It’s a fishing day

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area fishing conditions · Maryland

Tomorrow, 1 pm–9 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 62°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 22 mph out of the northwest by tonight at 7:00 pm.

Log a trip here
Right now: 79 for striped bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, 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. 794 pm
  2. 79
  3. 79
  4. 797 pm
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 6410 pm
  8. 64
  9. 64Sun
  10. 691 am
  11. 69
  12. 69
  13. 694 am
  14. 69
  15. 69
  16. 797 am
  17. 79
  18. 79
  19. 7910 am
  20. 87
  21. 87
  22. 1001 pm
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 1004 pm
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 1007 pm
  29. 100
  30. 94
  31. 9410 pm
  32. 94
  33. 100Mon
  34. 1001 am
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
62°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
18 mph

From the northwest · rough for small boats

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:58 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
58°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

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.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoTomorrow, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

62°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay, 2026. Catch and release only Jan 1–Apr 30 and Dec 6–31; harvest May 1–Jul 31 and Sep 1–Dec 5 at 1 fish a day, 19–24"; closed to all striped bass fishing in August. In May, harvest is only allowed in the main Bay (and Tangier and Pocomoke sounds), not in its bays, rivers and creeks. Spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area are closed to all striped bass fishing Mar 1–May 31. Non-offset circle hooks with bait; eels may not be used as bait; no possession midnight–5 a.m.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an incoming tide. More on striped bass

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

90GoTomorrow, 1 pm–9 pm

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

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

90GoTomorrow, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

62°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder'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 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

62°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 8" minimum; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on a for-hire boat (up from 3 and 5 in 2025). Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

62°
50°60–85° · 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 spotted seatrout's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 14" minimum, 4 a day, open all year. May not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on spotted seatrout

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

37Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

62°
55°65–85° · 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. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Nov. Likes an incoming tide. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature62°F
  • Barometer29.91 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:58 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:37 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

Marsh and shoreline on Tangier Sound in Somerset County. DNR reports striped bass, speckled trout and small bluefish along the Tangier Sound shorelines, red drum in the shallows, flounder in summer, and white perch schooling in the sound in fall.

Nearby

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

Roaring Point Waterfront Park7 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Cove Road Beach9 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Tyaskin Wharf12 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area21 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am
96Go
Point Lookout State Park22 mi · MarylandBest now until 6 pmSmall Craft Advisory
93Go
Elms Beach Park26 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Deal Island Wildlife Management 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 Deal Island Wildlife Management Area?

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, and 2 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 Deal Island Wildlife Management 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 Deal Island Wildlife Management 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 Deal Island Wildlife Management Area have?

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Deal Island Wildlife Management 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 Deal Island Wildlife Management Area tidal water?

Yes. Deal Island Wildlife Management Area sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.