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Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Shad, Cats, Smallies, Perch, and Snakeheads Heating Up
CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING REPORT - May 7, 2025
Hey anglers, Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing update for the Chesapeake region!
The bay is coming alive as we roll into May, and the action is picking up across the watershed. Water temps are climbing, triggering some excellent fishing opportunities throughout the area.
In the northern bay, the hickory shad run is still going strong, particularly in the lower Susquehanna. If you're looking for some steady action, head to Port Deposit or Havre De Grace where anglers are having a field day with catfish. One fella reported hauling in 45 catfish on simple bottom rigs with worms. The blue cats are especially active, following schools of perch, with some monsters up to 40 pounds being landed[1].
For the striper enthusiasts, hold your horses just a bit longer - the season remains closed in Maryland waters but will open on May 16th in select areas. Check the DNR regulations map before heading out as not all areas will open simultaneously. In the meantime, the Conowingo Fisherman's Park below the dam is producing some nice smallmouth bass and walleye for those who can't wait[1].
Down in the middle bay, white perch should be moving into their summer haunts any day now. Look for them in the shallows of tidal tributaries, areas with oyster bottom, and artificial reef sites. Small spinners, jigs, minnows, or grass shrimp will do the trick. The tidal rivers like the Patuxent and Choptank are your best bet for blue catfish, with fresh gizzard shad being the top bait choice[4].
Good news from the netters - they're starting to see spot and small croaker in their pound nets, which means live-lining opportunities for striped bass once the season opens[4].
In the lower bay, snakehead fishing has been absolutely on fire! The Potomac Creek area has been particularly productive, with one angler landing a 30.5" beast while topwater fishing. The grass flats and SAV in the Potomac tributaries on both the Maryland and Virginia sides are holding pre-spawn snakeheads hitting topwater frogs. The Rappahannock around Fredericksburg and Port Royal is another snakehead hotspot[5].
Hot spots for this week: Conowingo area for catfish and smallmouth, Eastern Bay for white perch, and Potomac Creek for trophy snakeheads.
For tides, we're looking at a high around mid-morning and again in the evening, with a good moving tide during prime fishing hours.
Remember folks, when the striped bass season opens on the 16th, the regulations remain at a 19-24" slot limit with one fish per person per day[4].
That's the scoop for today. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see ya on the water!
Hey anglers, Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing update for the Chesapeake region!
The bay is coming alive as we roll into May, and the action is picking up across the watershed. Water temps are climbing, triggering some excellent fishing opportunities throughout the area.
In the northern bay, the hickory shad run is still going strong, particularly in the lower Susquehanna. If you're looking for some steady action, head to Port Deposit or Havre De Grace where anglers are having a field day with catfish. One fella reported hauling in 45 catfish on simple bottom rigs with worms. The blue cats are especially active, following schools of perch, with some monsters up to 40 pounds being landed[1].
For the striper enthusiasts, hold your horses just a bit longer - the season remains closed in Maryland waters but will open on May 16th in select areas. Check the DNR regulations map before heading out as not all areas will open simultaneously. In the meantime, the Conowingo Fisherman's Park below the dam is producing some nice smallmouth bass and walleye for those who can't wait[1].
Down in the middle bay, white perch should be moving into their summer haunts any day now. Look for them in the shallows of tidal tributaries, areas with oyster bottom, and artificial reef sites. Small spinners, jigs, minnows, or grass shrimp will do the trick. The tidal rivers like the Patuxent and Choptank are your best bet for blue catfish, with fresh gizzard shad being the top bait choice[4].
Good news from the netters - they're starting to see spot and small croaker in their pound nets, which means live-lining opportunities for striped bass once the season opens[4].
In the lower bay, snakehead fishing has been absolutely on fire! The Potomac Creek area has been particularly productive, with one angler landing a 30.5" beast while topwater fishing. The grass flats and SAV in the Potomac tributaries on both the Maryland and Virginia sides are holding pre-spawn snakeheads hitting topwater frogs. The Rappahannock around Fredericksburg and Port Royal is another snakehead hotspot[5].
Hot spots for this week: Conowingo area for catfish and smallmouth, Eastern Bay for white perch, and Potomac Creek for trophy snakeheads.
For tides, we're looking at a high around mid-morning and again in the evening, with a good moving tide during prime fishing hours.
Remember folks, when the striped bass season opens on the 16th, the regulations remain at a 19-24" slot limit with one fish per person per day[4].
That's the scoop for today. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see ya on the water!
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By Quiet. PleaseCHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING REPORT - May 7, 2025
Hey anglers, Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing update for the Chesapeake region!
The bay is coming alive as we roll into May, and the action is picking up across the watershed. Water temps are climbing, triggering some excellent fishing opportunities throughout the area.
In the northern bay, the hickory shad run is still going strong, particularly in the lower Susquehanna. If you're looking for some steady action, head to Port Deposit or Havre De Grace where anglers are having a field day with catfish. One fella reported hauling in 45 catfish on simple bottom rigs with worms. The blue cats are especially active, following schools of perch, with some monsters up to 40 pounds being landed[1].
For the striper enthusiasts, hold your horses just a bit longer - the season remains closed in Maryland waters but will open on May 16th in select areas. Check the DNR regulations map before heading out as not all areas will open simultaneously. In the meantime, the Conowingo Fisherman's Park below the dam is producing some nice smallmouth bass and walleye for those who can't wait[1].
Down in the middle bay, white perch should be moving into their summer haunts any day now. Look for them in the shallows of tidal tributaries, areas with oyster bottom, and artificial reef sites. Small spinners, jigs, minnows, or grass shrimp will do the trick. The tidal rivers like the Patuxent and Choptank are your best bet for blue catfish, with fresh gizzard shad being the top bait choice[4].
Good news from the netters - they're starting to see spot and small croaker in their pound nets, which means live-lining opportunities for striped bass once the season opens[4].
In the lower bay, snakehead fishing has been absolutely on fire! The Potomac Creek area has been particularly productive, with one angler landing a 30.5" beast while topwater fishing. The grass flats and SAV in the Potomac tributaries on both the Maryland and Virginia sides are holding pre-spawn snakeheads hitting topwater frogs. The Rappahannock around Fredericksburg and Port Royal is another snakehead hotspot[5].
Hot spots for this week: Conowingo area for catfish and smallmouth, Eastern Bay for white perch, and Potomac Creek for trophy snakeheads.
For tides, we're looking at a high around mid-morning and again in the evening, with a good moving tide during prime fishing hours.
Remember folks, when the striped bass season opens on the 16th, the regulations remain at a 19-24" slot limit with one fish per person per day[4].
That's the scoop for today. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see ya on the water!
Hey anglers, Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing update for the Chesapeake region!
The bay is coming alive as we roll into May, and the action is picking up across the watershed. Water temps are climbing, triggering some excellent fishing opportunities throughout the area.
In the northern bay, the hickory shad run is still going strong, particularly in the lower Susquehanna. If you're looking for some steady action, head to Port Deposit or Havre De Grace where anglers are having a field day with catfish. One fella reported hauling in 45 catfish on simple bottom rigs with worms. The blue cats are especially active, following schools of perch, with some monsters up to 40 pounds being landed[1].
For the striper enthusiasts, hold your horses just a bit longer - the season remains closed in Maryland waters but will open on May 16th in select areas. Check the DNR regulations map before heading out as not all areas will open simultaneously. In the meantime, the Conowingo Fisherman's Park below the dam is producing some nice smallmouth bass and walleye for those who can't wait[1].
Down in the middle bay, white perch should be moving into their summer haunts any day now. Look for them in the shallows of tidal tributaries, areas with oyster bottom, and artificial reef sites. Small spinners, jigs, minnows, or grass shrimp will do the trick. The tidal rivers like the Patuxent and Choptank are your best bet for blue catfish, with fresh gizzard shad being the top bait choice[4].
Good news from the netters - they're starting to see spot and small croaker in their pound nets, which means live-lining opportunities for striped bass once the season opens[4].
In the lower bay, snakehead fishing has been absolutely on fire! The Potomac Creek area has been particularly productive, with one angler landing a 30.5" beast while topwater fishing. The grass flats and SAV in the Potomac tributaries on both the Maryland and Virginia sides are holding pre-spawn snakeheads hitting topwater frogs. The Rappahannock around Fredericksburg and Port Royal is another snakehead hotspot[5].
Hot spots for this week: Conowingo area for catfish and smallmouth, Eastern Bay for white perch, and Potomac Creek for trophy snakeheads.
For tides, we're looking at a high around mid-morning and again in the evening, with a good moving tide during prime fishing hours.
Remember folks, when the striped bass season opens on the 16th, the regulations remain at a 19-24" slot limit with one fish per person per day[4].
That's the scoop for today. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see ya on the water!