Sun’s up over the Chesapeake Bay—bright orange blazed the horizon at 6:14 AM this morning, promising a muggy August Friday for Baltimore and D.C. area anglers. Today’s weather presses on with high humidity, temps climbing into the upper 80s, and a gentle breeze out of the southwest around 5 knots. NOAA warns to keep an eye out for pop-up thunderstorms this afternoon, especially as a weak frontal boundary lingers. Waves will be minimal, making for easy boat traffic, but visibility could tank in squalls, so plan accordingly.

Tide timing today is classic summer pattern: low tide swept the Fleet Point shoreline just before sunrise at 5:44 AM, with high tide rolling in at 11:23 AM. Expect late morning to midday as your best window for moving water—always a game-changer for bottom action and striped bass feeds. Sunset’s set for 8:09 PM, which means there should be a solid bite through twilight.

Fish activity’s been steady, with local reports from Anglers Sport Center and Maryland DNR saying spot, croaker, blowfish, kingfish, and small sea bass are stacked on channel edges. Southern Bay sections like Point Lookout, Tangier Sound, and up near Cobb Island have been giving up croaker to 13 inches. For bait, bloodworms and peeler crab are the ticket for spot and croaker. Soft crab works magic for bottom fishing near the bridge pilings.

Striped bass have slowed in the heat, and just south of Pooles Island, the deeper channel lumps hold good numbers. Early morning and late evening remain best for casting topwater plugs—think Zara Spooks or Heddon Super Spooks—in shallow water around the Choptank and Patapsco. Live-lining spot and drifting eels at the Bay Bridge piers is producing keepers near the eastern 30-foot edge.

Bluefish action has cooled off a bit; most are hugging bottom near the Target Ship and mouth of the Potomac. If you run into them, cut spot is the surest bet. For artificial lure fans, when water’s clear, throw scaled sardines or translucent whitebait patterns, especially paddle tails and jerkbaits. When the water muddies up after storms, go scented—FishBites or Gulp! attractants get noticed.

Northern snakehead are prowling the muddy shallows of tidal rivers and marshes. Hit sunrise or sunset using weedless frogs or chatterbaits for pulse-pounding strikes—Chesapeake Channa have been a local favorite all season. Be ready for a fight.

Note: Maryland’s striped bass summer closure is in effect this August, as bay states work to protect the fishery during peak vulnerability. If targeting stripers, check regulations and keep it catch-and-release if allowed.

Menhaden fans, heads up: per the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and recent Commission action, heavy summer industrial harvests have pressured menhaden populations, affecting bait availability as well as food for game species. Use local bait shops for fresh menhaden and support smaller harvesters to keep the ecosystem healthy.

Hot spots to try:

- Bay Bridge piers (live spot, soft crab, jigging plastics)
- Choptank River near Cambridge (live-lining spot for stripers and blues)
- Breezy Point and Sharps Island Light (mixed bass/blues)
- Lower Potomac near Cobb Island (croaker, white perch, spot)
- Tidal rivers and marshes for snakehead (frogs and chatterbaits at dawn/dusk)

As always, watch the water color to choose your bait: clear water means fish are picky; go natural with whitebait or sardines. Murky, post-rainwater calls for scented soft plastics and flashy lures. Adapt your approach and you’ll outfish the crowd.

Thanks for tuning in, folks. Be sure to subscribe for your weekly hit of local knowledge and keep an ear out for weather updates—and don’t forget those life jackets when the storms fire up. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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