Magothy River, Patapsco River, Chester River, and areas around Pooles Island haven't been as productive as usual. Your best bet is to head further up the tidal rivers where you might also hook into some channel cats[2].

The lower Susquehanna River and Way North region were running high and muddy from heavy rain last week, but should be improving by now. If you're heading that way, remember that striped bass season in the Way North region doesn't open until June 1st, so check those regulations carefully[5].

Hot spots for today: Bay Bridge pilings for stripers (try jigging BKDs or similar soft plastics), Love Point ledges for trolling (tandem rigs have been working well), and the mouths of the Patapsco and Chester Rivers for a mixed bag of spot and perch[2][3].

The tide should be flooding through mid-morning, which is prime time for those bridge pilings. With the warm weather we've been having, early morning and evening bites have been most productive.

Remember to bring plenty of water and sunscreen - it's heating up out there! This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines and good fishing, see y'all on the water!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for this beautiful Sunday morning, May 25, 2025.

The big news is that striped bass season is in full swing across most of the Chesapeake, though the Way North region remains closed until June 1st. The rest of the bay from the upper bay south has been productive since opening day.

If you're heading out today, you'll want to know that trollers and live-liners working from Love Point down to the Bay Bridge have been landing good numbers of slot rockfish. The Middle Bay's shallows with clean water and structure have been producing consistently, while the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant area has also seen decent action. Keep an eye out for some big bluefish mixed in with your catch!

Down in the Lower Bay, the Potomac River stretch from the 301 bridge to the mouth has been hot. Virginia waters are giving up speckled trout and puppy drum, with the Rappahannock standing out as this month's hot spot.

Eastern Shore anglers are still connecting with black drum and red drum over oyster bottoms, and bull reds have been pushing onto the grass flats in impressive numbers. The seaside flounder bite has been outstanding this spring when weather permits.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area is now hosting sheepshead and cobia, adding some variety to your potential catch.

For bait and lures, live spot are plentiful around the Bay Bridge, river mouths, and Six and Seven Foot Knolls. Bottom rigs or Chesapeake sabiki rigs tipped with Fishbites or bloodworms are working well for spot, which make perfect live bait. If you're throwing artificial, half-ounce to one-ounce jigs with 5-6 inch plastics are producing around the bridge.

For those surf fishing, chunks of bunker, peeler crabs, and sand fleas are enticing stripers along Assateague Island, though many are over slot. Sand fleas have been the hot bait for black drum.

Hot spots for today include the Bay Bridge pilings, Love Point, Calvert Cliffs power plant discharge, and the Ocean City inlet near the jetties if you're heading to the coast. The Rappahannock River deserves special mention for those targeting speckled trout and puppy drum.

Water temperatures are now above 70 degrees, bringing fish into the shallows. Focus on shoreline points, docks, and rip-rap, especially during strong tidal movements.

That's your report for today, folks. Get out there and tight lines to all of you! This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time.

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Saturday, May 24, 2025, covering Baltimore and Washington D.C. waters.

Sunrise this morning was bright at 5:45 AM, and you can expect dusk right around 8:20 PM. Weather is shaping up with mild temps in the low 70s, partly cloudy skies, and a light breeze out of the south. Tides today are moderate with a morning high around 8 AM and a falling tide through midday, which should set the stage for some solid fishing through late morning into early afternoon.

Striped bass season is now open in most of the Bay, except for the Way North region which is closed until June 1. In the open areas, reports have been strong from Love Point down to the Bay Bridge with good numbers of slot fish being found, especially by trollers and those soaking live spot or cut bait. Fish are also being caught shallow around structure as the water has warmed above 70 degrees. If you're fishing the Middle Bay, hit the clean water around the Bay Bridge pilings or try the mouths of the tidal rivers where bait is congregating[1][2][3].

Spot have moved in thick around the Bay Bridge and mouths of local tributaries. Most are in the three to six inch range, making them ideal for live lining to striped bass. Chesapeake Sabiki rigs tipped with bloodworms or Fishbites have been the ticket for quantity. Some small croaker are mixed in but most are undersized for keeping[3].

If you’re in the mood for action, there’s also a good bluefish bite south of the bridge and even some big ones being reported near Calvert Cliffs. Flounder are putting on a show at the mouth of the Bay and the inshore seaside, but right here locally you’re best off targeting them on hard bottom with Gulp! swimming mullets or live minnows.

Black drum and red drum are still running strong on oyster beds on the Eastern Shore. For those heading further south, speckled trout and puppy drum are firing up in the rivers off Virginia waters, notably the Potomac and Rappahannock. Anglers fishing grass flats with soft plastics and scented paddletails are doing well. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel has also seen a push of sheepshead on crab baits recently[1].

Best bait for stripers this week has been live spot, peeler crab, and cut menhaden. For lure anglers, 5-inch paddletails in white or chartreuse on a half-ounce jig have been a consistent producer, especially around structure and current seams.

Hot spots this weekend include the Bay Bridge pilings, Love Point, and the mouths of the Magothy and Patapsco Rivers. For a change of pace, try Six or Seven Foot Knolls for spot or drift the channel edges south of the bridge for bluefish[1][3].

Go get ‘em, fish smart, and tight lines from Artificial Lure.