Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Fishing the Chesapeake: Stripers, Perch, and Cats Stirring in Spring (Artificial Lure, March 22, 2025)
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Fishing the Chesapeake: Stripers, Perch, and Cats Stirring in Spring (Artificial Lure, March 22, 2025)
Hey there, anglers! This is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with the latest scoop on fishing in the Chesapeake Bay area around Baltimore and D.C. It's March 22, 2025, and spring is definitely in the air.
First off, let's talk tides. We've got a high tide at 8:23 AM and another at 8:47 PM, with low tides at 2:35 AM and 2:59 PM. The weather's looking pretty decent today - partly cloudy with highs near 60°F and light winds from the southeast. Sunrise was at 7:02 AM, and we'll see the sun dip below the horizon at 7:21 PM.
Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Striped bass (that's rockfish to us locals) are still the talk of the town. They're starting to move up into the tributaries for spawning, so the action's been hot at the mouths of rivers. We've been seeing some nice 30-inchers, with a few lucky anglers landing 40-plus-pounders. Remember, it's catch-and-release only until May 16th, so handle those fish with care.
White perch are running strong too. Folks have been pulling them in by the dozen in the upper reaches of the Patuxent and Choptank. If you're after some tasty eating, these are your best bet right now.
For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are starting to wake up. They're not quite in full spring feeding mode yet, but anglers are still landing some monsters in the 30 to 50-pound range, especially in the deeper channels.
As for lures, I've been having a lot of success with 6-inch white or chartreuse soft plastics for the stripers. Jig 'em slow along the bottom or work 'em through the water column. For white perch, you can't go wrong with a small shad dart tipped with a piece of bloodworm. And for those big blues, cut bait is still king - fresh bunker or gizzard shad will do the trick.
If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd recommend trying the area around the Bay Bridge on the eastern side - that's been producing some nice stripers. For white perch, head up to the Tuckahoe River. And if you're after those blue cats, the deep holes in the Potomac near Fort Washington have been giving up some giants.
Remember, folks, the fishing's only gonna get better as we move into April, so get out there and wet a line! This is Artificial Lure, signing off. Tight lines, everyone!
First off, let's talk tides. We've got a high tide at 8:23 AM and another at 8:47 PM, with low tides at 2:35 AM and 2:59 PM. The weather's looking pretty decent today - partly cloudy with highs near 60°F and light winds from the southeast. Sunrise was at 7:02 AM, and we'll see the sun dip below the horizon at 7:21 PM.
Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Striped bass (that's rockfish to us locals) are still the talk of the town. They're starting to move up into the tributaries for spawning, so the action's been hot at the mouths of rivers. We've been seeing some nice 30-inchers, with a few lucky anglers landing 40-plus-pounders. Remember, it's catch-and-release only until May 16th, so handle those fish with care.
White perch are running strong too. Folks have been pulling them in by the dozen in the upper reaches of the Patuxent and Choptank. If you're after some tasty eating, these are your best bet right now.
For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are starting to wake up. They're not quite in full spring feeding mode yet, but anglers are still landing some monsters in the 30 to 50-pound range, especially in the deeper channels.
As for lures, I've been having a lot of success with 6-inch white or chartreuse soft plastics for the stripers. Jig 'em slow along the bottom or work 'em through the water column. For white perch, you can't go wrong with a small shad dart tipped with a piece of bloodworm. And for those big blues, cut bait is still king - fresh bunker or gizzard shad will do the trick.
If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd recommend trying the area around the Bay Bridge on the eastern side - that's been producing some nice stripers. For white perch, head up to the Tuckahoe River. And if you're after those blue cats, the deep holes in the Potomac near Fort Washington have been giving up some giants.
Remember, folks, the fishing's only gonna get better as we move into April, so get out there and wet a line! This is Artificial Lure, signing off. Tight lines, everyone!
View all episodes
By Quiet. PleaseHey there, anglers! This is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with the latest scoop on fishing in the Chesapeake Bay area around Baltimore and D.C. It's March 22, 2025, and spring is definitely in the air.
First off, let's talk tides. We've got a high tide at 8:23 AM and another at 8:47 PM, with low tides at 2:35 AM and 2:59 PM. The weather's looking pretty decent today - partly cloudy with highs near 60°F and light winds from the southeast. Sunrise was at 7:02 AM, and we'll see the sun dip below the horizon at 7:21 PM.
Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Striped bass (that's rockfish to us locals) are still the talk of the town. They're starting to move up into the tributaries for spawning, so the action's been hot at the mouths of rivers. We've been seeing some nice 30-inchers, with a few lucky anglers landing 40-plus-pounders. Remember, it's catch-and-release only until May 16th, so handle those fish with care.
White perch are running strong too. Folks have been pulling them in by the dozen in the upper reaches of the Patuxent and Choptank. If you're after some tasty eating, these are your best bet right now.
For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are starting to wake up. They're not quite in full spring feeding mode yet, but anglers are still landing some monsters in the 30 to 50-pound range, especially in the deeper channels.
As for lures, I've been having a lot of success with 6-inch white or chartreuse soft plastics for the stripers. Jig 'em slow along the bottom or work 'em through the water column. For white perch, you can't go wrong with a small shad dart tipped with a piece of bloodworm. And for those big blues, cut bait is still king - fresh bunker or gizzard shad will do the trick.
If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd recommend trying the area around the Bay Bridge on the eastern side - that's been producing some nice stripers. For white perch, head up to the Tuckahoe River. And if you're after those blue cats, the deep holes in the Potomac near Fort Washington have been giving up some giants.
Remember, folks, the fishing's only gonna get better as we move into April, so get out there and wet a line! This is Artificial Lure, signing off. Tight lines, everyone!
First off, let's talk tides. We've got a high tide at 8:23 AM and another at 8:47 PM, with low tides at 2:35 AM and 2:59 PM. The weather's looking pretty decent today - partly cloudy with highs near 60°F and light winds from the southeast. Sunrise was at 7:02 AM, and we'll see the sun dip below the horizon at 7:21 PM.
Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Striped bass (that's rockfish to us locals) are still the talk of the town. They're starting to move up into the tributaries for spawning, so the action's been hot at the mouths of rivers. We've been seeing some nice 30-inchers, with a few lucky anglers landing 40-plus-pounders. Remember, it's catch-and-release only until May 16th, so handle those fish with care.
White perch are running strong too. Folks have been pulling them in by the dozen in the upper reaches of the Patuxent and Choptank. If you're after some tasty eating, these are your best bet right now.
For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are starting to wake up. They're not quite in full spring feeding mode yet, but anglers are still landing some monsters in the 30 to 50-pound range, especially in the deeper channels.
As for lures, I've been having a lot of success with 6-inch white or chartreuse soft plastics for the stripers. Jig 'em slow along the bottom or work 'em through the water column. For white perch, you can't go wrong with a small shad dart tipped with a piece of bloodworm. And for those big blues, cut bait is still king - fresh bunker or gizzard shad will do the trick.
If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd recommend trying the area around the Bay Bridge on the eastern side - that's been producing some nice stripers. For white perch, head up to the Tuckahoe River. And if you're after those blue cats, the deep holes in the Potomac near Fort Washington have been giving up some giants.
Remember, folks, the fishing's only gonna get better as we move into April, so get out there and wet a line! This is Artificial Lure, signing off. Tight lines, everyone!