PINEY POINT, Md. — Striped bass have settled into prime winter patterns across Southern Maryland waters, with the lower Potomac River offering the region’s most consistent action during the final weeks of the 2025 season, according to Ken Lamb of St. Mary’s Tacklebox in Leonardtown.
Breaking fish surface daily near Buoy 5 and along the old oil docks at Piney Point, roughly the southernmost six miles of the Maryland portion of the Potomac. Large schools also stage in the Triangle area between Smith Point Lighthouse and Point Lookout, where migratory coastal rockfish mix with resident bay fish through February. Anglers report multiple catches of stripers measuring 20 to 24 inches, the current slot limit.
In Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, the striped bass season closes Dec. 10, 2025. The Potomac River and Virginia waters remain open through Dec. 31 with a one-fish daily limit in the 19- to 24-inch slot. After Jan. 1, 2026, the bay season reopens with the same one-fish limit but expands the slot to 19-28 inches.
Farther north, the Patuxent River produced steady rockfish and white perch last week. Trollers scored stripers throughout the river from Benedict down to the mouth, while bottom fishermen filled coolers with white perch in deep holes between Sandy Point and Point Patience near the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge at Solomons. Perch became harder to locate Sunday, scattering from the previous week’s hotspots, though experienced anglers still found limits by moving around.
Lamb emphasized that wind remains the biggest obstacle this time of year. Small craft advisories frequently scrub trips on the open Potomac, so fishermen should monitor forecasts closely and fish only on calmer days.
The lower Potomac’s winter fishery relies on schools that follow baitfish driven south by dropping water temperatures. Current surface readings hover in the upper 40s, ideal for rockfish feeding activity. Jigging with 1- to 2-ounce metal or soft plastics in white, chartreuse, or pearl works best around breaking fish, while trolling umbrella rigs and tandem parachutes in 25 to 40 feet of water produces along channel edges.
White perch in the Patuxent continue to hold in 30- to 50-foot holes. Small jigs tipped with grass shrimp or pieces of bloodworm remain the top offering, fished tight to the bottom.
Lamb reminded boaters to carry current Maryland or Virginia saltwater licenses and to register free with the Maryland Saltwater Angler Registry if fishing Maryland waters without a license.
