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Late Fall Stripes, Cats, and Crappie in the Chesapeake
Published 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your November 6th Chesapeake Bay fishing report, coming at you from Baltimore and the D.C. metro waters. Late fall is in the air—crisp mornings, colorful trees, and anglers breaking out the boots and beanies for those chilly dawn hours. Stripers, big blue cats, and the last rounds of perch and crappie are all on the menu.
Today’s weather is classic November: mainly sunny but brisk and windy, so bundle up out there. We’re still seeing above-average tidal currents thanks to the lingering effect of the November 5th supermoon, so pay close attention to tide movement—this week the bite is definitely best on a moving tide. Sunrise hit at 6:33 a.m., with sunset coming up at 5:03 p.m. Water temperatures across the main bay are steady in the upper 50s, with rivers sitting in the low to mid-50s. Expect slightly lower water during low tide thanks to persistent winds, according to WBOC’s marine forecast.
Baywise, the Conowingo Dam pool up north has been productive, with reports of solid striped bass action alongside smallmouths and some big blue catfish. Increased water releases from the dam mean more current and more active fish, especially during power generation flows. Around the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry, chunky stripers are showing at first and last light—anglers are connecting while casting poppers and paddletails along the rocks and piers.
Jigging and trolling umbrella rigs along the Patapsco channel and mouth has been another hot ticket, especially at Pooles Island, and near the Triple Buoys south of Rock Hall. If trolling, get those rigs down deep—stripers are hugging close to the bottom. If you prefer casting, white and chartreuse soft plastics on heavy jigheads have been working, especially when matched to the wind and current. For best results, use a touch of Bait Fuel or shad spray for extra scent attraction, as discussed recently on area fishing forums.
The blue catfish situation is wild—over 100,000 tons of them in the Bay by one Maryland official’s estimate. The mouths of the Susquehanna, Elk, and North East rivers are literally crawling with cats, and local reports confirm lots of fish over 20 pounds. Chunk baits—fresh-cut menhaden or gizzard shad—are deadly, fished on bottom.
White perch action is tapering but still worth your time over oyster beds and hard bottom at spots like Matapeake, Kent Narrows, and the mouths of the Patapsco and Chester. Fish grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces on bottom rigs. Jumbo perch are pulling up near river mouths for their winter move.
Middle Bay news: The Bay Bridge piers and rock piles are prime for stripers, with early and late being best. Skirted soft plastic jigs and live eels are the top choices. Watch for diving gulls—they often pinpoint feeding fish blitzing on bay anchovies and menhaden, especially at the mouths of the Choptank and Eastern Bay.
Southern hot spots like the lower Potomac and Patuxent rivers are in peak form for stripers. Jigging and trolling the 30-foot edges of river channels works well—bring heavy gear.
For largemouth bass, the upper Potomac and tidal creeks like Mattawoman and Aquia are solid. This week’s winning baits around D.C.: green pumpkin wacky-rigged Senkos, black and blue ChatterBaits, and buzzing frogs through dying grass beds. On low tides, flipping any visible hard cover or pad stems often pulls bonus bass.
Crappie are stacking on deep brush and sunken structure. The tidal Potomac near Wilson Bridge and Fort Washington Marina is a crappie factory—small jigs under floats or minnow-tipped presentations have been killer.
Today’s pick for best lures:
- 4–6" white and chartreuse paddletails (Z-Man, Bass Assassin, or BKD)
- Umbrella rigs with swim shads for stripers
- Cut bait for blue catfish
- Small jigs or grass shrimp for perch and crappie
Hotspots to check this week:
- Po
Today’s weather is classic November: mainly sunny but brisk and windy, so bundle up out there. We’re still seeing above-average tidal currents thanks to the lingering effect of the November 5th supermoon, so pay close attention to tide movement—this week the bite is definitely best on a moving tide. Sunrise hit at 6:33 a.m., with sunset coming up at 5:03 p.m. Water temperatures across the main bay are steady in the upper 50s, with rivers sitting in the low to mid-50s. Expect slightly lower water during low tide thanks to persistent winds, according to WBOC’s marine forecast.
Baywise, the Conowingo Dam pool up north has been productive, with reports of solid striped bass action alongside smallmouths and some big blue catfish. Increased water releases from the dam mean more current and more active fish, especially during power generation flows. Around the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry, chunky stripers are showing at first and last light—anglers are connecting while casting poppers and paddletails along the rocks and piers.
Jigging and trolling umbrella rigs along the Patapsco channel and mouth has been another hot ticket, especially at Pooles Island, and near the Triple Buoys south of Rock Hall. If trolling, get those rigs down deep—stripers are hugging close to the bottom. If you prefer casting, white and chartreuse soft plastics on heavy jigheads have been working, especially when matched to the wind and current. For best results, use a touch of Bait Fuel or shad spray for extra scent attraction, as discussed recently on area fishing forums.
The blue catfish situation is wild—over 100,000 tons of them in the Bay by one Maryland official’s estimate. The mouths of the Susquehanna, Elk, and North East rivers are literally crawling with cats, and local reports confirm lots of fish over 20 pounds. Chunk baits—fresh-cut menhaden or gizzard shad—are deadly, fished on bottom.
White perch action is tapering but still worth your time over oyster beds and hard bottom at spots like Matapeake, Kent Narrows, and the mouths of the Patapsco and Chester. Fish grass shrimp or bloodworm pieces on bottom rigs. Jumbo perch are pulling up near river mouths for their winter move.
Middle Bay news: The Bay Bridge piers and rock piles are prime for stripers, with early and late being best. Skirted soft plastic jigs and live eels are the top choices. Watch for diving gulls—they often pinpoint feeding fish blitzing on bay anchovies and menhaden, especially at the mouths of the Choptank and Eastern Bay.
Southern hot spots like the lower Potomac and Patuxent rivers are in peak form for stripers. Jigging and trolling the 30-foot edges of river channels works well—bring heavy gear.
For largemouth bass, the upper Potomac and tidal creeks like Mattawoman and Aquia are solid. This week’s winning baits around D.C.: green pumpkin wacky-rigged Senkos, black and blue ChatterBaits, and buzzing frogs through dying grass beds. On low tides, flipping any visible hard cover or pad stems often pulls bonus bass.
Crappie are stacking on deep brush and sunken structure. The tidal Potomac near Wilson Bridge and Fort Washington Marina is a crappie factory—small jigs under floats or minnow-tipped presentations have been killer.
Today’s pick for best lures:
- 4–6" white and chartreuse paddletails (Z-Man, Bass Assassin, or BKD)
- Umbrella rigs with swim shads for stripers
- Cut bait for blue catfish
- Small jigs or grass shrimp for perch and crappie
Hotspots to check this week:
- Po