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Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Perch, Shad, Catfish Bite Strong as Stripers Remain Closed
Good afternoon, anglers! Here’s your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Friday, April 4, 2025. Spring is in the air, and while the striped bass season is on pause in Maryland, there’s still plenty of excitement for those wetting a line around the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
Today’s weather features clear skies with warm temperatures in the mid-60s, alongside light winds, creating excellent fishing conditions. Sunrise was at 6:43 AM, and you can expect sunset at 7:30 PM, providing ample daylight for your expedition. The tide report for the Chesapeake Bay shows a high tide at 3:57 PM and a low tide around 10:56 PM, so plan accordingly for peak fishing times.
With rockfish off-limits until May 16, anglers are focusing on other abundant species. White perch action is strong in tributaries like the Patuxent River. Anglers at Jug Bay are reporting good catches using bloodworms, grass shrimp, and small shad darts. Hickory and American shad are also making their runs in the Potomac River and nearby tributaries. Fletcher’s Cove, in particular, is a hotspot for targeting these feisty fish using silver spoons or twisty tail jigs.
Blue catfish are providing thrilling action as well, with specimens up to 20 pounds being caught in the upper Bay tributaries, including the Patapsco and Severn Rivers. Fresh cut bait like bunker or perch is the go-to for these whiskered giants. Anglers fishing near Hackett’s Point and the shallows outside Sandy Point State Park have reported consistent success.
For freshwater enthusiasts, largemouth bass are active in pre-spawn patterns. Reservoirs like Loch Raven and Liberty are excellent choices, with chatterbaits and shad-colored crankbaits working well along drop-offs and the mouths of shallow coves. Snakehead enthusiasts, head to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge—it’s peak season for targeting these aggressive predators with white chatterbaits or topwater lures.
For bait, bloodworms and grass shrimp remain excellent for perch and panfish, while larger predators like blue catfish are biting on fresh cut bunker or gizzard shad. Soft plastic paddletails in chartreuse are a great option for shad, and if you’re venturing south to the lower Bay, try popping cork rigs with paddletails to target speckled trout and puppy drum.
Hotspots for today include Jug Bay on the Patuxent River for white perch and Fletcher’s Cove for shad. For blue catfish, try Hackett’s Point or near the mouth of the Potomac. Reservoirs like Loch Raven offer additional action for bass fishing fans.
Tight lines, and enjoy this beautiful spring day on the Chesapeake Bay!
Today’s weather features clear skies with warm temperatures in the mid-60s, alongside light winds, creating excellent fishing conditions. Sunrise was at 6:43 AM, and you can expect sunset at 7:30 PM, providing ample daylight for your expedition. The tide report for the Chesapeake Bay shows a high tide at 3:57 PM and a low tide around 10:56 PM, so plan accordingly for peak fishing times.
With rockfish off-limits until May 16, anglers are focusing on other abundant species. White perch action is strong in tributaries like the Patuxent River. Anglers at Jug Bay are reporting good catches using bloodworms, grass shrimp, and small shad darts. Hickory and American shad are also making their runs in the Potomac River and nearby tributaries. Fletcher’s Cove, in particular, is a hotspot for targeting these feisty fish using silver spoons or twisty tail jigs.
Blue catfish are providing thrilling action as well, with specimens up to 20 pounds being caught in the upper Bay tributaries, including the Patapsco and Severn Rivers. Fresh cut bait like bunker or perch is the go-to for these whiskered giants. Anglers fishing near Hackett’s Point and the shallows outside Sandy Point State Park have reported consistent success.
For freshwater enthusiasts, largemouth bass are active in pre-spawn patterns. Reservoirs like Loch Raven and Liberty are excellent choices, with chatterbaits and shad-colored crankbaits working well along drop-offs and the mouths of shallow coves. Snakehead enthusiasts, head to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge—it’s peak season for targeting these aggressive predators with white chatterbaits or topwater lures.
For bait, bloodworms and grass shrimp remain excellent for perch and panfish, while larger predators like blue catfish are biting on fresh cut bunker or gizzard shad. Soft plastic paddletails in chartreuse are a great option for shad, and if you’re venturing south to the lower Bay, try popping cork rigs with paddletails to target speckled trout and puppy drum.
Hotspots for today include Jug Bay on the Patuxent River for white perch and Fletcher’s Cove for shad. For blue catfish, try Hackett’s Point or near the mouth of the Potomac. Reservoirs like Loch Raven offer additional action for bass fishing fans.
Tight lines, and enjoy this beautiful spring day on the Chesapeake Bay!
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By Quiet. PleaseGood afternoon, anglers! Here’s your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Friday, April 4, 2025. Spring is in the air, and while the striped bass season is on pause in Maryland, there’s still plenty of excitement for those wetting a line around the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
Today’s weather features clear skies with warm temperatures in the mid-60s, alongside light winds, creating excellent fishing conditions. Sunrise was at 6:43 AM, and you can expect sunset at 7:30 PM, providing ample daylight for your expedition. The tide report for the Chesapeake Bay shows a high tide at 3:57 PM and a low tide around 10:56 PM, so plan accordingly for peak fishing times.
With rockfish off-limits until May 16, anglers are focusing on other abundant species. White perch action is strong in tributaries like the Patuxent River. Anglers at Jug Bay are reporting good catches using bloodworms, grass shrimp, and small shad darts. Hickory and American shad are also making their runs in the Potomac River and nearby tributaries. Fletcher’s Cove, in particular, is a hotspot for targeting these feisty fish using silver spoons or twisty tail jigs.
Blue catfish are providing thrilling action as well, with specimens up to 20 pounds being caught in the upper Bay tributaries, including the Patapsco and Severn Rivers. Fresh cut bait like bunker or perch is the go-to for these whiskered giants. Anglers fishing near Hackett’s Point and the shallows outside Sandy Point State Park have reported consistent success.
For freshwater enthusiasts, largemouth bass are active in pre-spawn patterns. Reservoirs like Loch Raven and Liberty are excellent choices, with chatterbaits and shad-colored crankbaits working well along drop-offs and the mouths of shallow coves. Snakehead enthusiasts, head to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge—it’s peak season for targeting these aggressive predators with white chatterbaits or topwater lures.
For bait, bloodworms and grass shrimp remain excellent for perch and panfish, while larger predators like blue catfish are biting on fresh cut bunker or gizzard shad. Soft plastic paddletails in chartreuse are a great option for shad, and if you’re venturing south to the lower Bay, try popping cork rigs with paddletails to target speckled trout and puppy drum.
Hotspots for today include Jug Bay on the Patuxent River for white perch and Fletcher’s Cove for shad. For blue catfish, try Hackett’s Point or near the mouth of the Potomac. Reservoirs like Loch Raven offer additional action for bass fishing fans.
Tight lines, and enjoy this beautiful spring day on the Chesapeake Bay!
Today’s weather features clear skies with warm temperatures in the mid-60s, alongside light winds, creating excellent fishing conditions. Sunrise was at 6:43 AM, and you can expect sunset at 7:30 PM, providing ample daylight for your expedition. The tide report for the Chesapeake Bay shows a high tide at 3:57 PM and a low tide around 10:56 PM, so plan accordingly for peak fishing times.
With rockfish off-limits until May 16, anglers are focusing on other abundant species. White perch action is strong in tributaries like the Patuxent River. Anglers at Jug Bay are reporting good catches using bloodworms, grass shrimp, and small shad darts. Hickory and American shad are also making their runs in the Potomac River and nearby tributaries. Fletcher’s Cove, in particular, is a hotspot for targeting these feisty fish using silver spoons or twisty tail jigs.
Blue catfish are providing thrilling action as well, with specimens up to 20 pounds being caught in the upper Bay tributaries, including the Patapsco and Severn Rivers. Fresh cut bait like bunker or perch is the go-to for these whiskered giants. Anglers fishing near Hackett’s Point and the shallows outside Sandy Point State Park have reported consistent success.
For freshwater enthusiasts, largemouth bass are active in pre-spawn patterns. Reservoirs like Loch Raven and Liberty are excellent choices, with chatterbaits and shad-colored crankbaits working well along drop-offs and the mouths of shallow coves. Snakehead enthusiasts, head to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge—it’s peak season for targeting these aggressive predators with white chatterbaits or topwater lures.
For bait, bloodworms and grass shrimp remain excellent for perch and panfish, while larger predators like blue catfish are biting on fresh cut bunker or gizzard shad. Soft plastic paddletails in chartreuse are a great option for shad, and if you’re venturing south to the lower Bay, try popping cork rigs with paddletails to target speckled trout and puppy drum.
Hotspots for today include Jug Bay on the Patuxent River for white perch and Fletcher’s Cove for shad. For blue catfish, try Hackett’s Point or near the mouth of the Potomac. Reservoirs like Loch Raven offer additional action for bass fishing fans.
Tight lines, and enjoy this beautiful spring day on the Chesapeake Bay!