Anglers in Southern Maryland are gearing up for the fall striper season, which opens August 1 and runs through December 10 in Maryland waters. According to Ken Lamb of St. Mary’s Tacklebox, recent bycatch during the two-week striped bass protection period suggests strong catches await. The cooling weather this weekend provides ideal conditions for the fall striper season, with striped bass, bluefish, and other species already active across the region’s waterways.
Bluefish are stealing the show in the mid-Chesapeake Bay, particularly near the Target Ship and Point No Point. Anglers report schools of bluefish, weighing four to eight pounds, breaking the surface in feeding frenzies. Trollers using surgical eel lures or spoons with inline sinkers or planers have seen great success. Lure casters are also thriving, targeting the edges of breaking schools with topwater plugs, Gotchas, or metal jigs. “A six-pound bluefish on light tackle is a challenge and great fun,” Lamb noted.
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Notably, the first Spanish mackerel of the season was caught this week, striking a spoon amid the bluefish action. Large cobia have been spotted swimming beneath these schools, drawing interest from anglers using chum, alewife, and live eels, though specific catch reports are pending.
Bottom fishing is equally productive, with spot, croaker, and white perch abundant in the Patuxent and Potomac rivers. In the Patuxent, big spot dominate from Three Legged Marker to Helen Creek, while white perch are concentrated above Half Pone Point. In the Potomac, St. George Island, Breton Bay, Cobb Island, and Ragged Point are hotspots for spot, croaker, and white perch, though porpoises can scatter fish temporarily. “The spot are big to jumbo now,” Lamb said, predicting even larger sizes by September. Speckled trout are consistent at the mouth of the Potomac and St. Jerome’s Creek, where skilled lure casters find success at dawn and dusk, often catching puppy drum and out-of-season rockfish in the shallows.
The fall striper season in the Potomac begins September 1, but Maryland tributaries open August 1, so anglers must know demarcation lines to stay compliant. Recreational crabbing is also peaking, with large, plentiful blue crabs reported across the region. “Crabs are running with gusto now,” Lamb said, noting their size and abundance.
Freshwater anglers are finding action at St. Mary’s Lake, where crappie catches have been excellent. Largemouth bass and bluegill are active at dawn and dusk, offering additional opportunities for shore-based fishing. Lamb’s advice is clear: “If you are not catching fish, it’s because you ain’t going!” For Southern Maryland anglers, the fall striper season promises diverse catches and vibrant fishing experiences. Stay updated with local regulations and fishing conditions at the Southern Maryland Chronicle.
