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Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Early Winter Stripers, Perch, and Cats
Published 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure with your Chesapeake Bay Baltimore–D.C. fishing report.
We’re sliding into classic early-winter Bay mode: Maryland DNR’s latest report says main Bay surface temps are in the upper 40s, with low 40s in the tidal rivers and slightly warmer water down deep. Light winds and mostly clear skies are on tap per the National Weather Service marine forecast, so it’s cold but very fishable if you dress for it.
Sunrise around the upper Bay is just after 7 a.m. and sunset just before 4:45 p.m., so your prime moving-water windows are short. NOAA tide predictions for Annapolis and the upper Bay show stronger-than-average currents thanks to the recent full moon, with a good push mid‑morning and another toward evening—perfect for nudging these sluggish fish into feeding.
Up around Baltimore Harbor and the Patapsco, the DNR report notes “a few striped bass willing to bite” in the deepest holes, 40–50 feet, along the channel edges and near structure. Most are slot or just under, but enough fish are around to keep it interesting. Anglers jigging soft plastics and metal have been picking at them when the tide runs.
Best winter striper setup right now:
- 1–2 oz jig heads with 5–7" paddletails in chartreuse, white, or alewife.
- Slim metal jigs and flutter spoons dropped straight to bottom.
Use light braid, sensitive rods, and work it slow—most hits feel like extra weight.
Down toward the Bay Bridge and Eastern Bay, Maryland DNR reports stripers stacked tight to bottom in 40–50 feet on the bridge pilings, rock piles, and deep channel edges. Fish are fussy: you’ll often mark them thick and only pick a few. Vertical jigging and slow‑trolled umbrellas with shad bodies and tandem bucktails are still producing when you grind.
White perch have slid into their winter holes at the mouths of the larger rivers—the Magothy, Chester, Patapsco, and Severn. They’re holding over hard bottom in 40+ feet. Rig high‑low bottom rigs with small hooks tipped with bloodworm, grass shrimp, or Fishbites strips. Once you find a pile on the sonar, you can put a nice mess together in a hurry.
For heavier action, the Susquehanna and upper Bay are giving up some big blue catfish, as highlighted in the DNR report. Deep ledges and channel turns with fresh cut gizzard shad, menhaden, or chicken breast will get bit. Bring stout gear—plenty of 20–30 pound class fish around.
Lure and bait cheat sheet:
- Stripers: 1–3 oz jigs with 6" paddletails, 2–4 oz metals, umbrella rigs with 6" shads.
- Perch: bottom rigs, size 4–6 hooks, bloodworms/grass shrimp.
- Cats: 6–10 oz sinkers, 8/0 circles, fresh cut bait on the bottom.
Couple of local hot spots to circle today:
- Bay Bridge pilings and the sewer pipe area on the eastern side for deep stripers and perch.
- Mouth of the Patapsco and main channel edges off Fort Smallwood and Seven Foot Knoll for scattered schoolie stripers and some decent perch piles.
Fish are biting, but it’s a slow, methodical game now—watch your electronics, fish the heavy edges, and don’t be afraid to sit on good marks and work them.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.
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.
We’re sliding into classic early-winter Bay mode: Maryland DNR’s latest report says main Bay surface temps are in the upper 40s, with low 40s in the tidal rivers and slightly warmer water down deep. Light winds and mostly clear skies are on tap per the National Weather Service marine forecast, so it’s cold but very fishable if you dress for it.
Sunrise around the upper Bay is just after 7 a.m. and sunset just before 4:45 p.m., so your prime moving-water windows are short. NOAA tide predictions for Annapolis and the upper Bay show stronger-than-average currents thanks to the recent full moon, with a good push mid‑morning and another toward evening—perfect for nudging these sluggish fish into feeding.
Up around Baltimore Harbor and the Patapsco, the DNR report notes “a few striped bass willing to bite” in the deepest holes, 40–50 feet, along the channel edges and near structure. Most are slot or just under, but enough fish are around to keep it interesting. Anglers jigging soft plastics and metal have been picking at them when the tide runs.
Best winter striper setup right now:
- 1–2 oz jig heads with 5–7" paddletails in chartreuse, white, or alewife.
- Slim metal jigs and flutter spoons dropped straight to bottom.
Use light braid, sensitive rods, and work it slow—most hits feel like extra weight.
Down toward the Bay Bridge and Eastern Bay, Maryland DNR reports stripers stacked tight to bottom in 40–50 feet on the bridge pilings, rock piles, and deep channel edges. Fish are fussy: you’ll often mark them thick and only pick a few. Vertical jigging and slow‑trolled umbrellas with shad bodies and tandem bucktails are still producing when you grind.
White perch have slid into their winter holes at the mouths of the larger rivers—the Magothy, Chester, Patapsco, and Severn. They’re holding over hard bottom in 40+ feet. Rig high‑low bottom rigs with small hooks tipped with bloodworm, grass shrimp, or Fishbites strips. Once you find a pile on the sonar, you can put a nice mess together in a hurry.
For heavier action, the Susquehanna and upper Bay are giving up some big blue catfish, as highlighted in the DNR report. Deep ledges and channel turns with fresh cut gizzard shad, menhaden, or chicken breast will get bit. Bring stout gear—plenty of 20–30 pound class fish around.
Lure and bait cheat sheet:
- Stripers: 1–3 oz jigs with 6" paddletails, 2–4 oz metals, umbrella rigs with 6" shads.
- Perch: bottom rigs, size 4–6 hooks, bloodworms/grass shrimp.
- Cats: 6–10 oz sinkers, 8/0 circles, fresh cut bait on the bottom.
Couple of local hot spots to circle today:
- Bay Bridge pilings and the sewer pipe area on the eastern side for deep stripers and perch.
- Mouth of the Patapsco and main channel edges off Fort Smallwood and Seven Foot Knoll for scattered schoolie stripers and some decent perch piles.
Fish are biting, but it’s a slow, methodical game now—watch your electronics, fish the heavy edges, and don’t be afraid to sit on good marks and work them.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.
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.