MECHANICSVILLE — The first bluefish and bigger croaker of the season were reported this week in the lower Potomac River, according to Ken Lamb of the St. Mary’s Tacklebox, signaling the start of peak summer fishing across Southern Maryland waters.
Catches remain small in the ones and twos for now, but numbers are expected to increase quickly as June brings warmer summer water temperatures. Spot are already present throughout local waters along with tiny croakers in many areas. Spot make excellent table fare and are highly effective live bait for targeting rockfish. They thrive in hot weather and will become more abundant each day as the month progresses.
The Patuxent River fully opens for rockfish harvest on Monday, June 1. Trollers and lure casters should find stripers holding in the shallows and along drop-offs all up and down the river in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.
Good reports of striper catches continue in the Potomac River near the 301 bridge, the mouth of Upper Machodoc Creek and at Tylers Lump — one of the consistently productive areas for rockfish in recent years. In the Patuxent River, anglers are finding fish at Point Patience, the Solomons bridge pilings, Cedar Point and many other spots in both Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.
Current striped bass regulations in Maryland and Potomac waters remain aligned with a 19- to 24-inch slot limit and one fish per day. Anglers are reminded to check the latest Maryland Department of Natural Resources fishing guide for any emergency changes or area-specific rules before heading out.
Crabbing is also improving rapidly. Crabs are moving into the creeks and beginning to shed. Waterfront property owners with residential crab pots along local rivers and creeks are reporting very good hard crab catches. Hand liners and trappers are starting to find crabs in the creeks and rivers throughout the region.
Weather conditions look favorable for the next ten days with warmer temperatures and calmer winds expected. Early morning and late afternoon bites should be excellent, especially next weekend when high tides align with dawn and dusk.
The combination of opening rockfish harvest on the Patuxent, increasing spot numbers, early bluefish and croaker activity, and improving crab catches makes this an ideal weekend for Southern Maryland families to get on the water. Local anglers in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties have access to some of the region’s best fishing opportunities right in their backyard — from the tidal Potomac and Patuxent rivers to smaller creeks and waterfront properties.
Lamb noted that the early reports are encouraging for what is traditionally one of the best fishing months of the year in Southern Maryland. Spot are particularly important for both recreational fishing and as live bait for rockfish, while the bluefish and croaker arrivals mark the transition into the heart of the summer bite.
Residents and visitors are reminded to follow all size and catch limits, practice safe boating, and properly dispose of fishing line to protect local wildlife. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources encourages catch-and-release for larger stripers when possible to sustain the fishery for future seasons.
For the latest conditions and reports, local anglers can check with the St. Mary’s Tacklebox or the weekly Maryland Fishing Report available through DNR. The Patuxent and Potomac rivers remain two of the most popular and productive fisheries in the state, drawing thousands of Southern Maryland boaters and shoreline anglers each summer.
With calmer winds and favorable tides in the forecast, this weekend offers excellent opportunities for families to enjoy the region’s waterways — whether targeting rockfish in the Patuxent, casting for spot in local creeks, or checking crab pots along the waterfront.
