Next Update: December 5, 2007

Outdoorsmen are faced with some tough decisions this week as to whether to sit in the woods waiting for that big buck to come by or get out onto the Chesapeake Bay for some of the best fishing for large fall migrant striped bass anyone has seen in a long time. Decisions, decisions what to do?

Fishermen in the lower bay region have been experiencing fantastic fishing for large fall migrant striped bass for more than a week now and it just keeps getting better. The large striped bass are on the heels of large schools of menhaden and hickory shad and are working their way up the bay. This weekend fishermen in the middle bay region tied into them and perhaps by this weekend a portion of the fish will move into the upper bay. Chris Slaybaugh holds up a beautiful striped bass caught while trolling this past weekend.

Fishermen are finding water temperatures dipping below the 50-degree mark in the upper bay and tidal rivers of the middle bay region. The lower bay region is not far behind but still has water temperatures just above the 50-degree mark. The smaller school sized striped bass have moved out into the bay from tidal rivers for the most part in the upper and middle bay regions but can still be caught by trolling or jigging. Lower bay fishermen still found striped bass inside the Patuxent River this past weekend and breaking fish throughout the bay region.

Freshwater anglers are experiencing good fishing for walleyes now at Deep Creek Lake and the lower Susquehanna River. Fishing for largemouth bass continues to be good throughout most state freshwater areas and smallmouth bass fishing is good in waters such as the upper Potomac River and Reservoirs such as Liberty and Prettyboy.

Oceanside anglers are experiencing the last week of a good run of tautog at the Ocean City Inlet before the season closes December 1st. Surf anglers are catching a mix of large bluefish and striped bass from the beaches. Sea bass fishing remains stable with good catches reported.

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

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