The Patuxent River delivered exceptional striped bass fishing over the November 16, 2025, weekend, marking one of the strongest fall runs in recent years across Southern Maryland waters.
Ken Lamb of St. Mary’s Tacklebox in Lexington Park reported breaking rockfish, locally known as striped bass, from Drum Point to Green Holly on Sunday morning. Boats using trolling rigs, jigs, and cast lures filled coolers amid surface-feeding schools. Some trollers moved upstream to the Broom Island area to escape crowded lower sections and encountered active fish there as well, with breaking action visible on the surface.
The Potomac River produced similar results for anglers targeting rockfish from St. Clements Island north to Ragged Point and beyond. These zones ranked among the most consistent for limits, aligning with patterns seen in Maryland Department of Natural Resources weekly reports noting strong lower Bay action in both rivers during mid-November 2025.
Blue catfish remained highly active in both waterways. In the Patuxent, hotspots centered near Benedict Bridge and the Chalk Point power plant discharge, while the Potomac hosted abundant blue cats from Bushwood northward toward Washington, D.C. Anglers using cut bait or chicken liver from shore or boats reported steady catches of fish often exceeding 20 pounds.
White perch schooled heavily in the lower Patuxent from Point Patience to Sandy Point, with prime concentrations near the Solomons Bridge pilings and deeper holes. One boat crew landed 176 perch measuring 8 to 13 inches in just hours on Sunday, assisted by a first mate. Sabiki rigs and small metal jigs tipped with bloodworm pieces drew strikes, and hungry rockfish often mixed in the same deeper areas, providing bonus action for bottom fishermen.
Winds posed the main challenge, creating rough conditions that limited outings earlier in the weekend. Small craft advisories affected parts of Chesapeake Bay and tidal rivers through November 17, 2025, with northwest gusts to 25 knots prompting caution for smaller vessels. Conditions improved starting Tuesday, opening a calmer window for the week ahead.
Maryland’s 2025 striped bass regulations allow one fish per angler daily in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, including the Patuxent, measuring 19 to 24 inches. The fall season closes December 10 in these waters. The tidal Potomac follows similar slot limits but extends to December 31 under Potomac River Fisheries Commission rules. Anglers must use circle hooks when bait fishing for rockfish in most areas to reduce mortality on released fish, a requirement since 2021 aimed at sustaining stocks amid ongoing Atlantic coast management.
White perch carry no size limit and a 50-fish daily creel in tidal rivers. Blue catfish, an invasive species, have no limits in Maryland waters, encouraging harvest to control populations that compete with native fish.
Public access points support these fisheries year-round. In Calvert County, Solomons Island ramps and Hallowing Point provide quick Patuxent entry near the Solomons Bridge perch grounds. St. Mary’s County offers launches at Piney Point for Potomac access close to St. Clements and Ragged Point zones. Charles County ramps near Benedict serve upper Patuxent catfishermen.
This surge fits broader November patterns where cooling waters concentrate baitfish like menhaden, drawing migratory rockfish into rivers for pre-winter feeding. Maryland DNR surveys track these movements, with 2025 juvenile indices showing improvement over recent lows, supporting healthier adult runs in tidal areas.
Local tackle shops like St. Mary’s Tacklebox stock essentials for these techniques, from 1/2-ounce bucktails and soft plastics for jigging to heavier tandem rigs for trolling channel edges. Bloodworms, a top perch bait, arrive fresh seasonally, while frozen alternatives work for catfish.
As temperatures drop, rockfish often hold deeper during daylight, rising to feed at dawn or dusk when birds mark surface breaks. Perch stay schooled over oyster bottoms or hard structure, responding well to light tackle in 15- to 30-foot depths near bridges.
Boaters monitor marine forecasts via NOAA or apps, as fall fronts can shift winds quickly in the open Bay. Life jackets, VHF radios, and filed float plans remain standard safety steps, especially with cooler water temperatures increasing hypothermia risks.
The combination of abundant rockfish, perch, and catfish makes mid-November a peak period for multi-species trips in the Patuxent and Potomac, drawing anglers from across the region before the Bay season winds down.
