A surprise cool front swept through St. Mary’s County last Thursday night, breaking the summer heat wave and setting the stage for exceptional St. Mary’s fishing conditions. Anglers across Southern Maryland are seizing the opportunity as cooler weather and favorable tides create a prime fishing window in the Patuxent River, Potomac River, and Chesapeake Bay.
The standout news for St. Mary’s fishing is the robust spot run in the Patuxent River. Eager to bite, spot are plentiful at Green Holly, Sandy Point, the mouth of Town Creek, Point Patience, Kingston Hollow, Hawk’s Nest, and oyster bars up to Benedict. Local angler reports, shared by Ken Lamb of The St. Mary’s Tacklebox, describe this as peak fishing, with spot readily taking bait in these productive waters.
Bluefish are growing larger and feeding aggressively in the mid-channel of the Chesapeake Bay from the Choptank south. The Target Ship area is a hot spot for St. Mary’s fishing, where trollers using surgical eels are landing consistent catches. Lure casters are finding success with spoons, topwater plugs, and Gotchas cast into breaking schools. Big jigs fished near the bottom close to these schools are hooking larger, even gigantic, bluefish.
Bull redfish are cruising in large schools, creating thrilling St. Mary’s fishing moments when they break the surface, tossing bait and froth. These unpredictable fish frequent the Mud Leads and lumps below the Target Ship, striking most lures during feeding frenzies, with larger lures proving most effective. Meanwhile, cobia remain south near Windmill Point, a long haul from Point Lookout for local anglers.
The striper season, now open in Maryland waters, is off to a strong start, boosted by the cooler weather and tidal movement. St. Mary’s fishing enthusiasts report solid catches around Patuxent River structures, where stripers are thriving. In the lower Potomac and near St. Jerome’s Creek in the bay, speckled trout outnumber redfish, offering additional opportunities for anglers.
With school starting soon, time is limited to enjoy these ideal St. Mary’s fishing conditions. The cooler temperatures have energized fish activity, making it a perfect time for Southern Maryland anglers to hit the water. Whether targeting spot in the Patuxent, bluefish in the bay, or stripers near local structures, St. Mary’s fishing is delivering memorable catches for residents and visitors alike.
