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Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Catfish Bonanza, Stripers Still Closed, Mild Spring Day
This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, April 20, 2025, focusing on the Baltimore and DC region.
First light broke around 6:20 a.m. this morning, and sunset will be about 7:48 p.m. Winds are light out of the northwest and we have a mild spring day with scattered clouds and highs in the mid 60s. The tide is working through a morning low, pushing in through late morning and peaking midafternoon, which should help get the fish moving.
You’ll want to steer clear of striped bass for now. Maryland’s striped bass closure is still in effect across all Bay waters until May 16, so targeting them is off limits, but there’s still plenty of action to be had. Blue catfish are biting strong and are now the star of the show from Havre de Grace down to Pooles Island and all around the tidal tributaries. Anglers are reporting big numbers of blue cats, many running from 10 to 20 pounds, and some real bruisers over 40 getting pulled up this week. Channel catfish are active too, especially around Lapidum boat ramp, where a recent catch saw nearly a dozen channel cats, most around five pounds, caught on frozen shrimp.
For best results, bait up with fresh cut shad, menhaden, chicken breast, or shrimp. These have been landing the most fish, but blue cats aren’t picky so any fresh oily bait should work. Heavy sinkers are a must to hold bottom in the current. If you want to go the artificial route, large soft plastics and paddletails in bright colors have been catching fish too, but natural bait is tough to beat right now.
Hot spots today are the mouths of the tidal tributaries, especially in the Susquehanna, Bush, and Gunpowder rivers, as well as the area just north and south of the Bay Bridge. Hart Miller Island and Pooles Island are producing steady catfish action and are worth a stop if you are out in a boat.
Remember blue cats are invasive, so take as many as you can home for a fish fry or to share. And if you want to help the Bay, log your invasive catches with CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count for a shot at prizes.
That’s your April 20th report from Artificial Lure. Tackle up, enjoy the bite, and tight lines out there on the Chesapeake today.
First light broke around 6:20 a.m. this morning, and sunset will be about 7:48 p.m. Winds are light out of the northwest and we have a mild spring day with scattered clouds and highs in the mid 60s. The tide is working through a morning low, pushing in through late morning and peaking midafternoon, which should help get the fish moving.
You’ll want to steer clear of striped bass for now. Maryland’s striped bass closure is still in effect across all Bay waters until May 16, so targeting them is off limits, but there’s still plenty of action to be had. Blue catfish are biting strong and are now the star of the show from Havre de Grace down to Pooles Island and all around the tidal tributaries. Anglers are reporting big numbers of blue cats, many running from 10 to 20 pounds, and some real bruisers over 40 getting pulled up this week. Channel catfish are active too, especially around Lapidum boat ramp, where a recent catch saw nearly a dozen channel cats, most around five pounds, caught on frozen shrimp.
For best results, bait up with fresh cut shad, menhaden, chicken breast, or shrimp. These have been landing the most fish, but blue cats aren’t picky so any fresh oily bait should work. Heavy sinkers are a must to hold bottom in the current. If you want to go the artificial route, large soft plastics and paddletails in bright colors have been catching fish too, but natural bait is tough to beat right now.
Hot spots today are the mouths of the tidal tributaries, especially in the Susquehanna, Bush, and Gunpowder rivers, as well as the area just north and south of the Bay Bridge. Hart Miller Island and Pooles Island are producing steady catfish action and are worth a stop if you are out in a boat.
Remember blue cats are invasive, so take as many as you can home for a fish fry or to share. And if you want to help the Bay, log your invasive catches with CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count for a shot at prizes.
That’s your April 20th report from Artificial Lure. Tackle up, enjoy the bite, and tight lines out there on the Chesapeake today.
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By Quiet. PleaseThis is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, April 20, 2025, focusing on the Baltimore and DC region.
First light broke around 6:20 a.m. this morning, and sunset will be about 7:48 p.m. Winds are light out of the northwest and we have a mild spring day with scattered clouds and highs in the mid 60s. The tide is working through a morning low, pushing in through late morning and peaking midafternoon, which should help get the fish moving.
You’ll want to steer clear of striped bass for now. Maryland’s striped bass closure is still in effect across all Bay waters until May 16, so targeting them is off limits, but there’s still plenty of action to be had. Blue catfish are biting strong and are now the star of the show from Havre de Grace down to Pooles Island and all around the tidal tributaries. Anglers are reporting big numbers of blue cats, many running from 10 to 20 pounds, and some real bruisers over 40 getting pulled up this week. Channel catfish are active too, especially around Lapidum boat ramp, where a recent catch saw nearly a dozen channel cats, most around five pounds, caught on frozen shrimp.
For best results, bait up with fresh cut shad, menhaden, chicken breast, or shrimp. These have been landing the most fish, but blue cats aren’t picky so any fresh oily bait should work. Heavy sinkers are a must to hold bottom in the current. If you want to go the artificial route, large soft plastics and paddletails in bright colors have been catching fish too, but natural bait is tough to beat right now.
Hot spots today are the mouths of the tidal tributaries, especially in the Susquehanna, Bush, and Gunpowder rivers, as well as the area just north and south of the Bay Bridge. Hart Miller Island and Pooles Island are producing steady catfish action and are worth a stop if you are out in a boat.
Remember blue cats are invasive, so take as many as you can home for a fish fry or to share. And if you want to help the Bay, log your invasive catches with CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count for a shot at prizes.
That’s your April 20th report from Artificial Lure. Tackle up, enjoy the bite, and tight lines out there on the Chesapeake today.
First light broke around 6:20 a.m. this morning, and sunset will be about 7:48 p.m. Winds are light out of the northwest and we have a mild spring day with scattered clouds and highs in the mid 60s. The tide is working through a morning low, pushing in through late morning and peaking midafternoon, which should help get the fish moving.
You’ll want to steer clear of striped bass for now. Maryland’s striped bass closure is still in effect across all Bay waters until May 16, so targeting them is off limits, but there’s still plenty of action to be had. Blue catfish are biting strong and are now the star of the show from Havre de Grace down to Pooles Island and all around the tidal tributaries. Anglers are reporting big numbers of blue cats, many running from 10 to 20 pounds, and some real bruisers over 40 getting pulled up this week. Channel catfish are active too, especially around Lapidum boat ramp, where a recent catch saw nearly a dozen channel cats, most around five pounds, caught on frozen shrimp.
For best results, bait up with fresh cut shad, menhaden, chicken breast, or shrimp. These have been landing the most fish, but blue cats aren’t picky so any fresh oily bait should work. Heavy sinkers are a must to hold bottom in the current. If you want to go the artificial route, large soft plastics and paddletails in bright colors have been catching fish too, but natural bait is tough to beat right now.
Hot spots today are the mouths of the tidal tributaries, especially in the Susquehanna, Bush, and Gunpowder rivers, as well as the area just north and south of the Bay Bridge. Hart Miller Island and Pooles Island are producing steady catfish action and are worth a stop if you are out in a boat.
Remember blue cats are invasive, so take as many as you can home for a fish fry or to share. And if you want to help the Bay, log your invasive catches with CCA Maryland’s Great Chesapeake Invasives Count for a shot at prizes.
That’s your April 20th report from Artificial Lure. Tackle up, enjoy the bite, and tight lines out there on the Chesapeake today.