ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — After a chilly start to April, anglers in Southern Maryland can expect improved fishing conditions as warmer weather arrives, according to Ken Lamb of The Tackle Box in Lexington Park. With temperatures forecast to reach the 60s and 70s, climbing to 80 degrees by Saturday, April 19, 2025, local waterways are poised for a surge in activity.
Catfishing remains a highlight, with strong catches reported in the upper Potomac and Patuxent rivers. Large catfish are biting from the Benedict Bridge in the Patuxent up to Croom and Jug Bay. In the Potomac, productive spots stretch from Breton Bay to Washington, D.C., including Abel’s Wharf in Leonardtown and Bushwood Wharf on the Wicomico River. Anglers using cut bait or chicken livers are likely to see success, as catfish thrive in these nutrient-rich waters.
At St. Mary’s Lake, largemouth bass and crappie are active. Crappie, particularly males, are drawn to brush piles along the banks, eagerly taking live minnows. Bass are responding to spinnerbaits and soft plastics, with the 252-acre lake offering ample opportunities for shore and boat anglers.
White perch are expected to enter local creeks this week, hitting bloodworm baits and live minnows fished on the bottom. Beetle Spin and Perch Hounder lures should also draw strikes. These fish, a staple in Maryland’s tidal creeks, signal the start of spring fishing as waters warm.
The striped bass (rockfish) season, opening May 16, is a month away, promising action for trollers and lure casters. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including the Potomac, are expected to yield fish in the 19- to 31-inch range under Maryland’s 2025 regulations.
Despite March-like conditions hampering early April fishing, the region’s diverse fisheries are rebounding. St. Mary’s County, with over 400 miles of shoreline, supports a robust angling community, contributing to Maryland’s $1 billion recreational fishing industry. Anglers are advised to check weather and tide conditions before heading out, as warming trends should enhance catches across species.
