Submit your own catch of the week here and keep an eye out for your catch to be featured in one of our next Resource, Reports, and Fun Fish Fact articles!
Did You Know?
The world record for the largest Chain Pickerel was set in Georgia in 1961 with a fish 9 pounds and 9 ounces. The average size is around 7 pounds.
Weather (Click Here)
Along with checking the tides before you hit the water, take a last second look at the most updated weather report.
Today's Moon Phase according to NASA (Click Here)
Waning Crescent- “The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.”
Public Angler Access (Click Here)
Use the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Angler Access map to find new fishing spots in Maryland. Here's an example:
Fairlee Landing: Kent County (Chestertown) on the Fairlee Creek; 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. year 'round fishing for Bluegill, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Catfish, White Perch, Yellow Perch, and Chain Pickerel
Matapeake Fishing Pier & Ramp: Queen Anne's County (Stevensville) on the Chesapeake Bay; Sunrise to sunset year 'round fishing for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Spot, Spanish Mackerel, Seatrout, Flounder, Croaker, Black Drum, Red Drum, and White Perch
Maryland Fishing Report- October 9th compiled by Lyndsie Pratt from Anglers Fishing and Hunting (Click Here)
Rockfish: Take your pick, because just about any method of fishing is producing right now! A lot of people are still trolling, and it’s been great north of the bridge at the mouth of the Magothy and the mouth of the Patapsco, and at Swann Point, the mouth of the Chester and Love Point. Troll in 20-30 feet of water with tandems, spoons, umbrella rigs or spoonbrella rigs. Jigging has been good around all of the same areas. In shallower water, try top water around points, paddletails on smaller sized jig heads, or x-raps. The Severn River and the Patapsco River have both been productive.
Mackerel: There are still mackerel in the area! We’ve heard reports as far north as Hacketts and the mouth of the Magothy! As water temperatures cool down you can troll for them at a slower speed, which is why we are now seeing them caught while trolling for rockfish! Use spoons or a spoonbrella rig
Bluefish: Bluefish are still all over the bay and smaller ones are even in the rivers. Troll for them with spoons, or jig metal jigs!
White Perch: White perch are still around in shallow water near rocks and docks, but with cooler water temperatures you might want to fish for them a little bit slower. Try using a tandem! They are also starting to move more into deeper water over hard bottom. Hackett Point is a great example of where to fish for them! Use metal jigs or sabiki rigs.
Catfish: We have seen a lot of big catfish caught recently! They are all over the bay, but if you really want to get into some big ones, head north to the area just below the Conowingo dam! There is a large park where you can fish from shore, so take some fresh alewife or chicken livers and have fun!
Snakehead: While Snakehead fishing is slowing a little bit at Blackwater, you can still have a good day catching a few fish! Fish slower, sub-surface lures like paddletails or x-raps. We have actually seen bigger fish being caught on the Western Shore, up in the Flats and the Bush River!
Speckled Trout: The speckled trout bite is still pretty hot down south toward Tangier Sound. Be sure to rig your paddletails weedless on light jig heads so that you can get into those shallow water grass beds around all of the islands!
This Weekend's Tide Predictions (Click Here)
Keep an eye on this weekend’s tide schedule. These are the predicted tides for the Western Shore of the Chesapeake from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Wednesday 10/14:
Low tide starting at 10:01 a.m. and 10:02 p.m.
High tide starting at 3:22 a.m. and 3:51 p.m.
Sunrise: 7:15 a.m.
Sunset: 6:28 p.m.
Thursday 10/15:
Low tide starting at 10:39 a.m. and again at 11:05 p.m.
High tide starting at 4:13 a.m. and again at 4:44 p.m.
Sunrise: 7:16 a.m.
Sunset: 6:27 p.m.
Friday 10/16:
Low tide starting at 11:17 a.m.
High tide starting at 5:01 a.m. and again at 5:37 p.m.
Sunrise: 7:17 a.m.
Sunset: 6:25 p.m.
Saturday 10/17:
Low tide starting at 12:07 a.m. and again at 11:55 p.m.
High tide starting at 5:48 a.m. and again at 6:29 p.m.
Sunrise: 7:18 a.m.
Sunset: 6:24 p.m.
Sunday 10/18:
Low tide starting at 1:09 a.m. and again at 12:35 p.m.
High tide at 6:36 a.m. and again at 7:21 p.m.
Sunrise: 7:19 a.m.
Sunset: 6:23 p.m.
