The opening day of striped bass season brought robust fishing action across the Potomac River, the mouth of the Patuxent River, and Chesapeake Bay, according to Ken Lamb of St. Mary’s Tacklebox. Anglers reported strong catches, with trollers, kayakers, and shore fishermen finding success in multiple areas, despite challenges from cownose rays and limited baitfish.
In the Potomac, trollers fishing in 30 feet of water between Piney Point and St. George Island landed significant numbers of striped bass, also known locally as rockfish. However, cownose rays, referred to as skate, disrupted efforts by feeding on small croaker and spot. One captain reported three rays hooked simultaneously, highlighting their prevalence. Schools of baitfish were observed in deeper Potomac waters, offering some relief for anglers targeting stripers.
The Patuxent River, partially open for striped bass fishing below a line between Point Patience and Kingston Creek, yielded strong results for kayakers and shore fishermen. An experienced angler reported hooking stripers on average every 20 casts, using swimming plugs and plastics. The St. Mary’s River also saw healthy rockfish populations, with the best bites occurring on moving tides and early mornings. The entire Patuxent River will open for rockfish catch on June 1.
Bluefish have begun moving into all areas, with trollers, lure casters, and shore fishermen reporting good-sized catches. No breaking fish schools have been sighted, possibly due to a reduced presence of alewife, or bunker, which are not appearing in their usual numbers. Pound netters across the bay reported no significant baitfish hauls, though deeper Potomac waters showed some bait schools.
Bottom fish like spot and croaker are abundant, with some nearing edible size. White perch fishing, however, is off to a slow start. While Beetle Spinners yielded some catches in creeks and rivers, low tides and dirty water have hampered efforts. Anglers were advised to seek clean water to improve their chances.
Farther south, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and Hampton Roads areas reported cobia and bull redfish, though fishing is limited to catch-and-release until June 1. Demand for live eels is already rising in Norfolk. Spanish mackerel have appeared in the bay’s southern regions, including the James River, signaling the arrival of summertime species. A large school of bull redfish was spotted off Hooper’s Island last week, further indicating the northward migration of these fish.
The diverse catches reflect a promising start to the fishing season, with striped bass and bluefish providing steady action. Anglers are adapting to challenges like cownose rays and scarce baitfish while capitalizing on early opportunities. As warmer months approach, the arrival of cobia, redfish, and mackerel is expected to draw more fishermen to the bay.
