text:
Delmarva Area Fishing Report
- Details
- Created: Monday, 26 March 2012 11:04
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 08 October 2013 10:57
- Written by Administrator
- Hits: 22103
10/8/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: The last week or so has been slow on the lower Susquehanna River due mostly to the heatwave pushing the Rockfish and Smallmouth back in to summer patterns. Rockfish are being caught mostly at the Dam surf casting to the open gates with flies or Tony's. One dam boater that was fishing against the "no boat zone" was getting consistent rockfish action using cut bait. Slower but still some being caught down river and on the flats using top water baits. Delaware & Maryland Beaches: Blues and some legal size striped bass are being caught in the middle of the inlet on top water baits. Some keeper tautog being caught on the rock piles. Small fish are in the surf still but with NE winds predicted this week larger fish should be moving into the beaches. Some nice flounder being caught on the wrecks. One fishzooer caught a 24" flounder wreck fishing off Ocean City. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Boaters in the lower bay are having good success with Stirped bass and Speckled trout by replicating the migrating yearlings that hatched in the spring and bay anchovies now heading for open waters of the bay. OBX Since much of the island is National Sea Shore due to the government shutdown NPS have been eagerly chasing those walking and fishing areas of beach that is not in front of a house. Despite the NPS resistance anglers were still enjoying good fishing. Eater size pompano & puppy drum. One 40 incher was reported last week in front of the motels. With NE winds predicted larger fish are likely to show. Puppy drum and trout action has been consistent from boats in the sound.
8/21/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: For the most part fishing has been pretty slow with one of the rainiest summers on record, water quality and clarity has not been very good for using artificial lures. The upside of all the rain is the water temps are about 5-8 degrees lower then normal for this time of year. The cooler water has been coaxing Striped Bass, Walleye, Small and Largemouth Bass to the shallows resulting in good topwater action for wading anglers who have been catching Stripers and Smallies and yes even the Walleye are starting to bite in AUGUST. Boater are consistently getting Striped Bass and some nice Red Drum North of the Bay Bridge out of Gunpowder Cove Marina heading east, using spoons also love point, swan point on a moving tide in deep water. Delaware & Maryland Beaches:bluefish in the 15 inch range were reported from surf anglers in Fenwick. Whole mullet and cut spot were the best bait. Still catching spot, croakers and kings on the beach at 3 R's and north of the bridge. It has been a strange year for bluefish especially on the beach. Hopefully they will pick up in good numbers this fall. The big schools are not here yet. Anglers have picked up a few more trout in the Inlet like the old days when there would be a run of trout in the Inlet in mid to late August. The striper bite is mostly at night on live fleas and small eels. Bluefish can be found in the Inlet on the daytime incoming tides but they are deep. Bouncing bucktails on the bottom has been effective on blues up to four pounds. Tautog, black drum, sheepshead and a few red drum along the rocks and railing. As a reminder - tautog closes on September 1.Best flounder action is out at Site 10 and Old Grounds, southeast of B Buoy in 80' depths. Maryland beaches are giving up some Flounder, Kingfish, spot, some blues, small croaker and a number of sharks for surf anglers. Flounder has been biting good at the wrecks. One lucky angler caught a nice sized puppy drum from the bay side. Crabbing and clamming is still going on. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Mostly underside Striped bass with good fishing white perch and croaker action in the tidal creeks and rivers. Boaters in the middle and lower bay have been trolling spoons for a mix of blues and striped bass. Reports of a few Spanish Mackerel in the lower bay Virginia waters. OBX the word this week is "ESPANOL"... yesterday over 100 Spanish Mackerel were landed at Cape Point with some nice blues mixed in. Some Pompano, Sea Mullet and Croaker are being caught on the beaches using fleas and shrimp. Road Trips a few Fishzoo angers took a road trip last week to fish tailing Redfish in South Carolina they had one good day were they caught Redfish, speckled trout and flounder in the shallows at low tide using artificial and live shrimp and mullet.
5/28/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: The coldest spring in 20 years has prolonged the White Perch bite a little longer than usual with some large perch 12" fish still being caught around on darts, small jigs and flies. Small "summer" Rockfish are also being caught with a few 20+ incher in the mix. Hickory shad action is winding down while American Shad continue to be taken in the fish lifts at the Conowingo Dam, however I've not heard reports of anglers actually still catching them hook and line. Flathead Catfish are also being caught in good number and size at the Conowingo Dam as seen in the photo below. These fish are not indigenous to the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay and are voracious predators robing native species of the resources. As such Maryland DNR has asked anglers who catch Flatheads not to release them back into Maryland waters. Delaware & Maryland Beaches: Spawned out large striped bass are now mostly out of the bay and moving up the coast to the delight of Delaware & New Jersey surf anglers with some reports coming in of larger 25 lb fish being caught using cut bait. Dogfish & biter sharks seem to be most plentiful with some Bluefish and black drum in the mix. Inlets and back bay areas are producing good numbers of flounder try jigging white gulps off the bottom while drifting. Larger patterns are yielding larger flounder reports say. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake with the Trophy Striped Bass season about done with the larger spawning Striped bass are mostly out of the bay lower bay anglers are turning there attention to Croaker, Speckled Trout and Red Drum. Specs are turning up in good sizes from Taylor's Island south on the eastern side of the bay with the best action being in the Tangier Pocomoke Sound areas. OBX - On southwest wind days Blues, Black Drum and Sheepshead have been biting in around Buxton. Last week was stellar Drum fishing for those willing to hike out to cape point. Last Tuesday for example, at least 15 citation size Red Drum hit the beach with a few in the 60 lb range. Cobia too are showing up with a few being caught last week from cape point as well. It seem like the long cast and fresh bait got most of the action. Lots of large menacing rays and biter sharks eager to steal bait intended for Drum and Cobia.
The Weeks Ahead: Maryland Striped Bass all area season begins Saturday June 1st. A heatwave is forecasted and temps are expected to spike into the high 80s from Wednesday on. Add a huge increase in boat traffic on the Lower Susky and Susquehanna Flats due to the 7th Annual Port Deposit Striped Bass Tournament... first day Striped Bass fishing will be a challenge. They will likely be seeking refuge in deeper more quite and comfortable waters. Early morning and late evening will be best when activity quiets and temps have cooled down. Mid day look to jig deep channel edges especially those with good current. There still should be a few large White Perch around taking small jigs and flies in the evenings fishing current. Channel cats are usually always willing to take an offering of shrimp or cut bait off the bottom if nothing else is biting. New Jersey and Delaware beaches should be getting some large stripers passing through while moving north with summer bluefish patterns coming in quickly due to the heatwave.
5/13/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: The big story for the area is WHITE PERCH! White Perch are hitting small soft plastic jigs and flies consistently even greedily in most areas of the river with some running water. Saw one zooer catch a nice 12" slab perch using a 5" x-Rap lure. The fish was lip hooked not foul hooked. Its is a good indication of the full-on White Perch feeding frenzy. I also noticed that some of the Females caught over the weekend still have not spawned out... which bodes well for another week or two of excellent White Perch fishing. The Hickory & American Shad are slowing some on the Susquehanna River but one DNR biologist predicts that there may be a second run for the Hick this year due to the water release from the Conowingo Dam. Which should improve the Deer Creek bite some. With the exception of, what we call "summer Rockfish" little guys about 10 - 12" mixed in with the perch the Rock fishing has pretty much come to a halt here due to the closure of the catch and release season with most serious Rockfish angler gearing up for the June 1st keeper season. Where are the Smallmouth?? With really non being reported so far this spring season it's become a bit troubling for some anglers who target them and are a custom to catching large fish in the spring. I watched as one angler fished live Gudgeons for a few hours in a typical Smallie hot spot and caught nothing except some small rockfish. A few years ago this offering would have yielded many nice size smallmouth bass this time of year. WHATS GOING ON??? Delaware & Maryland Beaches Delaware hosted it's "Spring Fishing Tournament last week with large Blues (one 33") and Striped Bass (41") taking home most of the prize money. Some black drum are being caught bay side up to Broadkill. Flounder fishing was tough last week due to high winds making drifting difficult in the bays. Not much reported from Ocean City area due to high winds last week despite difficult fishing a few blues, flounder and stripers were reported. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Around the route 50 bridge is the hot spot for anglers targeting Striped Bass and nice fish are still being caught during the Trophy Season. With bay water temps at around 60 the trolling and topwater fishing has been successful. High expectations for a good lower bay run of croaker, speckle trout and larger red drum. OBX - On southwest wind days Blues, Black Drum and Sheepshead have been biting in good numbers and size around Buxton. Last week was stellar Drum fishing for those willing to hike out to cape point. Last Tuesday at least 15 citation size Red Drum hit the beach with a few in the 60 lb range. Cobia too are showing up with a few being caught last week from the point as well.
The Weeks Ahead June 1st opens the keeper season for Maryland 2 fish per day larger than 18" with one of the two being in the 18 - 28" slot. If temps remain cool the fishing should be good however the huge number of smaller "summer Rockfish" being caught NOW does not forcast well for many keeper size fish being taking... hope I'm wrong there! Perch bite should remain strong at least through this week and possible the following so get them while they are here. Lower bay should start ramping up with Specs, Croaker and HOPEFULLY Red Drum. The Beaches will only keep improving as the water warms. Post spawn Striped Bass will start showing up on the northern beach in New Jersey and NY as they begin to move up the Atlantic coast.
4/24/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: This is an excellent time to take a kid, wife or new-be friend fishing. I saw a number of posts from first-timers young and old having loads fun catching Shad on the Susquehanna River. It's easy fishing, weather is good not much skill required no messy or expensive bait and usually just a short cast for shore will do the trick. The Hickory Shad run on the Hartford side of the Susquehanna River remains strong and consistent provided great fishing action on Tonys, darts and flies. The creek remain slow as the water temps in the creeks are the last to come up to their comfort zone. Catch & Release Rockfishing is about the same as last week there are pockets of fish here and there but not the action were used to seeing this time of year. Heard of a few plus size fish caught but still mostly schoolie size on the flats and lower river. Where are the Walleye?? This seems to be the most puzzling question. The Fishzoo Walleye wizards have been blanked so far this spring season. This is USUALLY the time when the largest "eyes" of the year are caught and mostly released. Heard of one 20" "skinny" walleye was reported at the dam last week but again that's it! White Perch - O'l times say that "when the wild dogwoods are in bloom the White Perch are in". This local folklore has proved true most years... this one being the exception. I have a wild dogwood in my yard and its pretty much if full bloom. The White Perch are in the river but still not hitting artificial. I've talked to some anglers that say when you tip the lure with shrimp or night-crawlers they will bite. I checked some Fishzooer reports from the same time last year and catches were in the 50 fish per day range. The bite was well under way by this time!! Delaware & Maryland Beaches Things are starting to FINALLY come alive at the beach. Blues and Striped Bass are being caught in the 20-25" range at Delaware Seashore State Park, a few blowfish at select beaches above the inlet. One 25 lb Striped bass was reported being caught on Swim Shad in the inlet. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake with the Trophy Striped Bass season open on the Chesapeake last weekend the catch and a photo of a lifetime was the target for most anglers in the middle/lower bay. See the DNR website for restricted areas. OBX - Before the cold front moved through the fishing was respectable with blow toads. sea mullet. big blues some to 10 lbs and a good run of speckle trout at jannet's up to 4 lbs.
The Weeks Ahead Trout - For complete stocking schedule click this link http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 With water temps remaining cold through the region look for a longer shad and perch season this year. Striped Bass C&R should keep ramping up in the next few weeks. The Susquehanna Flats top water and fly fishing is on! REMEMBER - Spawning stripers are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling these large ladies out of water and use barb-less hooks on artificial and use only non-offset circle hooks for bloodworms and cut & live bait where permitted. When getting your photo try to keep the larger female fish horizontal rather than vertical as this could damage her payload!!! The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing. Be looking for White perch as well to start biting artificial.
4/17/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: Despite the tax preparation deadline anglers found time to hit the river and flats and enjoy excellent fishing last week. The Hickory Shad run on the Hartford side of the Susquehanna River provided stellar action on Tonys, darts and flies. Some Fishzooers reported catching more than 20-30 fish per hour and doubles were not uncommon. Catch & Release Rockfishing has been hot and cold with a few good days last week. The good news is they are hitting top water lures and flies. Still not a lot of really large fish being reported, mostly of the schoolie size with a few bigger fish mixed in. Not sure whats going on with the walleye?? I know a few zooers that have been aggressively targeting them with little success. One 20"+ walleye was reported at the dam last week but that's it! No reports of White Perch yet... should be any day now with water temps in the uppers 50s. Delaware & Maryland Beaches STILL...not much being reported at the beaches. Curiously the striped bass being caught on the beachs are also schoolie size but smaller 12-16 inches. Is that normal for this time of year? A few flounder in the bay and at least I Kingfish taken from the surf. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake SHAD...SHAD...SHAD OBX "Loads of Toads" last week with some 2-3 lb blues and some sea mullet mixed in. Reports of a few large Red Drum being caught on Ocracoke with one 50" Drum reported.
The Weeks Ahead Trout will continue until stocking areas are fished out. You might want to make sure that the Lower Gunpowder is reopened after the sewer spill on April 7ths before fishing there. For complete stocking schedule click this link http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 The larger white shad are starting to be taking at the dam they will begin mixing in with the Hicks next week. Striped Bass C&R should keep ramping up in the next few weeks. The Susquehanna Flats top water and fly fishing is on! REMEMBER - Spawning stripers are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling these large ladies out of water and use barb-less hooks on artificial and use only non-offset circle hooks for bloodworms and cut & live bait where permitted. When getting your photo try to keep the larger female fish horizontal rather than vertical as this could damage her payload!!! The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing. Be looking for White perch as well to start biting artificial.
4/9/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: Trout fishing continues to be a hit with anglers the past week in Maryland, Pennsylvania & Delaware which opened last Saturday. With water temps now over 50 the yellow perch have about disappeared from the reports with good numbers of Hickory Shad and Striped Bass now being caught about everywhere. Hicks are stacked up in Deer Creek and the Octoraro Creek. Striped Bass are being caught on the Flats on poppers in shallow 5' depths, trollers are also getting good action from off Lapidum and around the C&R line using x-raps, some waders are catching a few on darts and flies while targeting Shad at Deer Creek. Curiously these are mostly of the "schoolie" size with a few 30+ inch fish being caught. Not sure where our usual "Big Girls" are hopefully running a little late for the party due to winter water temps taking longer then usual to warm this year. No reports of White Perch hitting artificial yet... unless they are tipped with bloodworms or night crawlers. Delaware & Maryland Beaches Still not much being reported due to unseasonably cold temps 1 Striper and few short tautog and what appears to be the seasons first flounder caught in Ocean City. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake From last weeks report - Angler that are putting in the time and enduring the cold temps are getting some striped bass with a mix of large and small with not many in the middle range. Overall the fish being caught are of the LARGE variety. OBX Blow Toads are filling coolers about everywhere about every day last week at the Banks. A few Black Drum and Puppy Drum are also being caught as well.
The Weeks Ahead Trout will continue until stocking areas are fished out. For complete stocking schedule click this link http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 "BEAR YOUR STRIPES" with temps now solidly in the 50s hopefully we've said good riddance to the 40s until late fall... Striped Bass C&R is going to really heat up in the next few weeks. The Susquehanna Flats should start poppin (literally) dust off the topwater lures and have some fun this week. REMEMBER - Spawning stripers are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling these large ladies out of water and use barb-less hooks on artificial and use only non-offset circle hooks for bloodworms and cut & live bait where permitted. When getting your photo try to keep the larger female fish horizontal rather than vertical as this could damage her payload!!! The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing.
4/2/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Susquehanna Flats Fishing: With area trout fishing opening over the weekend many anglers took to the streams and were rewarded with good stringers of stockies in the open areas of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Delaware areas will open 1st Saturday in April. With nighttime temps dipping into the 30s winter is still have it's effect on bay and river water temps still averaging low to mid 40s with a reported daytime peak of 47F at surface in the lower Susky. As such only a few Striped Bass are still being caught on bloodworms and frozen herring even fewer on artificial. Fishzooers that fished the lower Susquehanna River had to be creative, using deep-dive X-raps, cut menhaden, trolling and drifting around the C&R line were FINALLY rewarded with one nice fish and lost a one or two others over the weekend.... very slow. Fishzooers also caught at least 1 Smallmouth and 1 nice Largemouth last week using flies and lures. Shad have appeared and are visible in Deer Creek and are cautiously following flies and darts but but are not striking yet. Chester River anglers report that White Perch are hitting jigs tipped bloodworms or shrimp with a few Yellows mixed in still in deep water. Delaware & Maryland Beaches No current fishing reports of fish being caught, water temps still a bit too cold 42.3 degrees F. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Angler that are putting in the time and enduring the cold temps are getting some striped bass with a mix of large and small with not many in the middle range. Overall the fish being caught are of the LARGE variety. OBX no report this week.
The Weeks Ahead New Castle County trout area Trout fishing will open this weekend the first Saturday in April. For complete stocking schedule click this link http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 Starting month 2 of the Maryland catch and release Striped Bass season still feels like early March. With water temps about 5-8 degrees below normal for this time of year, fishing the usual spring techniques might need to be adjusted to a more winter style of fishing. Fish that would normally be moving up the rivers and creeks to spawn like White Perch are still holding in deep more comfortable waters. Species that would normally be hitting artificial baits like stripers and shad this time of year need some enticement so tipping jigs with bloodworms or shrimp for perch will get more action. Try bloodworms and cut baits for Striped Bass. I find that when shad are cautious use more stealthy patterns that match water color like olives and greens. Slow retrieve and trolling speeds might also help... switch thing up, location, pattern & depths. The Susquehanna Flats should become active in the next week or so. Spawning stripers are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling them out of water and use barb-less hooks on artificial and use only non-offset circle hooks for bloodworms and cut & live bait where permitted. For a excellent detailed explanation of what a "true circle hook" is check out this article on Chesapeake Light Tackle. Circle Hook Confusion. The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing.
3/26/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River & Flats. A few reports of Hickory Shad and Striped Bass came in last week from various sources. Shad were reported at Deer Creek and a few Stripers were reported at Turkey Point beach and Lapidum boat ramp on bloodworm and frozen herring. This is just the beginning, guys fishing from boats around Bay Bridge and warm water outlets are reporting some of the biggest catch and release stripers in years and for some "EVER". These fish are moving towards the Susquehanna Flats and should start biting here very soon.Some good reports for White Perch that have started hitting in the upper/middle bay tributaries and creeks like Tuckahoe and Millington. The new regulations for summer flounder which opens in Maryland on Thursday, have been finalized and released - see below. Delaware & Maryland Beaches No current fishing reports of fish being caught, water temps still a bit too cold 42.3 degrees F. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake No report this week OBX scraping for some good reports and finally the Blow Toads came to the rescue. A few days last week they were reported as hitting 2 at a time off ramp 55 with some sea mullet and blues mixed in... not much else to report at the banks this week.
The Weeks Ahead Delmarva area Trout fishing will open up in a few weeks see the schedules for details where and when http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 Maryland catch and release Striped Bass season has opened March 1 - May 31 up for the lower Susquehanna River and Flats (see DNR regulations for open areas and legal baits). Get the back brace out... from southern reports there is a good number of large migratory fishing being caught and released. These fish are heading to the Susquehanna Flats and lower Susquehanna River. Remember these fish are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling them out of water and use barb-less hooks on artificial and use only non-offset for bloodworms and cut & live bait where permitted. For a excellent detailed explanation of what a "true circle hook" is check out this article on Chesapeake Light Tackle. Circle Hook Confusion. The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing. I saw quite a few birds on the lower river and hunting the creeks which means the herring shad are moving in it wont be long now!
NEW SUMMER FLOUNDER REGULATION FOR MARYLAND: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources pursuant to COMAR 08.02.05.12F announces that the recreational summer flounder fishery will re-open statewide at 12:01am, Thursday, March 28th, 2013. The fishery will remain open through 11:59 pm December 31, 2013. Recreational anglers may keep up to 4 summer flounder per person per day. The minimum size for summer flounder is 16 inches in all Maryland state waters. The commercial hook and line minimum size is also 16 inches in all Maryland state waters.
The Department may close the recreational season early if projections indicate the recreational harvest target will be caught before December 31, 2013.
3/18/13 - Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River. Soon...soon...soon... seems to be the story everywhere. Not many Fishzoo anglers are even fishing and the few that are have not been catching much. I saw a flyrodder casting on the Octoraro last week, despite his excellent technique was not getting any bites and not spotting any Hicks or Herring as the creek visibility was very poor. With the Conowingo Dam in spill the water in the river is high, fast and dirty with poor visibility. Not a good combination for artificial baits. The yellow perch should be on the move so you might catch spawning females heading to the shallows. White Perch should be staged and ready to move to the creeks and the river. Jigs tipped with night crawlers or blood worms should be getting results in the deep holes and channels. Soon Millington will be coming alive with White Perch action. Delaware & Maryland Beaches No current fishing reports of fish being caught they are saying in about 10 days thing will start heating up. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Warm water outlets like Calvert Cliffs for boaters is the only action reporting some catch and release striped bass with not many being caught. OBX is still FLAT with the exception of a few dogfish and sea mullet reported last week.
The Weeks Ahead Delmarva area Trout fishing will open up in a few weeks see the schedules for details where and when http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 Maryland catch and release Striped Bass season has opened March 1 - May 31 up for the lower Susquehanna River and Flats (see DNR regulations for open areas and legal baits). This is the most exciting time for the Delmarva area. Anglers from all over converge on the lower river and flats to have a go at catching the HUGE spawning Striped Bass. Remember these fish are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling them out of water and use barb-less hooks. This makes the unhooking and release transition so much easier on the fish and the angler. The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing. Also in the next few weeks Shad should start showing up and as water temps get into the 50s they will start to turn on for darts and flies. White perch will be close behind.
3/7/13 - Been a month since our last report, its been slow but a few things are happening in Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River. Early trout stocking in the Octoraro Creek on 2/19. If you did not get down there the first week you missed out. According to a few who tried during week two, it was all fished out. A few keeper Yellow Perch and Crappie were caught at the North East creek and some 10incher YPs reported on the Sassafras River. There was a rumor going around that some Hickory Shad were caught in the Susquehanna River. It seemed a bit too early but I checked it out anyway. Surveyed the usual hot spots, Stafford Road bridge, Deer Creek at the Susquehanna River and Dr Jack bridge and no sign of any fish much less Hicks. I'm calling this a foul hooked Mud Shad... busted! One 50 year veteran said "the earliest he has ever caught Hickory Shad is the last week of March" I would guess it will be about that or later this year. Delaware & Maryland Beaches No current fishing reports but lots of talk about the purposed summer Flounder regulations and getting public comments about the 4 options for each state see below.
Option 1Minimum size - 18 inchesPossession limit - 4 fishClosed season October 24-Dec 31
Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Hardy boaters are being rewarded with large stripers reports indicate that the bite is slow but the fish being caught are nice ones. OBX is FLAT with the exception of a few dogfish and sea mullet here and there not much going in at the Outer Banks.
The Weeks Ahead Delmarva area Trout fishing will open up in a few weeks see the schedules for details where and when http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=25 Maryland catch and release Striped Bass season has opened March 1 - May 31 up for the lower Susquehanna River and Flats (see DNR regulations for open areas and legal baits). This is the most exciting time for the Delmarva area. Anglers from all over converge on the lower river and flats to have a go at catching the HUGE spawning Striped Bass. Remember these fish are carrying hundreds of future Striped Bass so please be gentle when handling them out of water and use barb-less hooks. This makes the unhooking and release transition so much easier on the fish and the angler. The goal is to get a picture and get them back in the water as quickly as possible and be sure to revive the fish before releasing. Also in the next few weeks Shad should start showing up and as water temps get into the 50s they will start to turn on for darts and flies. White perch will be close behind. I have also heard some talk about Red Drum wintering over in the bay as far north as Turkey Point... we'll try to get some more information on that rumor <' )))))))<
2/7/13 -Our first fishing report for the 2013 fishing season Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River. Yellow Perch are starting to show and bite consistently in 20-40 foot depth. Best action has been with soft plastic tipped with night crawlers. Before the Conowingo Dam went into spill Owens Landing was providing good action for dock and boat anglers alike. Mostly dinks with a few keepers mixed in and heard of couple of 10-12 inch fish at the Sassafras River from shore. Delaware & Maryland Beaches No reports Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake Some Yellow Perch action OBX water temps in the 50 should be yielding drum, specs and blow toads but its still been really slow there it could be the fish are there just no one to catch them.
The Weeks Ahead DNR has announce the start of state wide Trout stocking in Maryland waters. As water temps creep back up into the 40s the trout fishing should start picking up again. The exact stocking schedule is yet to be announced. Yellow Perch should be getting better as we move into February these fish will be pre-spawn and feeding hard.
12/31/12 - Last report for the 2012 fishing season from Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River. The past 2 weeks of the year have been a complete 180 from the beginning of December. Due partially to the heavy rain and Conowingo Dam Spill cycle, the Rockfish have shut completely off with no reports of any being caught since before the storms. Some anglers have attempted to fish for Walleye the day after the dam was out of spill with no bites. Delaware & Maryland Beaches were still getting a few large stripers here and there most of the action was at Indian River Inlet using deep flies on long lines. With water temps in the low 40s the stragglers will soon be moving south. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake is where most of the big striper action is holding on mostly the lower bay well south. I talked to a friend yesterday that fishes the Chester River and East Neck Island and he said that there have not been any fish taken in the past couple of weeks there either. OBX Dogs and Skate are the big news at the Banks. No Blues, No Stripers, No Specs! Some good news is RT 12 is finally re-opened to all traffic after being damaged, above Rodanthe due to a 1-2 punch from double nor'easters. Hopefully with all traffic getting through more anglers will get to the beach to test the waters.
Repairing storm damage to RT 12 on Pea Island Outer Banks photo courtesy of NCDOT
The Weeks Ahead Its all Yellow Fever from here on out. I suppose a few "eyes" might still be caught locally but around here most anglers will now focus on Yellow Perch at Port Deposit Pier, Owens Landing and from boats. Crappie are also a good target using tube jigs on slip bobbers fishing deep 15' - 20' around structure The Outer Banks might still get a late Spec run... keep the bags packed for a quick road trip!
12/17/12 - Just when we thought it was about over the Rockfish had a different idea in the Upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River. In the past 2 weeks Fishzooers have reported some of the best Rockfishing on fly gear in decades. For waders the action was mostly on the Cecil side fishing various colored hackle patterns. Boaters also have seen steady Rockfish action trolling X-Raps off Lapidum and Tomes Landing. The sizes range has been mostly the 18-20 inch with a few 25+ inch fish reported. As for the walleye while a few have come up here and there, with these aggressive Rockfish hammering the bait after dark the slower moving Walleye have not had much of a chance for a bite. Same story for Delaware beaches,Old Inlet described it as "a crazy weekend". Striper fishing picked up overall on the beach using fresh bunker and in the Indian River Inlet with the big story being a potential Delaware state record breaker caught by angler Ben Smith. The fish was landed from the beach on 12/8/12 weighing 52 lbs and 51" length. It needs to beat the previous record of 51.8 lbs set in 1979 to take the new state record. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake For anglers willing to brave the cold and wind big Stripers have been the reward. Trolling with umbrella rigs have brought up a good number of 20-30 lb fish with a few anglers in the 40 lb club. OBX has gone to the Dogs the past few weeks. The Dogfish that is. Those and skate have been the only consistent biters at the Banks with a few Puppy Drum mixed in. No mention of Speckled Trout but the hard core trout anglers are tight lipped about their catches and locations so they could be on schedule and biting at the usual secret spots.
The Weeks Ahead Even though the Rockfish season has ended 12/15 the schoolies should continuing to bite here for HOPEFULLY another week or so. Once the Rock move out of the way the Walleye should start showing up at the usual spots on Firetigers and Flies. Of course the word that is starting to buzz around on the private Fishzoo line is YELLOW FEVER. Yellow Perch should start bunching up once temps get down to the low 40s from boats and Owens Landing and Port Deposit. LATE SEASON TIPs - 1. slowing down your retrieve, keep your lure aloft as long as possible in the seams, 2. Since late fall early winter water clarity is very good stealthy presentation is a must! Use light tackle with 8 or even 6 lb line use a Fluorocarbon leader which will go nearly invisible in the water. Try dark colors if the usual chartreuse and orange are not getting results. 3. As always low light times are the best sunset until dark when their eyes are adjusting to the change in light, their vision is a little handicapped. In that short 20-30 minute window of time, keep your bait in the water as much as possible.
Ben Smith's 52 lb Striped Bass Delaware State Record.. congratulations!
December Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River on X-Raps
One of 11 Rockfish caught in 1 hour by Fishzoo angler using fly gear in the Susquehanna River on December 11th
11/26/12 - Fishing is showing signs of slowing down in the upper Chesapeake Bay and lower Susquehanna River. In the past 2 weeks some of Fishzoo's most seasoned anglers have been using about everything in the tackle box, about everywhere from Eastneck Island to Stump Point the Mill to the Dam and have caught very few fish. Stripers are about gone the few that are being caught are mostly short fish. Some keepers were caught on the Elk and Northeast Rivers last week once fish were located Xraps at about 10' was the best bait. 11/24/12 some short stripers were caught on fly gear. Some walleye were taken at the dam on fly and firetigers but very few for this time of year. News of a few yellow perch were brought up from 20' depths off Perryville 2 weeks ago from boats. Same story for Delaware and Ocean City beaches, poor weather and high winds have kept fishing to a minimum with some short stripers reported. Virginia and Maryland lower Chesapeake seems to be the only place where stripers of quality and quantity are being caught. OBX has been dealing with bad weather as well with some keeper puppy drum being caught between periods of high wind at the point. Watch for Route 12 closures during the full moon high tide cycle this week (11/28) due to wash over.
The Weeks Ahead Don't put the rods up yet. Based on last years reports the Walleye will continue to bite in 6-10 feet of water until the temps get down below 40f then they will move to deeper more comfortable water. Until the Dam starts running 60,000 cfs or more the "eyes" will be spread out and a little tougher to find. Increase your odds of a bite for those few opportunities by 1. slowing down your retrieve, keep your lure aloft as long as possible in the seams, 2. Since late fall early winter water clarity is very good stealthy presentation is a must! Use light tackle with 8 or even 6 lb line use a Fluorocarbon leader which will go nearly invisible in the water. Try dark colors if the usual chartreuse and orange are not getting results. 3. As always low light times are the best sunset until dark when their eyes are adjusting to the change in light, their vision is a little handicapped. In that short 20-30 minute window of time, keep your bait in the water as much as possible. Also start looking for the Yellow Perch they should begin to show up in Port Deposit off the pier, Owens Landing in Perryville and from boats fishing small jigs with slip bobbers about 10' until the water gets really cold then they will move to the 40' or more depths. Then there is always a road trip... this is one of the best times of year to fish for specs and puppy drum in Hatteras until the end of December. Big stripers are hitting in the lower bay and should be in Indian River Inlet and Ocean City as well....so bundle up and go fish~
11/20/12 Elk and Northeast River Stripers
11/13/12 Conowingo Dam Walleye
11/26/12 Walleye at the dam on fly gear
11/7/12 - Since the Hurricane Sandy rolled through its been pretty quiet in the mid Atlantic region. We at fishzoo wish the best for all those adversely effected by the storm and a speedy return to "normal" life. I few brave souls ventured out before the storm and since, some were rewarded with good catches of Rockfish the trick was finding the right depth and right patterns. The big story for Cecil / Hartford is local trout stocking a load of trout in the Big Elk Creek and Rising Sun pond. See below for details.
FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE FOR MARYLAND: 11/7/12 - between 10/23 - 11/7
|Rising Sun Pond (300 RB)
|November 7
|Big Elk Creek (1635 RB)
|November 7
|Tuckahoe Creek (500 RB)
|November 7
|Stansbury Park Pond (500 RB)
|October 25
|Blairs Valley (200 RB/GN)
|October 25
|Gunpowder Falls Upper (1000 RB)
|October 25
|Morgan Run - Catch-and-Return (500 RB)
|October 25
|Prince Georges
|Schoolhouse Pond (250 RB)
|October 25
|Prince Georges
|Melwood Pond (750 RB)
|October 25
|Prince Georges
|Lake Artemesia (750 RB)
|October 25
|Prince Georges
|Greenbelt Lake (750 RB)
|October 25
|Prince Georges
|Allens Pond (500 RB)
|October 25
|Wheatley Lake (500 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Myrtle Grove Pond (500 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Hughesville Pond (300 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Hutchins Pond (250 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Calvert Cliffs Pond (250 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Casselman River - Delayed Harvest (270 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Bear Creek (270 RB/GN)
|October 24
|Rising Sun Pond (200 RB/GN)
|October 23
|Howards Pond (300 RB/GN)
|October 23
|Big Elk Creek (700 RB/GN/BN)
|October 23
|Tuckahoe Creek (250 RB/GN/BN)
|October 23
|Great Seneca Creek (800 RB/GN/BN)
|October 23
|Deer Creek (850 RB/GN)
|October 23
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER & FLATS: NOTE that the Susquehanna River State Park Lapidum boat ramp will be closed from 10/9/12 - 12/2/12 (approximately) for storm maintenance. Before the storm Rockfish were being caught on top water baits about everywhere in good numbers mostly smaller fish with a few keepers mixed in. Zooers reported catching Rockfish from boats at stump point on the Susquehanna Flats using top water bait and flies. Also at the mouth of the Chester River in 20' feet with modified jigging spoons. A few fish were being caught at the Conowingo Dam once the water levels returned to normal generation. Still no word on the Walleye yet this is the time they should start up. Seeing lots of guys targeting them but no "eye" to show for it. Still catching good sized flats heads heard of a 34" inch caught just below the boat ramp at fishermans park on a Firetiger.
Chester River After Hurricane Sandy
Just before Conowingo Dam went into spill after Hurricane Sandy
Cecil side of the Susquehanna River just before Nor'easter
INDIAN RIVER INLET: As of 11/3 the inlet bridge was reopened after Hurricane Sandy. Between that storm and the Nor'easter the Puppy Drum had been biting good on the beach. The water temps will drop rapidly due to the nor'easter so the big stripers should start biting soon.
OCEAN CITY: From at the beach:
Well, we survived Hurricane Sandy, but we lost over half the Ocean Pier. 9th Street Pier is intact. The pier at Northside Park is intact. Oceanic Pier looks fine. The bulkhead between 2nd and 4th Streets were damaged and have been closed until it is repaired. The whole railing was washed away and the boardwalk was buckled. The surf looks good, though you have to wade a long way out at low tide to get to the deep water. We had fish in the surf this weekend, so all is happy! Blues, puppy drum, and short stripers, sharks and skates were reported. Tautog were biting from the Bridge and Inlet.
OBX: The big news at the banks is PUPPY DRUM. Since the storm the pups have been biting about everywhere in good numbers on cut mullet and shrimp. A few specs reported one 5 pounder caught last week near frisco.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Look for walleye to pick up in the Susky, Stripers will likely make a comeback once the water settles down some. I'm definitely going to try topwater bait once temps return to normal for this time of year. For the beaches the cold snap means hot Striper action and large fish look for Indian River and Ocean City to heat up for the stripes! Once hatteras settles down the specs should be on fire.
10/15/12 - WOW... what great week of fishing on the Lower Susquehanna River last week. With water temps just dipping below 60F Rockfish, Smallmouth and Walleye were being caught in good numbers. Zooers reported loads of 16-19" Rockfish on the Hartford side using Creek Chubs and Flies. Smallmouth on stick bait on the Cecil side with an evening Walleye bite just starting up on both sides.
FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE FOR MARYLAND: 10/15/12 - between 10/9 - 10/15 some 13,000 trout were stocked at various locations in Garrett, Howard, Allegany, Frederick, Carroll, Washington & Montgomery counties check the list below for creek locations
|Patapsco River at Avalon (750 RB/GN/BN)
|October 12
|Youghiogheny River - Oakland (300 RB)
|October 12
|Youghiogheny River - Friendsville (200 RB)
|October 12
|Youghiogheny River - Delayed Harvest (100 RB)
|October 12
|Youghiogheny River - Catch & Return (300 RB)
|October 12
|Glades Park Pond - Youth & Blind (100 RB)
|October 12
|South Branch Patapsco River Upper Section (200 RB/GN/BN)
|October 11
|Patapsco R at Daniels - 2 Trout/Day (750 RB/GN/BN)
|October 11
|Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap) (1000 RB)
|October 11
|North Branch Potomac River at Barnum (1000 RB)
|October 11
|North Branch Potomac River - Zero Creel Area (500RB)
|October 11
|Middle Creek (300 RB)
|October 11
|Catoctin Creek - Delayed Harvest Area (200 RB)
|October 11
|Middle Patuxent River - Delayed Harvest (200 RB)
|October 10
|Little Patuxent River - 2 fish/day (600 RB/GN/BN)
|October 10
|Centennial Lake (500 RB/GN)
|October 10
|Piney Run Reservoir (500 RB/GN)
|October 10
|Youghiogheny River - Delayed Harvest (250 RB/BN)
|October 10
|Parkville Pond - Youth & Blind (100 RB)
|October 9
|N Branch Potomac River - Westernport (1000 RB)
|October 10
|N Branch Potomac River - Upper Catch & Return (700 RB)
|October 9
|Casselman River - Delayed Harvest (350 RB)
|October 10
|Rainbow Lake (450 RB/GN/BN)
|October 10
|Wills Creek (500 RB/GN)
|October 10
|Town Creek - Delayed Harvest (350 RB/BN)
|October 10
|Evitts Creek (200 RB/GN/BN)
|October 10
|Lions Park Pond (100 RB)
|October 9
|Cotton Cove Pond (100 RB)
|October 9
|Blairs Valley Lake (500 Rainbows)
|October 9
|Greenbrier Lake (500 Rainbows)
|October 9
|Cunningham Falls Lake (500 Rainbows)
|October 9
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER & FLATS: NOTE that the Susquehanna River State Park Lapidum boat ramp will be closed from 10/9/12 - 12/2/12 (approximately) for storm maintenance. Keeper Rockfish continue to be caught at the Conowingo Dam for the long casters. Rock Run area has come alive with a number of 3 different Zooers reported catching 40-50 Rockfish between them in about 1 hours time Friday evening... only a few over 18" but loads of fun. Another Zooer reported catching a 25" Rockfish at the same spot wednesday evening. Walleye and Smallmouth Bass all in the 18 - 20" Range.
OCEAN CITY: Sea Trout, Tautog, Puppy Drum, Sheepshead, Blues and Flounder all still biting with cooler temps. Big Drum just starting to bite in Assateague Island.
OBX: Another stellar week of fishing in the Outer Banks. The highlight is Citation Drum being caught in good numbers at the point on cut bait and lures. Take a number though as Cape Point has been stacked up with anglers waiting their turn to get one of the big reds. A 5 LB Ponpano was caught in the wash along with nice flounder off 43. Blues are everywhere hitting finger mullet and metal.
THE WEEK AHEAD: GAME ON! If you don't get out any other time this year get out at least one day this week. It should be one of the best fishing weeks of the year. Coming off the new moon phase and water temps hovering around 60 this week should prove to be one of the best fishing of the Fall fishing season.
10/8/12 - Keeper size Rockfish are being caught about everywhere on the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries. The fall run is underway with water temps dipping to the low 60s last week. On the lower Susky anglers are starting to enjoy good topwater action on poppers. Delaware beaches and Ocean City Maryland should follow as ocean temps continue to drop.
FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE FOR MARYLAND: 10/2/12 - Frederick, Carroll Creek 250, Friends Creek 450, Owens Creek 450
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER & FLATS: NOTE that the Susquehanna River State Park Lapidum boat ramp will be closed from 10/9/12 - 12/2/12 (approximately) for storm maintenance. Keeper Rockfish are hitting the beach at the Conowingo Dam for the long casters. Rock Run area is also coming alive with a number of Zooers reporting Rockfish, Walleye and Smallmouth Bass all in the 18 - 20" Range.
INDIAN RIVER INLET:Lots of undersized Tautog, Taylor Blues on the incoming tide, some small stripers but with temps dropping the big fish should be showing up soon. Tautog Season in Delaware reopened Saturday 9/29/12 - 5 per day 15".
OCEAN CITY: Sea Trout, Tautog, Puppy Drum, Sheepshead, Blues and Flounder all still biting with cooler temps.
OBX: Last week the Banx reported stellar fishing. Sounds like the o'l days when blues would blitz and push mullet on the beach some anglers reported blues hitting there feet chasing bait. A 35 lb King was caught on Avon pier along with good numbers of blues and Spanish on Gotcha Plugs. Some specs in sound and a nice catch of Pompano on the north side of cape point.
THE WEEK AHEAD: GET OUT THERE - The Rockfish collecting at the Dam will start to spread out as water temps cool. This is the best time to fish the lower Susky. Air temps are still warm and water temps are getting the fish to start schooling and feeding hard. Topwater should be getting fun for Rock and Walleye will start biting after dark on stick baits and deceiver fly patterns.
10/1/12 - Big news is the Fall Trout stocking DNR should be putting trout in all around the state in the next 2 weeks. The hotline has old information but should be updated very soon. Here are the Fall numbers:
about 26,000 one-pound rainbow and golden trout, 1,000 one-pound brown trout, and 150 two- to three-pound rainbow and golden trout throughout the State.
Popular locations should include the North Branch of the Potomac River, Bear Creek, Big Elk Creek, Blair's Valley Lake, Deer Creek, Great Seneca Creek, Greenbelt Lake, Gunpowder Falls, Lake Artemesia, Morgan Run, Patapsco River, Wheatley Lake, Town Creek and Tuckahoe Creek.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Rockfish at the Conowingo Dam. Other than places like Cape Point in Buxton NC or Cape Charles VA, Montauk Point where its pretty common to see wading anglers with 10'+ surf gear all bunched up in one small area casting as far as they can at pretty much the same spot on the water. One would think that out of place on the lower Susquehanna River except at the Conowingo Dam during the Fall Rockfish run. The "Slingers" as their locally known are having good success catching Rockfish using traditional surf gear. One Fishzooer reported 20 - 30 Rockfish caught in just shy of an hour by "Slingers" last week with one "Slinger" catching a 35" which is a really nice fish for late September. In addition to the Rockfish, flatheads are hitting jigs as well some of which are very large. If you don't mind the crowds get your Surf gear out and head to river?
INDIAN RIVER INLET:Strong Sheepshead bite along the rocks in the inlet. Striped Bass are still slow with some being caught early morning, Blues on the incoming tide in the inlet, some flounder still around. Tautog Season in Delaware reopened Saturday 9/29/12 - 5 per day 15".
OCEAN CITY: (NO NEW REPORT) The big news is Sheepshead at the south jetty. Anglers are "bailing" them to quote At the Beach. Tautog are starting to bite as well. Surf fishing was loads of fun last week with Snapper blues, kings, spot, and small pups, even a few short stripers Offshore boats were getting a good dolphin and marlin bite
OBX: Fairly normal early fall fishing at Outer Banks. The highlights for last week were a 4l lb.5 oz Pompano caught by Warran Wetmore near Buxton Woods Campground??? A few citation Sea Mullet were weighed in at Red Drum Bait and tackle. Also some consistent bites from Blues on metal one angler reported 20 hooks in a row some the blues were pretty good size. A few specs showing up in the surf near Avon.
THE WEEK AHEAD: The Rockfish collecting at the Dam will start to spread out as water temps cool. This is the best time to fish the lower Susky. Air temps are still warm and water temps are getting the fish to start schooling and feeding hard. Topwater should be getting fun for Rock and Walleye will start biting after dark on stick baits and deceiver fly patterns.
9/24/12 - The news for Maryland anglers is the falling temps. This means increased Rockfish action especially topwater. With Susquehanna River and upper bay water temps dipping into the 70s Rockfish will start schooling up and feeding hard in the weeks to come. Right now I would start using a 4" 1.5 oz creek chub Striper Strike (chrome) or 7/8 oz Atoms Popper white and blue. Both these lures will cast a mile and are nearly neutrally buoyant which Stripers cannot resist especially they start to drop slightly after a first strike. I like to add bucktail hair to the trailing hook.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Rockfish at the Conowingo Dam. The long casters using surf tackle are pulling up good numbers of Rockfish with large gates open especially. Heard a report of a 36" being caught there last week. One Fishzooer caught 20 Rockfish using topwater below the boat ramp in 1 hour with 4 of them being keepers.
INDIAN RIVER INLET:Plenty of small summer fish still around on the surf Kingfish, croaker, blues. Water is still a little warm for Stripers but with the temp dropping 5F in the past 2 weeks the bite is improving with a few keepers being caught even during daylight hours. A few flounder are still being caught in the bay. One citation 7 pounder was weighed in last week.
OCEAN CITY: The big news is Sheepshead at the south jetty. Anglers are "bailing" them to quote At the Beach. Tautog are starting to bite as well. Surf fishing was loads of fun last week with Snapper blues, kings, spot, and small pups, even a few short stripers Offshore boats were getting a good dolphin and marlin bite
OBX: Reports of "big reds" being caught here and there with a couple hitting the 41-47" range. Blues on metal at the point. I was in hatteras last week and fished the sound hard did not catch any trout or drum but did talk to a guy that caught a 36" Drum and a few just barley keeper size gray trout both after dark sound-side. I did catch a good number of small sheepshead using fleas and a few sea bass one blowtoad.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Topwater is FULL ON. Get your plugs out and get poppin! For the next 2 months the Rockfish will be crashing topwater baits. With water cooling down they will be moving out of the deep holes and moving around actively looking for food. Evenings and mornings of course will be best.
9/10/12 - For Delaware anglers, James Stewart of Newark has brought some excitement to the Brandywine River. It was confirmed last week that he is the NEW Tiger Musky Delaware state record holder. Stewart took the record by landing a 16 lb 4 oz Tiger Musky using only 6 lb test line with an artificial minnow on a bobber. This tops the previous record of 15 lbs 2 oz by Richard Harris caught in 1991. Thanks to his buddy Ott who convinced him to take the fish in for weighing he now holds the record. Congratulations to James Stewart for his record catch.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Rockfish and Smallmouth just before dark and early morning, fishing small topwater plugs 7/8 oz or smaller for best results. Water temps are getting more fall-like 71F this morning at the Mill. Rockfish are starting to bite topwater baits in the river. Some Walleye are starting to show up just before daylight fishing blue and silver stick bait. Some small pockets of schoolie Rockfish on the flats. The challenge is finding them.
INDIAN RIVER INLET:No New report from Indian River Inlet will look for updates tomorrow.
OCEAN CITY: In the surf... Snapper blues on finger mullet, Croaker and spot on fish bites.
OBX: Loads of Puppy Drum last week mostly undersized. Sea Mullet were on fire about everywhere using sand fleas. Last Monday sound side behind Buxton was giving Specs. Bluefish lowed some.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Topwater fishing should turn on in the next week or so. With night temps dipping to the 50 river water will quickly drop to the 60s. Ad the new moon cycle next week and Rockfishing should get good about everywhere. I saw and heard of a few Walleye being caught before first light and after dark so they should be getting going as well. No word on crabs on the flats yet!
Photo Curiosity of Maryland Department of Natural Resources
On the lower Susquehanna River and Susquehanna flats things are slow on Rockfish with water temps still measuring 81F. I did see the usual reports of some keeper Rock at the dam by slingers. I manage to catch a nice Smallmouth (sorry for the lousy photo) measured about 17" at the Mill using my new hard-body fly popper. Also got 5 short strikes which were appeared to be typically Rockfish and judging from the swirl may have possibly been keeper size in one hour.
Also talked to my friend Charles from Chestertown yesterday. He said that the crabbing has been very good in the Chester River with good numbers and sizes being caught.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Rockfish and Smallmouth just before dark and early morning, fishing small topwater plugs 7/8 oz or smaller for best results. Water is still a bit too warm but getting better every day. Should dip into the 70s this week which will get thing moving in the right direction.
INDIAN RIVER INLET:Good catches of 20" Red Drum in the surf with lots of Pompano feeding hard on shedding sandfleas. Flounder continues to hold strong at Site 10 and Old Grounds southwest of Buoy B. Puppy Black Drum and Triggers along the rocks in the inlet. Tautog is closed.
OCEAN CITY: Fishing was slow last week due to strong winds keeping surf casting to a lob. The short cast fish Croaker, spot and kings were still caught with a few snapper blues mixed in.
OBX: GAME ON... With loads of finger mullet in the surf it full throttle fall fishing. Puppy drum continue to provide good action from the point to avon and sound behind Buxton with some specs mixed. The usual bite of Blues on metal off the point with some Spanish and consistent Bar Jacks hitting metal. Croaker, spot pompano and sea mullet are still being caught around.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Here locally the Rockfish should really start biting. If the low water flow from the Conowingo Dam continues the Rock and Smallmouth will pile up in fewer deep holes. Evening and morning topwater should produce well. Look for crabbing to really explode on the flats and NE and Elk rivers.
8/27/12 - With local water temps still hovering in the low 80s F fishing continues to be slow but showing some signs of improvement. Last week some keeper Rockfish were caught at the dam by Fishzooer SRFC (as usual) can't really use that as a good indicator though since Don (SRFC) seems to be able to catch Rockfish when no one else can. I fished the Mill one day last week and did manage to catch a few "teen-inchers" one 13" and one 15" lost one more and had some good short strikes. The usual perch and small Rockfish at the steps continue to be consistent on fly and jig morning and evening. Channel Catfishing was stellar last week the Susquehanna was clean and we managed to catch CCs one after the other on shrimp fishing 25' depth.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Stellar Channel Catfish action on shrimp. Some Rockfish from slingers at the dam, Loads of White Perch and small summer Rockfish just before dark fishing small jigs and flies in shallow moving water.
OCEAN CITY: Fishing this week was holding good on flounder. Excellent bite on croaker. Surf provided trout, kingfish, spot, croaker, small drum and sharks. A few snapper blues here and there. Offshore, the flounder fishing is excellent. Good on dolphin and marlin, but the tuna bite has slowed up. Party boats are catching flounder, sea bass and croaker.
OBX: Puppy Drum was the big story last week with many being caught off 43, Avon and north of Buxton one angler reported catching 12- 15 inchers on every cast using Gulp Grubs with an occasional keeper mixed in. The usual bite of Blues on metal off the point with some Spanyards. Croaker, spot pompano and sea mullet are still being caught around.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Not sure how hurricane Isaac will affect the Mid Atlantic region yet but it appears that if at all, we won't feel any affect until Friday or the weekend. GET OUT THERE NOW... the weekend will likely be iffy weather wise so play hooky from work and go this week. I plan to again hit the Mill water flow permitting (1 small) this week as well as the steps again.
8/20/12 - The big local fishing news is the resent confirmation of a new Maryland State Record Snowy Grouper caught by Gregory Benn at Norfolk Canyon on July 30th 2012. The 66 lb Grouper was hooked in 600 feet of water and took the young angler about half an hour to bring to the surface. His catch snatched the previous state record from Robert Purcell of 56 lbs caught on July 22nd 2012 lasting only a week. The All Tackle World Record stands solid at 70.7 lbs... Congratulations to Gregory for his remarkable. catch.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Stellar Channel Catfish action on shrimp. Some Rockfish from slingers at the dam, Loads of White Perch and small summer Rockfish just before dark fishing small jigs and flies in shallow moving water.
INDIAN RIVER INLET: Plenty of small kings, spot and croakers hitting on the beach - bloodworms and fresh cut mullet or bunker are the preferred baits.
Croakers are being caught in good numbers and they are keeper size during the daytime too with some spot mixed in. A few stripers at night on fleas and eels, emphasizing the word FEW. The water is just too warm.
OCEAN CITY: Zooers Island girl and Unreel went off shore this weekend and manage to bring home a 6 pack of Mahi Mahi bearly gaffers but good eater size.
OBX: Singing the Blues from Avon to Hatteras point with some Spanish mixed in on lures. The Bluefish bite has been getting better each day as water temps drop. Some pups and specs were reported sound side from boats.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Same as last week night time temps dipping to the 60s the water will follow which should trigger bites from Rockfish & Smalliles. Crabbing well underway at Turkey Point pots everywhere and should pick up here soon in the lower Susquehanna River and Flats. Try dip lining chicken necks off the Port Deposit park pier the crabs might be venturing up river due to the high salt line. I still PLAN to try some evening topwater fishing at either the mill or the channel below the steps this week.
8/13/12 - Sounding like a broken record here (aging myself... guess I should say a scratched CD) for Conowingo Dam and lower Susquehanna River and Flats it's about the same o'l story. Low water and slow fishing. Over the weekend the dam was running just enough water to maintain water quality (1 small gate partially open 12-12 on Sunday) this makes the fishing really slow with not much oxygen being renewed in the water the fish aren't exerting themselves at all, even to feed. I did see a post from SRFC with a few Rockfish caught at the dam as well as some flatheads. I fished the steps below the dam on Tuesday evening and again caught White Perch one after the other hour before dark. Other than that it's been pretty quiet. Liquidaddicted was boating over the weekend and saw loads of crab traps off Turkey Point so the crabbers must be getting some action.
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: A few Rockfish from slingers at the dam, Loads of White Perch just before dark fishing small jigs and flies in current.
INDIAN RIVER INLET: Keeper size Corakers on clams in the inlet, 18" Bluefish in the inlet, a few Stripers between 2-3 am water is still very warm killing the daytime bite. Flounder on live spot in the inlet and bay. The Big news for last week as 2 - 7 lb flounder were weighed in at Old Inlet Bait and Tackle caught at site 10.
OCEAN CITY: East and West Channels in front of the Commercial Harbor were the hot spots for flounder fishing. Most angler had success using live spot and finger mullet or gulps. Surf was pretty dead with some sharks keeping the action bearable and a bluefish here and there.
OBX: Some Pompano and Sea Mullet ramps 43 & 44, Sharks and high tide Spanish at the point, Specs and Grays at Hatteras Inlet. Rodanthe had water temps hitting mid 70s which should start to turn the action up a bit.
THE WEEK AHEAD: With night time temps cooling to the 60s the water will follow quickly which will trigger bites from Rockfish Smalliles and maybe and early Walleye or two. Crabbing has already started at Turkey Point and should pick up here soon in the lower Susquehanna River and Flats. Try dip lining chicken necks off the Port Deposit park pier the crabs might be venturing up river due to the high salt line. I plan to try some evening topwater fishing at either the mill or the channel below the steps this week. With so little water running from the dam the water clarity should be getting really good for the spear guns might get in the water this week.
8/6/12 - Things are starting to slowly improve last week. With reports of smallmouth on the bite at the Conowingo Dam and around the barges using Carolina Rigs still being caught near the bottom were the water is cooler. Talking to a friend from Chestertown Maryland yesterday who said they have been catching some schoolie Rockfish at love point nothing large mostly undersized. I again had another fun evening at the steps just below the Conowingo dam using a 5wt rod with floating line and the same pattern as last week catching White Perch about every cast one really nice bluegill and some small summer rockfish. During the last hour before dark I could not keep the perch off my hook
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: Smallmouth around the barges and weed lines using small poppers and Carolina Rigs.
INDIAN RIVER INLET: Surf has picked up some mid-week with Blues caught on whole mullet rigs. Kings and croakers on bloodowrms.
Delaware State Univeristy reserach crew landed two juvenile tiger sharks (not sand tigers), these were actual real tiger sharks from the surf last week at Conquest Beach it may be a first for that area and a strong indication of just how warm the water is.
OCEAN CITY: Pretty much the same story as the north beaches. Improved bite from blues, kings, spot and some croaker. Sharks too are on the bite to provide some action most were released no word any Tigers caught there.
OBX: Story this week is a 1.7 lb Pompano caught at Cape Point Saturday morning and the opening of Cape Point to ORVs after being closed for months. Blues and Spanish are biting but so are the sharks making it a challenge getting them before the Sharks do. Some Specs and Grays near the point form boats.
THE WEEK AHEAD: With temps cooling some during the night and daytime temps in the 80s things should start looking up for the Crabbing to pick up here soon and steady improvement from Rockfish and Bass. We got a long way to go for Walleye I measured 88 F water temps near the dam last week...
7/30/12 - Yet another slow week on the Susky and Susquehanna Flats. With the Conowingo Dam running at minimum water flow nearly around the clock the river is not giving up many fish. Saw lots of people fishing the Fishermans Wharf and in the shadow of the dam but very few fish being caught. Below the boat ramp small White Perch and Smallmouth Bass are being caught in the moving water just before dark using small twisters and fly patterns (2").
LOWER RIVER AND FLATS: One Zooer fishing around the barges caught a nice Redeye Bass but not much else over the weekend.
INDIAN RIVER INLET: Flounder picked up the last few days on the back bay, Daytime Blues on the incoming tide.
OCEAN CITY: Surf fishing has provided Kingfish, Snapper Blues and Croaker using bloodworms early in the am. Some flounder from the piers last week.
OBX: The story for the week is ramp 38. Consistent numbers of large even a some citation size Sea Mullet being caught there. Behind the motels Flounder, croakers, spots, puppy drum, and sea mullet were all caught there Sunday. From boats a few big drum and speckle trout out in the sound.
THE WEEK AHEAD: with very little chance of rain and high temps in the forecast the Conowingo Dam will likely not be giving up much water making things tough for the Slingers. I will likely hit the steps again and have some fun with the White Perch and hopefully a summer Rockfish or two. Still waiting for the crabs to show up on the Flats should be soon with the salt line moving up the bay. Its getting to be "spear gun time"... I'll keep you posted.
Nice healthy Smallmouth Bass caught just below the steps in the shallow rapids using a 2" chain bead eye pattern.
7/23/12 - With the cool down and rain late in the week I expected to see more fish being caught over the weekend then were reported. On the boat Tuesday evening water temps on the Susquehanna Flats were near 90 degrees we did manage to mark some suspended fish at 15-20' but could not get them to bite on either Silver Buddys or Cripple Herring. Fishing around the Taurus Tugboat and barges with small poppers and Carolina rigs was not much better. No action what so ever on the poppers however we did manage to get a few bites and boated one Smallmouth on the C-rigs using a crayfish pattern working them deep. One Zooer reported catching white perch on night crawlers on the Susquehanna Flats.
At the Mill I tried fishing just before dark after the cool front came through Saturday evening. Water temp was 82 F slightly cooler then the surrounding river water due to being just below Dear Creek. Tide was nearly high and 1 small gate open so water was moving around the point slowly. Moon phase was nearly 100% New Moon and overcast. All looked to be good topwater conditions. I fished a popper for about half an hour with no bites. Changed up to a fly pattern on slow sink line same results. Finished out the last bit of daylight with the popper and got no bites. Guessing the water is still too warm and if there were fish holding there they must be saying deep with no appetite.
I saw a few reports of some Rockfish and hybrids caught at the Conowingo Dam when the water was running on surf gear long casting small jigs at the open gates.
Some Largemouth were caught at the mouth of the Octoraro Creek on night crawlers.
Also talked to a friend of mine that fishes Rockhall and Eastneck Island he to has reported very slow action on the Rockfish there as well.
For the week to come I would look to fish at the dam or just below when the water is running. Check our daily interactive gate schedule for the maxium daily gate flow. http://www.fishzoo.net/index.php?option=com_dwpchart&view=chartdata&Itemid=31
7/16/12 - Rock fishing was quiet this week from the Conowingo Dam and on the river due to low water levels and low generation flow. Seems like the challenge has been finding fish not catching them. Zooers that were able to mark schools concentrated near the bottom were enjoying good action. Suspended schools were not yielding as many bites. The attached shot shows a school that provided good action for a few hours with a number of keepers coming up using Crippled Herring and Silver Buddys in 18' - 20' depth. Largemouth were also taking soft plastic around the barges this past week.
From shore not much to report this past week, seems like boaters are seeing all the action since they are able to access deeper more comfortable water temperatures for the fish.
FOR THIS WEEK - With the moon phase at nearly 100% New Moon and low water in the Susquehanna at sunrise and set this would be a great week to fish first and last light with topwater and stick baits. Walleye and Rockfish that would usually be feeding at night especially with these high daytime temps will have zero moonlight to find bait fish... they should be taking extra advantage these low light times in the evening and morning to feed
Still waiting for crabs to appear in the lower susquehanna, flats northeast and elk rivers. High crab prices are an indication that they are just not here locally yet. With little rain for the past 10 days the salt line should be moving up and bringing the crabs with it. Winter juvenile crab surveys for the past few years indicate that the crab population is exploding in the bay so there is no shortage of crabs in the bay.
7/9/12 - Another slow week on the susky and flats. Most action is at the dam and some schoolie rockfish being caught in 20 foot depth over marked fish. As for crabbing I have good friend that is a hard core crabber. He crabbed all weekend and got only 5 keepers so the crabbing is also slow. Yesterday however zooers reported good action near perry point with rockfish and white perch using crippled herring and silver buddys. Even catching 2 rockfish on the same treble hook.
7/1/12 - Not much new to report for the Lower Sysky and Chesapeake Bay. Rockfishing continues to be typically slow for mid summer. Zooers have reported catching a few small Rock on Crippled Herring fishing over marked fish in 20+ feet of water. Also above the old bridge piers early morning and late evening on top water baits. Again mostly small fish with a few keepers mixed in.
For the week to come look for Crabs to start up on the flats, Northeast and Elk Rivers... Again the Conowingo Dam will likely give up some keepers using surf gear and casting small jigs or flies at the generation gates.
6/25/12 - For the Lower Susquehanna fishing action was all the Conowingo Dam last week. Zooers had great success with Flatheads and Rockfish long casting jigs at gate flow. This is great fun and you'll get your limit of Rockfish if you don't mind the crowds and the occasional tangles. When the Rock are biting it looks like the first day of trout season with anglers elbow to elbow casting surf gear.
From boats zooers reported catching Rockfish on 1oz Crippled Herring Spoons in 20-24 feet of water. Mostly smaller ones but a few keepers and good fun.
Bay area seems to be yielding some fish around like Chesapeake Beach area from boats.
Still looking for the crabs to wake up should start happening in a week or so. For the coming week look for consistent bites at the Dam for schoolie size Rock and Flatheads. Panfish should also be biting small spinners or small topwater bugs on the fly as I like the catch them.
Images credit SRFC
6/18/12 - Another quiet week from Fishzooers on the Susquehanna River and Upper bay. We tried for Rockfish last week drifting live Perch over a 20' ledge off Sand Island with no luck. We did have a couple of runs on the bait but no fish to show for it. 3-4 inch perfect bait-size Perch were pretty easy to come by at 10' depths using night crawlers only took about 20 minutes to load the live well.
At Port Deposit park saw quite a few anglers catching channel catfish all in the 1-2 lb range.
With the new moon cycle this week I would try topwater baits for Stripers in the evening and morning. With no moonlight at night Rockfish will be forced to feed more during daylight hours. Also with temps hitting mid 90s this week look for water temps to spike this will move the Rock to deeper holes but will move the crabs to start feeding. I would not be surprised to see some early crabbing action on the flats next weekend.
6/11/12 - Quiet fishing on the Susquehanna and upper bay last few weeks. Some reports of Catfish, summer bass and pan fishing. No reports of any keeper Rock from Zooers since the season opened June 1st. I'm sure the slingers are getting a few at the dam, I will try to verify that.
For the coming weeks I would target channel cats largemouth bass and pans and look for crabs to start coming up into the flats in a few weeks.
OBX - I fished the outer banks last week and the fishing was really slow and quiet. I managed to keep from getting completely skunked only catching 3 Sea Mullet on ramp 49 using shrimp. I did not seen or hear of any good action on the Banks last week.
Hoopers Island - a few zooers fished the Hoopers Island Tournament last week and filled the cooler with Croaker and one spot but no keeper Rockfish at weigh in. I heard the winning fish was caught at Calvert Cliffs 33".
5/28/12 - Another good but slower week of Perch fishing on the Susquehanna River. Few were caught early in the week could be due to the lack of anglers targeting them but the end of the week yielded some good numbers and a few still double digit keepers. Friday just before dark they were hitting about every cast with most fish being 5-5 inch range and a few keepers and even fewer 10 plus fish.
As for Rockfish no "zooer" reports of any keepers being caught either on the flats or up river. There was one post on the DNR site of a guy that caught and KEPT a 25" at Deer Creek. Seemed odd that DNR posted that on the Anglers log with a picture of the Rockfish obviously dead on a stringer since that area is not open to keep Rockfish until June 1st. Here's the link check it for yourself http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishingreport/single.asp?ID=1916 (I noticed they removed the photo of the Rockfish)...an obvious oversight!
Small mouth Bass have also been a good catch this past week reports of good numbers being caught while fishing for White Perch.
For the next week the Perch fishing should all but stop. Move to deeper water fishing for Channel cats and perhaps a Rockfish. With the all area Rockfish season opening Friday June 1st evening top water and sassy shads after dark might yield some keepers especially at the dam.
5/21/12 - White Perch were definitely showing signs of slowing down last week. Lots of perch were being caught in most places from Port Deposit park to the Conowingo dam and from boats however most fish were really small 4-5 inches with a few 9-11" fish sparsely being caught here and there.
May 16ths was the opening day for the early Striped Bass season for the Susquehanna Flats and select areas of the river. One fish per day 18 - 26. Despite the season opener the Rockfish have been silent around here with no reports of early season catches... sorry.
For the week to come I would look for the spring run to slow to a craw. White Perch and Shad will all but disappear from the creeks and river. Die hard perch anglers were still get a few keepers but they will be very hard to come by. I would recommend going to topwater bait for striped bass and Smallmouth bass, ant patterns for panfish like bluegills and pumpkin seeds will start getting fun here soon maybe this week. With the water warming it wont be long before the crabs start feeding.
5/14/12 - The good news for last week is that the perch were still biting in good numbers with many large fish 10-11 inch still being caught. Pretty much the same as the 5/7/12 week report. Most spots on the river are yielding white perch on jigs, flies and darts. Last evening I only caught 1 fish that was under 8" most fish were larger and I saw a few 12s caught. This has to be one of the best spring White Perch runs that I can recall.
Not sure about Dear Creek but the Octoraro Creek is still got some Hickory Shad biting. Drove by a popular spot off Rowlandsville Road and saw a couple of girls fishing from a rock trying to figure out how to unhook the shad.
For this week I would guess that the White Perch will continue to bite with more large fish being caught as about half the fish I kept last week were still pre-spawn. The early rockfish season opens Tuesday for 1 fish per day 10-26 inches. There should also be plenty of those size rock in the river.
5/7/12 - Chesapeake bay and Susquehanna River, with the catch and release striped bass season done until the early season opens for 1 fish per day 18 - 26 starting May 16th thru the 31st the flats and lower susky has shut down for Rockfish. Some small ones being caught here and there on White Perch patterns. Its been all White Perch the last week. Being caught everywhere on just about anything with color or flash. Most of the fish I have seen were spawned out so possibly there might only be another week or to of catching big perch. Many 9s and 10s with a few 11" fish being caught.
For the coming week... Perch Perch Perch. Some reports indicates that's there may be some per-spawn fish on the way up so if you don't mind culling through the small fish you might get a few slab 11 - 12 inchers for the stinger.
4/30/12 - Chesapeake bay and Susquehanna River and Flats it all Rock! The Rockfish have been crashing top water bait all week. Using creek chubs & atoms poppers anglers are catching fish as many as 11 per hour from the shore and even more from the boats. Most are schoolie size with a few 30" plus size fish reported. The challenge is finding the fish the rock-savvy anglers who were able to locate schools had a very good week.
White Perch have slowed some due to the cold snap. There were some still being caught from the point in port deposit on jigs and flies but not as many or as large as last week. No reports from the boaters.
For this week I would look for the Perch to pick up and the Rock to slow down due to the warm up and moon past half the Rockfish will be feeding more successfully at night. With the warming trend the river will be hatching again and getting all the small bait moving which gets the Perch excited and biting again.
4/21/12 - PERCH PERCH PERCH... is the word on the river and bay last week. As predicted the White Perch have started hitting artificial all colors and patterns it seems. I personally caught 40 or so in just over an hour last Wednesday evening with many fish in the 10-11 inch range
Rockfish too were biting good however they are mostly small schooie size fish 15-25" range. No big fish reported.
Hickory and white shad were also biting good last week. I talked to Dennis from NE who said that he caught over 100 shad in just a few hours on Dear Creek last week.
Good bite of Small and large mouth bass at the dam and around the river.
For this week weather will be the only variable, with rain and cooler temps in the forecast the bite might cool off as well. Since the big Perch will only be around for a few week I recommend concentrating on them and getting a stringer of 10s before they move on. Also the Chesapeake Bay Striper season started on Saturday so for the lower bay people it will Rockfish all the way.
4/16/12 - For the lower Susquehanna River and Flats things were definitely looking up this past week. Despite a couple of days with high winds and colder weather fishing improved dramatically. Lots of schoolie Rockfish were caught on plugs, poppers and flies for boaters and waders. Shad continue to bite in the river but no word yet on the creeks. I see the fish in the Octoraro just not seeing anyone catching. Not sure about Deer Creek?
As for the White Perch... the bite is on, right on time I might ad! An old timer river rat friend, Jimmy (buffalo head) who was (died 4 years ago) a hard core White Perch fisherman, always told me that when the wild dogwoods bloom the White Perch would be biting in the river "thicker than thieves". He proves right every year. We have a wild dogwood in our yard and it started blooming this weekend, right on time the Perch started hitting artificial. Saw 5 caught by a guy using a small chartreuse grub and lead head with two 11" keepers in about an hour or so on Saturday evening. Today the dogwood is in full bloom so I suspect that this week they will be hitting small jigs, darts and flies about every cast.
Not too sure what happen to the "BIG GIRLS" this year. Just seems like they just never showed up in big numbers. I have a couple of theories. 1. The large female Stripers spawned early due to the extremely warm winter. I recall hooking at least 1 extremely large fish in late February which I never saw but it was a typical large Rockfish fight. The few that were caught in late March here and there, were likely spawned-out stragglers and heading out. 2. With hardly any Herring around in the creeks and river there is nothing for those extremely large fish to feed on. Normally they would linger here for a few weeks pre and post spawn gorging themselves on Herring, with the pantry low, took care of business and moved on.
For the week to come take you light tackle and a stringer to your favorite hole... White Perch should be hitting just about everywhere.
4/9/12 - Susquehanna River white and hickory shad are in full swing biting darts and flies about anywhere you can get in the river as long as the water flow is up and running good. Most action has been at or just below the Conowingo Dam with reports of shad being caught in good numbers at least 1 small walleye was caught last week and Rockfish mixed in. One Fishzooer estimated a 40 bounder was brought to his boots before breaking the snap ring holding the hooks to the lure and slipping away before any photos could be taken. The Port Deposit side has been pretty slow with no White Perch hitting artificial yet and just a few shad. Reports of Striped Bass hitting big plugs in isolated pockets on the Susquehanna Flats and Turkey point being caught in as little as 4' of water. The trick is finding the schools. One Fishzooer reported catching 40+ fish in just a few hours once the school was located mostly small to mid size fish. Striped Bass are still not hitting top water lures yet.
For the coming week, the shad should start biting in the creeks. I visually checked the Dr Jack bridge at the Octoraro Creek last week and you can see the Hickory Shad flashing but they are just not hitting yet. This week should be better. White Perch too should start hitting small jigs and flies this week.
4/2/12 - For the Susquehanna river not much to report other than good catches of shad both white (American) and hickory mostly at the Conowingo Dam. A few summer striped bass (under 20") mixed in hitting the darts and jigs but no really big spring Rock fish reported yet (this might be a case of "angler lockjaw") I think fish are being caught but no one is telling? We fished hard a few evenings last week with only a couple of strikes but no fish fotos to show for it. And those seemed to be schoolies not the large females were used to this time of year. I have not heard any reports from the flats last week or Turkey Point. With Trout season opening in Maryland on Saturday many anglers were hitting the creeks. I did get to check the Octoraro Creek on the first day and saw a couple of anglers with there limit (2 per day) but they said that they worked pretty hard to catch the 4 Rainbows they had on stringers fishing night crawlers from the 222 bridge to the Dr Jack Bridge all morning.
Seems like the weather has finally gotten a little more normal for this time of year. This week I would look for leftover Trout in the stocking areas and Hickory Shad to start biting in the creeks. Looking forward to White Perch to turn on along with a the Big Girls... hopefully soon maybe this week.
3/26/12 - Fishing for last week is just starting to heat up in most of the Maryland waters and Mid Atlantic areas. Overall the bite is still a little slow however there are some signs that very soon things will be going crazy here. Last week Fishzooers reported consistent catches of Walleye below the Conowingo Dam I know of at least one 24" pre-spawn female that was released on Wednesday evening. These fish were caught mostly using stick baits with the most productive being green orange and black Firetiger patterns similar to this Bomber 5".
As for large Stripers on the Susquehanna flats they have been just that...FLAT! I know of a couple of seasoned striper hounds that have been faithfully working the hot spots and have come up with a few schoolies but no classic March "Big Girls". Fishzooers also report some nice White Perch being caught at 10' depths around the upper bay and lower Suskey on "perch jerk'ers" saw a photo of a 14" slabber. Hickory Shad have also been biting on the Susquehanna River. Wednesday evening I caught 2 while fly fishing for Walleye fishing and saw at lease 12 others caught by the anglers on either side of me in about an hour. So not super hot yet but they definitely are here and starting to hit darts and flies. Good size Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass are being caught at the dam.
For the coming week I would look for the White Perch and Shad action to start really picking up with the Shad moving into the creeks. I'm at a loss with the big Rockfish with water temps in the high 50s these big females should be on fire... lets hope this week brings good reports of "Big Girl" action... broken rods, straightened hooks and sore backs!
Go Fish~


text:
Kumul Consolidated Holdings Chairman Paul Nerau has announced that the new corporation will be officially launched at a charity dinner on December 2.
This follows the recent introduction of the IPBC/Kumul Consolidated Holdings (Amendment) Act, making way for the formation of three entities responsible for the sovereign wealth of Papua New Guinea – Kumul Petroleum holdings, Kumul Minerals Holdings and Kumul Consolidated Holdings.
"The Minister of Public Enterprise and State Investments Hon. Ben Micah has agreed to launch Kumul Consolidated Holdings by hosting a charity dinner. This is an opportunity for us to not only launch the new entity, but also to assist those less fortunate in our community," Nerau said.
Nerau identified three charities that will be beneficiaries of the dinner launch – Life PNG Care, Cheshire Disability Services and the PNG Cancer Foundation.
°Life PNG Care makes a positive impact in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable children and youth.
°Cheshire Disability Services makes a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities, their families and their carers.
°The PNG Cancer Foundation assists patients and their families and are advocates for the rights of cancer patients in Papua New Guinea for best treatment and supportive care.
"We will be releasing more details of the charity event in the coming weeks," Nerau said.
The announcement came as Kumul Consolidated Holdings celebrated the 40th Independence of Papua New Guinea with a cocktail function on Monday at the Grand Papua Hotel.
Speaking at the function Nerau made the observation that 40 years ago the Australian flag was lowered and not torn down, as Papua New Guinea moved towards independence.
"Papua New Guinea had a peaceful transition to independence. In a similar way, the IPBC Act was not torn down. It was amended under the IPBC (Kumul Consolidated Holdings) Amendment Act of 2015.
"Through this Act, the IPBC has been transformed into Kumul Consolidated Holdings. The IPBC Act was amended to make it contemporary and relevant. As the world changes, especially the world of business and governance, then so must we."
The IPBC (Kumul Consolidated Holdings) Amendment Act of 2015 was first read in Parliament on June 5, 2015 and passed by absolute majority as required by the Constitution, then certified on August 12, 2015. The Act then came into effect on Wednesday September 2, 2015.

subset: commoncrawl