It’s a fishing day

Downs Park fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 8 pmWhite perch

The bite peaks at 94. Water is 72°, inside their 50–78° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 94 for white perch, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

White perch, 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. 944 pm
  2. 90
  3. 90
  4. 907 pm
  5. 80
  6. 80
  7. 9210 pm
  8. 84
  9. 84Sun
  10. 801 am
  11. 80
  12. 88
  13. 884 am
  14. 88
  15. 92
  16. 887 am
  17. 88
  18. 88
  19. 8810 am
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 881 pm
  23. 88
  24. 88
  25. 924 pm
  26. 88
  27. 88
  28. 887 pm
  29. 88
  30. 88
  31. 8810 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92Mon
  34. 881 am
  35. 88
  36. 88
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
72°F

White perch range 50–78°

Wind
16 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:59 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

1% chance of rain

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.

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

94GoNow until 8 pm

Water

72°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

White perch prefers outgoing tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside white perch's active range. 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. More on white perch

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

86GoTonight 3 am to Monday 4 am

Water

72°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside striped bass's active range. 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

The water

  • Water temperature72°F
  • Seas1.3 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.91 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:59 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:40 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 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

An Anne Arundel County park on the Bay shore in Pasadena. DNR reports striped bass and white perch along the upper Bay shoreline from the Patapsco to the Magothy.

Nearby

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

Fort Smallwood Park4 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 4 am to Monday 4 am
92Go
North Point State Park7 mi · MarylandBest tonight 9 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Sandy Point State Park7 mi · MarylandBest now until 5 pmSmall Craft Advisory
81Worth the trip
Rock Hall Beach10 mi · MarylandBest tonight 3 am to Monday 4 am
100Go
Rocky Point Park — Essex10 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 6 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Matapeake Pier11 mi · MarylandBest tonight 3 am to Monday 4 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Downs Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Downs Park 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 Downs Park?

Downs Park is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch. 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 Downs Park?

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 Downs Park 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 Downs Park have?

Downs Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Downs Park?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Downs Park. 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 Downs Park tidal water?

Yes. Downs Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.