Anglers in Southern Maryland are experiencing robust fishing activity across various species, according to a report from Ken Lamb of the St. Mary’s Tacklebox in Lexington Park. Black sea bass are appearing in the lower Potomac River, though some measure on the smaller side ahead of the season reopening on October 10, 2025, with a 13-inch minimum size.
Spot are abundant throughout the area, with smaller specimens in creeks and larger ones in rivers, best caught using bloodworms; they are expected to remain until around Halloween before migrating south. Rockfish, also known as striped bass, are providing consistent catches in the Potomac and Patuxent rivers through trolling on deeper edges, jigging at the Patuxent River bridge pilings, or casting along shorelines with topwater or swimming plugs, particularly on overcast days or during early morning and late afternoon hours.
Big bluefish continue to dominate the ship’s channel from Point No Point southward to Virginia, with some small cobia intermixed, while smaller bluefish are plentiful in rivers up to freshwater lines. Occasional bull reds and slot reds—terms for larger and mid-sized red drum—are surprising trollers and casters, and lure casters targeting rockfish are encountering good-sized speckled trout.
Lamb’s update, shared on October 6, 2025, highlights the variety available to local fishermen, aligning with seasonal patterns in the region’s waterways. The St. Mary’s Tacklebox, a longstanding supplier of bait, tackle, and advice since the 1960s, recently transitioned ownership from Lamb to Ben and Heather Lamb on October 6, 2025, ensuring continued service to the community. This week’s conditions reflect stable weather with partly cloudy skies and minimal rain chances, ideal for pursuing these species in Chesapeake Bay tributaries.
Black sea bass, prized for their firm texture and mild flavor, require adherence to Maryland Department of Natural Resources regulations: the recreational season runs from May 15 to September 30 and October 10 to December 31, with a minimum size of 13 inches and a daily limit of 15 fish per person. In the lower Potomac, anglers should measure catches carefully, as undersized fish must be released unharmed to support population sustainability. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission oversees tidal portions, aligning with state rules for consistency.
Spot, a popular bottom-feeding species often used as live bait, face no closed season in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay areas, with no minimum size and a daily limit of 50 per person. Their presence in creeks and rivers underscores the productivity of Southern Maryland’s estuaries, where bloodworms prove effective due to the fish’s preference for annelid prey. As temperatures drop toward late October, these fish migrate southward along the Atlantic coast, a pattern documented in regional fisheries data.
Striped bass regulations in Maryland for 2025 emphasize conservation amid fluctuating stocks. In the Chesapeake Bay, the season allows one fish per person per day measuring 19 to 24 inches from June 1 to July 15 and August 1 to December 10, with closures from April 1 to May 15 and July 16 to July 31 to protect spawning. Anglers must avoid targeting during closed periods, focusing instead on permitted methods like trolling or jigging. The Patuxent River bridge pilings, a noted hotspot, offer structure that attracts striped bass, with jigging yielding success around these concrete supports. Overcast conditions and low-light periods enhance bites, as these fish are sensitive to light and feed actively during such times.
Bluefish, known for aggressive strikes, have an open year-round season in Maryland’s Atlantic and bay waters, with a minimum size of 8 inches and daily limits of three per person for private anglers or five for those on for-hire vessels. Larger individuals in the ship’s channel south of Point No Point mix with cobia, while smaller ones venture into rivers. Cobia regulations specify a 43-inch minimum total length, open from June 15 to September 20, with one per person or up to two per vessel. These warm-water migrants appear sporadically in Southern Maryland, adding excitement to bluefish pursuits.
Red drum, including bull reds (over 27 inches) and slot reds (18 to 27 inches), are open year-round with a slot limit of 18 to 27 inches and one fish per person daily. Surprising catches occur while targeting other species, reflecting their opportunistic feeding. Speckled trout, or spotted seatrout, follow a 14-inch minimum, open year-round, with a daily limit of 10. Lure casters find them alongside striped bass, benefiting from similar habitats in grassy shallows and structure.