Striped Bass and Bluefish At Kent Narrows

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Eastern
Location: Kent Narrows Bridge

This is a 18.5 inch bluefish I caught while fishing near the Kent Narrows Bridge this past Saturday. It weighed approximately 3.5 lbs. Out of the three of us that were on the boat, we caught well over 100 rockfish, all of which were between 10-15". They were stacked up by the bridge pilings and breaking the surface chasing silversides and bay achovies. Minnow plugs did the trick for lots of catch and release action. We also had great action following the breaking birds further up the channel, but no legal size rockfish.

Tags: bluefish, striped bass

The Blues Are In

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Southern
Location: Solomon's Island

This past weekend I was on a boating trip in Solomon's Island, Maryland. After catching oyster toadfish all morning on bull minnows, we spotted some breaking fish off a nearby sandbar. When we got closer, it became more chaotic as the birds swooped in to grab fish right from the water. Using a silver minnow lure, I was catching one on every cast, along with some rockfish. None of the rockfish (that were landed) were of legal size, but put up a great sporting fight nonetheless.

Tags: Bluefish, Toadfish

Fishing in Baltimore

Type: Freshwater
Region: Northern
Location: Gunpowder River and Loch Raven

Last weekend, I fished two of my favorite spots in the Baltimore area; the Lower Gunpowder River in Carney, MD, and Loch Raven Reservoir. The Lower Gunpowder was at its typical low summer levels and easy to traverse. Despite the levels, redbreast sunfish were readily striking my crayfish crankbait. Plentiful and aggressive.

After the Gunpowder, I fished Loch Raven for an hour in the early evening, before dusk. I caught and released three chain pickerel on a red and white spoon. Again, they seemed to be holding in the grass beds, adjacent to the deeper water, rising up to strike.

Tags: Chain Pickerel, Redbreast Sunfish

Father's Day Weekend at Loch Raven

Type: Freshwater
Region: Northern
Location: Loch Raven Reservoir

This past Sunday, my brother Kevin(pictured) and I decided to get Dad out for a rare few hours of fishing in the afternoon. We drove to nearby Loch Raven, off of Warren rd, in Cockeysville, MD. Between the 5 and 8pm we caught and released 4 chain pickeral, fishing right from shore. These fish were holding in the emerging grass beds, and aggressively striking as the lure passed by. Red and white spoons(with wire leaders) were the winning choice. All the fish were released unharmed after a few photos.

Tags: Chain Pikerel

Loch Raven Fishing Report

Type: Freshwater
Region: Northern
Location: Loch Raven

Here is a quick report for my recent stops at Loch Raven. Over the last week and a half, I stopped by Loch Raven after work, for a few one to two hour fishing sessions. Using a gold Rapala, I caught a yellow perch, and chain pickeral. The bass was caught on a chrome Baby Zara spook. Using ultralight tackle, I did have some pickeral break off in the sunken timber. All the fish were caught under similar conditions...about 630-800pm, right before sundown, and close to the shore. Basically, each spot that was fished is easily accessible to shore fisherman on foot. I noticed a large amount of broken timber that has washed ashore after the heavy rains recently. Tons of minnows were tucked in close to the shore, in and around the wood. Likewise, the bass, pickeral, perch and bluegill can been seen very close by. This was a great opportunity to fish right from shore before the heavy grass comes up.

Tags: bass, pickerel, perch, bluegill

Recordbreaking Fallfish?

Type: Freshwater
Region: Central
Location: Upper Gunpowder River

Hello again from a Upper Gunpowder river regular. This fish was caught on the 5th of july in the upper gunpowder near Corbett road in Baltimore county. This was a "fallfish" that the DNR biologists had identified earlier in the year… however this one was over 19" long and approximately 3 lbs. About three times the size of ones I've caught before in that area! After a really good fight on ultralight tackle, I landed it, snapped a few pics on my phone, and released it, it was caught using a nightcrawler on a bottom rig. I also caught two rainbows that day, despite the 95 degree weather.

My question is, are there any Maryland state records for this species? If so, what is it? Thanks

Response from MD DNR (Keith Lockwood) - Fallfish are common in many of the rivers, streams and creeks throughout Maryland. They prefer clear swift moving waters or rock pools and clear lakes. They are the largest member of the minnow family east of the Rockies and can reach lengths of 19” or more. Their scientific name is Semotilus corporalis and range from New Brunswick to Virginia. They are considered poor table fare for fishermen but provide a very important food source for species such as smallmouth bass, walleye, trout and even muskellunge when they are large adults. The Maryland Fisheries Service does not keep records for the purpose of state records since they are considered a minnow and not a sport fish. This however does not diminish the fun they can provide as an incidental catch for fishermen.

Tags: Upper Gunpowder River, fallfish, state record fish