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Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers, Perch & More Biting in Baltimore and DC Waterways
Published 7 months, 1 week ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Sunday, September 21st, 2025, focused on the Baltimore and Washington D.C. waterways.
Sunrise hit at **6:51 AM** and sunset’s rolling in at **7:02 PM** tonight. Today’s marine forecast calls for **easterly winds around 5 to 10 knots, waves about 1 foot**, maybe a light shower pushing through the afternoon, but overall it’s good boat fishing weather with comfortable mid-70s temps. Water remains seasonably warm, pushing those fall patterns into action according to the National Weather Service.
**Tidal flows** are shaping up for productive fishing windows. At Baltimore Harbor and North Bay, you’ll find **low tide at 5:10 AM, high tide at 10:28 AM, another low at 5:33 PM, and high returning at 10:44 PM**. Down at Chance in the central Bay, highs fall at **1:50 AM and 2:11 PM, with lows at 8:25 AM and 8:45 PM**. Target the outgoing tide by mid-morning and the incoming tide from late afternoon into sunset for the best bite.
**Striped Bass (“rockfish”)** action has picked up—especially with these cooler nights. Last few days saw near-limit catches for charters, solid counts of **Rockfish** along with **Sculpin, Sand Bass, Calico Bass, and even a few Sheepshead** present, with some boats tallying upwards of 96 Rockfish and 210 Sculpins in a single trip (per Fisherman's Landing Fish Counts). Recent closure of the mackerel fishery by NOAA means focus remains on the local favorites.
**Hot spots** worth a look include:
- **Love Point**: Early morning and dusk see schooling Rockfish chasing shad and bunker.
- **Key Bridge and Patapsco River mouth**: Target structure and drop-offs for heavier fish.
- **Eastern Bay / Kent Narrows**: White perch remain thick, with Rockfish holding near pilings.
If you’re **surf or pier fishing** near Sandy Point State Park, topwater plugs at daybreak and soft plastics (4–6” paddle tails in chartreuse and white) are producing. Boaters and trollers are finding best success on **bucktail jigs tipped with soft plastics or fresh cut alewife**. For bait, **live spot and peeler crab** are hot, especially for bigger stripers and drum transitioning in.
**Catfish** and **white perch** are moving in force after sundown, favor chicken gizzards and bloodworms for bait. Sculpin and the odd Sheephead have been reported around rough bottom. If you’re going deep, vertical jigging metal spoons near bridge pilings is pulling up blue cats and perch. Lure casters are crushing it with **half-ounce jig heads, soft plastics, and gold spoons**—especially with a twitch-and-pause retrieve.
If you’re fishing with live bait, **spot, menhaden, and crab** are key. Artificial guys: stick with **twitch baits, swim shads, and poppers**; white, chartreuse, and natural bunker patterns are doing work. For topwater, calm morning hours proved gold—especially on walk-the-dog style lures near grass flats before boat traffic picks up.
For boat anglers, troll **umbrella rigs or tandem rigs** with 6–8” shads. Light tackle folks, work the shallows and breaklines during tide shifts—work slower on the drop, as fish are feeling the cooler nights.
Big reminders: The mackerel fishery is shut down for the season, so focus on stripers, perch, catfish, and drum. Always check the latest regulations, as closures can shift quickly.
Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for future reports. Tight lines and fish smart!
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Sunrise hit at **6:51 AM** and sunset’s rolling in at **7:02 PM** tonight. Today’s marine forecast calls for **easterly winds around 5 to 10 knots, waves about 1 foot**, maybe a light shower pushing through the afternoon, but overall it’s good boat fishing weather with comfortable mid-70s temps. Water remains seasonably warm, pushing those fall patterns into action according to the National Weather Service.
**Tidal flows** are shaping up for productive fishing windows. At Baltimore Harbor and North Bay, you’ll find **low tide at 5:10 AM, high tide at 10:28 AM, another low at 5:33 PM, and high returning at 10:44 PM**. Down at Chance in the central Bay, highs fall at **1:50 AM and 2:11 PM, with lows at 8:25 AM and 8:45 PM**. Target the outgoing tide by mid-morning and the incoming tide from late afternoon into sunset for the best bite.
**Striped Bass (“rockfish”)** action has picked up—especially with these cooler nights. Last few days saw near-limit catches for charters, solid counts of **Rockfish** along with **Sculpin, Sand Bass, Calico Bass, and even a few Sheepshead** present, with some boats tallying upwards of 96 Rockfish and 210 Sculpins in a single trip (per Fisherman's Landing Fish Counts). Recent closure of the mackerel fishery by NOAA means focus remains on the local favorites.
**Hot spots** worth a look include:
- **Love Point**: Early morning and dusk see schooling Rockfish chasing shad and bunker.
- **Key Bridge and Patapsco River mouth**: Target structure and drop-offs for heavier fish.
- **Eastern Bay / Kent Narrows**: White perch remain thick, with Rockfish holding near pilings.
If you’re **surf or pier fishing** near Sandy Point State Park, topwater plugs at daybreak and soft plastics (4–6” paddle tails in chartreuse and white) are producing. Boaters and trollers are finding best success on **bucktail jigs tipped with soft plastics or fresh cut alewife**. For bait, **live spot and peeler crab** are hot, especially for bigger stripers and drum transitioning in.
**Catfish** and **white perch** are moving in force after sundown, favor chicken gizzards and bloodworms for bait. Sculpin and the odd Sheephead have been reported around rough bottom. If you’re going deep, vertical jigging metal spoons near bridge pilings is pulling up blue cats and perch. Lure casters are crushing it with **half-ounce jig heads, soft plastics, and gold spoons**—especially with a twitch-and-pause retrieve.
If you’re fishing with live bait, **spot, menhaden, and crab** are key. Artificial guys: stick with **twitch baits, swim shads, and poppers**; white, chartreuse, and natural bunker patterns are doing work. For topwater, calm morning hours proved gold—especially on walk-the-dog style lures near grass flats before boat traffic picks up.
For boat anglers, troll **umbrella rigs or tandem rigs** with 6–8” shads. Light tackle folks, work the shallows and breaklines during tide shifts—work slower on the drop, as fish are feeling the cooler nights.
Big reminders: The mackerel fishery is shut down for the season, so focus on stripers, perch, catfish, and drum. Always check the latest regulations, as closures can shift quickly.
Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for future reports. Tight lines and fish smart!
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.