LEXINGTON PARK — Rockfish are the story on Southern Maryland waters this week. With water temperatures hovering in the low 60s, striped bass are active in the rivers and the bay, holding in the shallows for lure casters and in deeper water for trollers, according to Ken Lamb’s weekly fishing report.
Breaking fish with flocks of birds overhead are scattered around Ragged Point on the Potomac River and near Point Patience on the Patuxent, Lamb reported. Jiggers who mark fish on their electronics are finding hefty stripers around the bridge pilings at Solomons.
Shore anglers are doing well at dawn and dusk with topwater lures, swimbaits and jigs. One angler, Mason, has been catching rockfish in the St. Mary’s River by wading the shallows and casting topwater lures, and Paul Rodriguez found fish at sunset off the beach at Hog Point on the Patuxent, according to photos Lamb shared.
Charter anglers are connecting as well. Capt. Bernie Shea’s party brought in a catch of rockfish Sunday on the Patuxent, Lamb reported. The Potomac also holds many big schools of undersized rockfish, so expect to release plenty.
Know the rules
In Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, anglers may keep one striped bass per person per day between 19 and 24 inches through Dec. 5, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. From Dec. 6 through Dec. 31, fishing is catch-and-release only. The Potomac River’s main stem is managed separately by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, so check its rules before keeping a fish there.
Seasonal fish hang on
Speckled trout and spot were still in the lower Patuxent at last report, and trout remain available for bottom fishermen, Lamb said. Anglers reported small spot and bluefish in the Potomac at the Piney Point public fishing area, and live-liners were able to catch small spot for bait at the Patuxent River bridge this week.
Some charter boats planned Wednesday bottom-fishing trips, which should show whether many seasonal fish remain.
High water slowed things last week. Tides ran at flood stage, Lamb wrote, with water levels finally returning to normal by Monday.
White perch are year-round residents and are starting to leave the creeks to school in the deep holes for winter. They are hard to resist with bits of bloodworm.
Freshwater anglers have options, too. Erick has found that Uni-style lures catch largemouth bass when other lures fail, according to Lamb.
The forecast for the next 10 days looks favorable with no severe weather, Lamb said, calling this the time to enjoy the best fishing of the year. Check the latest marine forecast before heading out.
For last week’s conditions, see the Chronicle’s Oct. 20 Southern Maryland fishing report and the state’s Maryland Fishing Report for Oct. 21.
