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Chilly Chesapeake Shad, Perch, and Catfish Bite April 23, 2025 Fishing Report
This is Artificial Lure coming at you with today’s Chesapeake Bay fishing report for April 23, 2025, covering the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area.
After a wet and windy spell lately, the Bay is running higher than usual from all that rain, but the water clarity is hanging in there. Today, expect chilly conditions lingering from the cold front that moved through last weekend, with air temps hovering around the low 50s at sunrise and climbing to the upper 50s by afternoon. Sunrise is at 6:18 a.m. and sunset at 7:51 p.m. The tidal swing is moderate today, with high tide around midday and a falling tide through most of the evening—ideal for working the moving water in tidal rivers and creeks[1][5].
Shad are the headliners right now, with strong runs reported in the upper reaches of the Mattawoman and Potomac near D.C. Anglers have been hauling in dozens of both hickory and American shad using dart and spoon tandems, as well as small flies for those swinging the long rod. The best shad bite has been around Fletchers Cove and north near the first major bend south of D.C. Look for shad to be holding near the bottom in the deeper holes[1][2].
White perch are still packing into tidal salt ponds and rivers. The key bait has been grass shrimp on shad darts or small jigheads, fished under a bobber and worked with a slow pop-and-pause retrieve. Local sharpies have been landing a dozen or more perch in just a couple hours at spots like Triton Beach and in the Patapsco and Magothy Rivers. Most perch are on the smaller side, but there’s enough keepers mixed in to fill a pan[1][5].
Blue catfish action has been spotty north of the Bay Bridge, with the colder water slowing their bite. Commercial nets are picking up a few, but the numbers are still building. However, further down the Potomac, the bite’s been heating up, especially for flatheads and the occasional trophy blue. Try cut gizzard shad or chicken breast soaked in scent on bottom rigs—circle hooks are best for these brutes. The bite is best in deeper water from 10 to 30 feet, particularly in high-flow conditions after rain[2][4].
Top lures this week are shad darts, small spoons, and scented plastics like Z-Man Jerk Shadz for catfish. For perch, stick with grass shrimp or bloodworms on a jighead. Don’t neglect popping and pausing your retrieve for more bites[1][2][5].
Some current hotspots: Fletchers Cove and the tidal Potomac for shad, the Patapsco for white perch, and points near Sandy Point for early catfish. The Mattawoman Creek is also a steady producer for shad[1][2][4].
That’s your update from Artificial Lure. Rig up those shad darts and shrimp, dress warm, and good luck on the water. See you out there!
After a wet and windy spell lately, the Bay is running higher than usual from all that rain, but the water clarity is hanging in there. Today, expect chilly conditions lingering from the cold front that moved through last weekend, with air temps hovering around the low 50s at sunrise and climbing to the upper 50s by afternoon. Sunrise is at 6:18 a.m. and sunset at 7:51 p.m. The tidal swing is moderate today, with high tide around midday and a falling tide through most of the evening—ideal for working the moving water in tidal rivers and creeks[1][5].
Shad are the headliners right now, with strong runs reported in the upper reaches of the Mattawoman and Potomac near D.C. Anglers have been hauling in dozens of both hickory and American shad using dart and spoon tandems, as well as small flies for those swinging the long rod. The best shad bite has been around Fletchers Cove and north near the first major bend south of D.C. Look for shad to be holding near the bottom in the deeper holes[1][2].
White perch are still packing into tidal salt ponds and rivers. The key bait has been grass shrimp on shad darts or small jigheads, fished under a bobber and worked with a slow pop-and-pause retrieve. Local sharpies have been landing a dozen or more perch in just a couple hours at spots like Triton Beach and in the Patapsco and Magothy Rivers. Most perch are on the smaller side, but there’s enough keepers mixed in to fill a pan[1][5].
Blue catfish action has been spotty north of the Bay Bridge, with the colder water slowing their bite. Commercial nets are picking up a few, but the numbers are still building. However, further down the Potomac, the bite’s been heating up, especially for flatheads and the occasional trophy blue. Try cut gizzard shad or chicken breast soaked in scent on bottom rigs—circle hooks are best for these brutes. The bite is best in deeper water from 10 to 30 feet, particularly in high-flow conditions after rain[2][4].
Top lures this week are shad darts, small spoons, and scented plastics like Z-Man Jerk Shadz for catfish. For perch, stick with grass shrimp or bloodworms on a jighead. Don’t neglect popping and pausing your retrieve for more bites[1][2][5].
Some current hotspots: Fletchers Cove and the tidal Potomac for shad, the Patapsco for white perch, and points near Sandy Point for early catfish. The Mattawoman Creek is also a steady producer for shad[1][2][4].
That’s your update from Artificial Lure. Rig up those shad darts and shrimp, dress warm, and good luck on the water. See you out there!
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By Quiet. PleaseThis is Artificial Lure coming at you with today’s Chesapeake Bay fishing report for April 23, 2025, covering the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area.
After a wet and windy spell lately, the Bay is running higher than usual from all that rain, but the water clarity is hanging in there. Today, expect chilly conditions lingering from the cold front that moved through last weekend, with air temps hovering around the low 50s at sunrise and climbing to the upper 50s by afternoon. Sunrise is at 6:18 a.m. and sunset at 7:51 p.m. The tidal swing is moderate today, with high tide around midday and a falling tide through most of the evening—ideal for working the moving water in tidal rivers and creeks[1][5].
Shad are the headliners right now, with strong runs reported in the upper reaches of the Mattawoman and Potomac near D.C. Anglers have been hauling in dozens of both hickory and American shad using dart and spoon tandems, as well as small flies for those swinging the long rod. The best shad bite has been around Fletchers Cove and north near the first major bend south of D.C. Look for shad to be holding near the bottom in the deeper holes[1][2].
White perch are still packing into tidal salt ponds and rivers. The key bait has been grass shrimp on shad darts or small jigheads, fished under a bobber and worked with a slow pop-and-pause retrieve. Local sharpies have been landing a dozen or more perch in just a couple hours at spots like Triton Beach and in the Patapsco and Magothy Rivers. Most perch are on the smaller side, but there’s enough keepers mixed in to fill a pan[1][5].
Blue catfish action has been spotty north of the Bay Bridge, with the colder water slowing their bite. Commercial nets are picking up a few, but the numbers are still building. However, further down the Potomac, the bite’s been heating up, especially for flatheads and the occasional trophy blue. Try cut gizzard shad or chicken breast soaked in scent on bottom rigs—circle hooks are best for these brutes. The bite is best in deeper water from 10 to 30 feet, particularly in high-flow conditions after rain[2][4].
Top lures this week are shad darts, small spoons, and scented plastics like Z-Man Jerk Shadz for catfish. For perch, stick with grass shrimp or bloodworms on a jighead. Don’t neglect popping and pausing your retrieve for more bites[1][2][5].
Some current hotspots: Fletchers Cove and the tidal Potomac for shad, the Patapsco for white perch, and points near Sandy Point for early catfish. The Mattawoman Creek is also a steady producer for shad[1][2][4].
That’s your update from Artificial Lure. Rig up those shad darts and shrimp, dress warm, and good luck on the water. See you out there!
After a wet and windy spell lately, the Bay is running higher than usual from all that rain, but the water clarity is hanging in there. Today, expect chilly conditions lingering from the cold front that moved through last weekend, with air temps hovering around the low 50s at sunrise and climbing to the upper 50s by afternoon. Sunrise is at 6:18 a.m. and sunset at 7:51 p.m. The tidal swing is moderate today, with high tide around midday and a falling tide through most of the evening—ideal for working the moving water in tidal rivers and creeks[1][5].
Shad are the headliners right now, with strong runs reported in the upper reaches of the Mattawoman and Potomac near D.C. Anglers have been hauling in dozens of both hickory and American shad using dart and spoon tandems, as well as small flies for those swinging the long rod. The best shad bite has been around Fletchers Cove and north near the first major bend south of D.C. Look for shad to be holding near the bottom in the deeper holes[1][2].
White perch are still packing into tidal salt ponds and rivers. The key bait has been grass shrimp on shad darts or small jigheads, fished under a bobber and worked with a slow pop-and-pause retrieve. Local sharpies have been landing a dozen or more perch in just a couple hours at spots like Triton Beach and in the Patapsco and Magothy Rivers. Most perch are on the smaller side, but there’s enough keepers mixed in to fill a pan[1][5].
Blue catfish action has been spotty north of the Bay Bridge, with the colder water slowing their bite. Commercial nets are picking up a few, but the numbers are still building. However, further down the Potomac, the bite’s been heating up, especially for flatheads and the occasional trophy blue. Try cut gizzard shad or chicken breast soaked in scent on bottom rigs—circle hooks are best for these brutes. The bite is best in deeper water from 10 to 30 feet, particularly in high-flow conditions after rain[2][4].
Top lures this week are shad darts, small spoons, and scented plastics like Z-Man Jerk Shadz for catfish. For perch, stick with grass shrimp or bloodworms on a jighead. Don’t neglect popping and pausing your retrieve for more bites[1][2][5].
Some current hotspots: Fletchers Cove and the tidal Potomac for shad, the Patapsco for white perch, and points near Sandy Point for early catfish. The Mattawoman Creek is also a steady producer for shad[1][2][4].
That’s your update from Artificial Lure. Rig up those shad darts and shrimp, dress warm, and good luck on the water. See you out there!