It’s a fishing day

Point Lookout State Park fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 6 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 93. Water is 64°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the northwest by tonight at 7:00 pm.

Small Craft Advisory until Monday 6 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 93 for striped bass, go · inside the best windowTap 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. 934 pm
  2. 89
  3. 74
  4. 747 pm
  5. 64
  6. 64
  7. 6810 pm
  8. 68
  9. 68Sun
  10. 641 am
  11. 64
  12. 79
  13. 794 am
  14. 79
  15. 83
  16. 797 am
  17. 79
  18. 79
  19. 7910 am
  20. 91
  21. 91
  22. 871 pm
  23. 87
  24. 87
  25. 914 pm
  26. 91
  27. 87
  28. 877 pm
  29. 87
  30. 79
  31. 7910 pm
  32. 91
  33. 91Mon
  34. 871 am
  35. 87
  36. 87
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
64°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
16 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:00 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
60°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

93GoNow until 6 pm

Water

64°
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. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland waters inside the Potomac spawning river: catch and release only Jan 1–Feb 29 and closed Mar 1–Apr 30. Harvest May 1–Jul 31 and Sep 1–Dec 5 at 1 fish a day, 19–24"; closed in August; catch and release Dec 6–31. The Potomac main stem itself follows PRFC rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland Potomac tributaries

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

69MarginalNow until 6 pm

Water

64°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

69MarginalNow until 6 pm

Water

64°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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. More on spotted seatrout

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

61MarginalNow until 6 pm

Water

64°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

Right in white perch's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. White perch prefers outgoing tide. 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

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

61MarginalNow until 6 pm

Water

64°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. 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. More on summer flounder

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

28Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

64°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature64°F
  • Seas1.6 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.91 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:00 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

Lower Bay. Anglers in the lower Bay are enjoying the excellent striped bass fishing they’ve been patiently waiting for. Striped bass are being caught in a widespread number of locations from shallow water to deep water and everywhere in between. The lower Potomac River from Ragged Point to Piney Point and a few locations upriver have been providing excellent striped bass fishing for anglers casting and jigging . The lower Patuxent River is offering the same good fishing. Casting a mix of paddletails , topwater lures , jerkbaits and crankbaits are all working well in the shallow waters during the morning and evening hours.

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

Point Lookout at the southern tip of Maryland where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake is one of the most diverse fishing spots in MD. Stripers, flounder, red drum, seatrout, and bluefish all come through. Long fishing pier and miles of shoreline.

Day-use fee. Long fishing pier at the point. Best access at the tip for mixing Bay/river currents. Fall red drum and flounder are a highlight.

Also a beach: swim conditions and water-quality advisories on itsabeachday.com.

Nearby

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

Elms Beach Park8 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Smith Point Beach12 mi · VirginiaBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Solomons Island Fishing Pier20 mi · MarylandBest now until 8 pmSmall Craft Advisory
97Go
Myrtle Point Park21 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area22 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 pm–9 pm
100Go
Greenwell State Park24 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Point Lookout State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Point Lookout State 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 Point Lookout State Park?

Point Lookout State Park 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 Point Lookout State 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 Point Lookout State 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 Point Lookout State Park have?

Point Lookout State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use fee. Long fishing pier at the point. Best access at the tip for mixing Bay/river currents. Fall red drum and flounder are a highlight.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Point Lookout State Park?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Point Lookout State 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 Point Lookout State Park tidal water?

Yes. Point Lookout State Park 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 Point Lookout State Park?

Day-use fee. Long fishing pier at the point. Best access at the tip for mixing Bay/river currents. Fall red drum and flounder are a highlight.