Next Update: November 21, 2007

The colder weather that has moved into Maryland looks like it’s here to stay and fishermen have been digging in closets for insulated knee boats, rain gear bibs, duck hunting clothes or other warm stuff and gloves. Everyone knows it’s tough to fish with gloves on so we stuff them in our pockets and proceed to wind up with chapped hands at the end of the day so it’s time to find that forgotten hand lotion or Crack Cream. Fishermen are usually are a resourceful group who do what it takes to get the job done and if the job has anything to do with fishing; “were there is a will there is a way”. This image of a father or grandfather with a gaggle of kids aboard a boat in the middle of breaking striped bass last week just spoke out of a fisherman doing what had to be done. Was this guy supposed to be baby sitting and no one defined where he had to baby sit them; or was he a guy that scooped up his kids, grandchildren or just the neighborhood kids and took them all fishing. Whatever his story is, we salute him.

Fishermen are seeing better fishing for striped bass in most regions of the upper bay this week as cooler water temperatures have fish actively feeding. The action can tend to be sporadic as the striped bass are constantly on the move now; it can be difficult at times to figure out where they will show up next. Structure such as current rips; shoals or steep channel edges help shift the odds in the fisherman’s favor.

Middle and lower bay fishermen are finding themselves chasing birds these days, looking for slicks on the surface of the water and are glued to their depth finders watching for those tell-tale marks of good fish. There are a lot of small striped bass in the bay at this time and at times it can be tough to find the larger fish but they’re there. Most fishermen are either trolling, casting to breaking fish or jigging this time of the year. Fishermen have often been moving from school to school looking for the bigger striped bass and if one is lucky enough to get on them you’re in for the best of the best; which is what fall fishing in the Chesapeake is all about. If you really push your luck you might even catch a nice fish without even hooking him. Matt Mahoney caught this nice striped bass in the lower Choptank River on a 2-ounce Crippled Herring jig that somehow became jammed sideways in the fish’s mouth; the hook was just swinging free. It reminds us of those earliest fish hooks made by Native Americans that were a sort of toggle device that did the same thing in a fish’s mouth.

The first large fall migrant striped bass are starting to show up in the lower bay region, several boats have tied into striped bass in the 38” to 44” size range while trolling large bucktails and parachutes deep along the shipping channel edges. No one thought we’d see these large fish this soon due to warm water temperatures and a late fall migration but there are some big fish here.

Menhaden is the big story this time of the year in the Chesapeake when it comes to finding striped bass. The smaller 14” to 18” striped bass are feeding on 2” to 3” menhaden and the larger striped bass are feeding on 5” to 7” menhaden and of course the fall migrants are looking for 8” to 12” menhaden. One could be reminded of that beef commercial on TV except on the Chesapeake Bay it would say; “Menhaden it’s what’s for dinner”. After filleting this fat fall striped bass this is what was found in its stomach.

Freshwater fishermen continue to see increased feeding activity in a long list of freshwater fish. In the western region smallmouth bass, walleye and trout are entertaining anglers. Flow conditions in the region’s rivers and streams are down once again but the fishing is good. Fishing in the other regions of the state for species such as trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, chain pickerel, crappie and largemouth bass are also very good. Fisheries biologist John Mullican holds up one whopper of a largemouth bass that was encountered while doing survey work in the upper Potomac River. This largemouth bass awaits some lucky angler.

Fishermen at Ocean City are enjoying excellent tautog fishing at the moment inside the Inlet area from bulkheads, the Route 50 Bridge and inlet jetties. Surf fishermen are starting to see the first of the fall migration of large striped bass starting to move along the Maryland Beaches and fishermen venturing out to the wreck sites are catching sea bass and the last of the flounder. This happy angler holds up a tasty combination, destined for the dinner table.

Last but not least this week fishermen are braving the colder weather and venturing out to take advantage of the fall fishing extravaganza that often defines the fall fishery in Maryland for both saltwater and freshwater fish; whether it’s large brown trout in the upper Potomac River, largemouth bass, striped bass or in this case large blue catfish in the tidal portion of the Potomac River. Brandon Rawlings recently was fishing out of Fort Washington in the Potomac for blue catfish. Cut gizzard shad was the bait and Brandon found himself attached to several large blue cats during his fishing trip. One of them was estimated to be well over 60 lbs and a potential new state record for the species. Lacking in any way to keep the fish alive and not wanting to kill it Brandon slipped this behemoth of a catfish back over the side to live another day. Just figuring out to hold a fish this size for the camera presents a struggle in itself.

Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 600 pixels. Please try to keep the file size small, under one megabyte. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please reference the Catch and Release information located at URL: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/articles/catch_release.shtml
Include the following information:

• Date
• Angler(s)
• Hometown(s)
• Photo credit

• Location

• Weight/length of catch

• Bait/lure

Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture.

Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood

Until next week,

Tight Lines,

Keith Lockwood
MD DNR Fisheries Service

The Fisheries Service is pleased to have you visit. We want to make this site as user friendly as possible, if you have any suggestions, please mail them to Paul Genovese.