It’s a fishing day

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area fishing conditions · Maryland

Tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 amChain pickerel

The bite peaks at 96. Water is 62°, close to the 60° chain pickerel like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 86 for chain pickerel, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Chain pickerel, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 864 pm
  2. 86
  3. 86
  4. 867 pm
  5. 81
  6. 81
  7. 8110 pm
  8. 81
  9. 81Sun
  10. 861 am
  11. 86
  12. 86
  13. 864 am
  14. 86
  15. 86
  16. 817 am
  17. 81
  18. 81
  19. 8110 am
  20. 81
  21. 81
  22. 961 pm
  23. 96
  24. 96
  25. 964 pm
  26. 96
  27. 96
  28. 967 pm
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 9610 pm
  32. 96
  33. 96Mon
  34. 861 am
  35. 86
  36. 86
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
62°F

Chain pickerel range 45–80°

Wind
12 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:59 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
58°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maryland tidal regulations for these waters.

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

Esox niger

96GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

62°
35°45–80° · ideal 60°90°

Why

Right in chain pickerel's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tidal waters: 14" minimum, 10/day. Open May 1–March 14 (closed to harvest mid-March through April during spawning).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on chain pickerel

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

90GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

62°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

Right in white perch's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries: no minimum size by hook and line (8" with other gear) and no daily limit, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on white perch

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

84Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

62°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day (Jan 1–Feb 29, Jun 16–Dec 31); 15" minimum · 5 a day (Mar 1–Jun 15)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters: 5 black bass a day (largemouth and smallmouth combined); 15" minimum Mar 1–Jun 15 and 12" the rest of the year. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Northern Snakehead

Northern snakehead

Channa argus

84Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

62°
45°55–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside northern snakehead's active range. Holds 2–10 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters ("Chesapeake Channa"): no size limit, no daily limit, open all year. Illegal to possess alive.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on northern snakehead

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

84Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

62°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside blue catfish's active range. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters: catfish have no size limit and no daily limit, open all year. DNR encourages anglers to keep invasive blue catfish.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on blue catfish

The water

  • Water temperature62°F
  • Barometer29.90 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:59 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:38 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Maryland DNR, Nov 4

Middle Bay. It is all about striped bass this week as the fall fishery kicks into gear. Anglers are enjoying excellent fishing along the shores of the tidal rivers and Bay this week. Casting paddletails , crankbaits , and topwater lures during the morning and evening hours has been very successful. This is a wonderful time of the year to get out for a short trip to the lower sections of the region’s tidal rivers for some evening casting for striped bass. A few anglers are magically finding the last of the spot and live-lining them along channel edges and the Bay Bridge piers with good success. Using live eels and cut bait also works well.

Quoted from the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report. Reports are what anglers and biologists saw that week, not a forecast.

Licenses and rules: MD DNR · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County offers fishing in brackish tidal marshes. Chain pickerel and largemouth bass in the shallow backwaters; northern snakehead is established and actively targeted.

Fishing is permitted in certain areas of the refuge; public areas outside the paid Wildlife Drive are free of charge. The Wildlife Drive itself requires a $3 daily vehicle fee or a Duck Stamp / Interagency Pass. Check the USFWS Blackwater NWR site for current access rules. Snakehead may not be released alive (MD law).

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)10 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am
100Go
Choptank River — Cambridge12 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
Tyaskin Wharf15 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Cove Road Beach15 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Roaring Point Waterfront Park16 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Flag Ponds Nature Park19 mi · MarylandBest now until 8 pmSmall Craft Advisory
97Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area you need a Maryland Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport License issued by MD DNR. Anglers may instead qualify for the free Maryland Saltwater Angler Registration in some circumstances (e.g., guest on a boat carrying a Bay & Coastal Sport Boat Decal, or holder of a Virginia saltwater license). See the agency's current rules: https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/service_fishing_license.aspx

What fish are commonly targeted at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: White Perch, Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area have?

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Fishing is permitted in certain areas of the refuge; public areas outside the paid Wildlife Drive are free of charge. The Wildlife Drive itself requires a $3 daily vehicle fee or a Duck Stamp / Interagency Pass. Check the USFWS Blackwater NWR site for current access rules. Snakehead may not be released alive (MD law).

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area tidal water?

Yes. Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Fishing is permitted in certain areas of the refuge; public areas outside the paid Wildlife Drive are free of charge. The Wildlife Drive itself requires a $3 daily vehicle fee or a Duck Stamp / Interagency Pass. Check the USFWS Blackwater NWR site for current access rules. Snakehead may not be released alive (MD law).