Water-body hub

Chesapeake Bay

The defining estuary of the mid-Atlantic — striper country.

Live · updated

From the Susquehanna flats to the mouth at Virginia Beach, the Bay drives almost all mid-Atlantic tidal fishing. Rockfish run the spring and fall migrations, white perch work the tributaries year-round, and blue cats have become one of the largest inshore fisheries on the East Coast.

Choptank River — Cambridge

Blue Catfish
78/100

Sandy Point State Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Conowingo Dam Tailrace

Blue Catfish
74/100

Susquehanna Flats

Blue Catfish
74/100

Havre de Grace Fishing Pier

Blue Catfish
74/100

Rocky Point Park — Essex

Blue Catfish
74/100

North Point State Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier

Blue Catfish
74/100

Romancoke Pier

Blue Catfish
74/100

Mariner Point Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Betterton Beach

Blue Catfish
74/100

Fort Smallwood Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Mayo Beach Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Beverly Triton Nature Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Downs Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Rock Hall Beach

Blue Catfish
74/100

Martinak State Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Flying Point Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

North East Community Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)

Blue Catfish
74/100

Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)

Blue Catfish
74/100

Miami Beach Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Cox's Point Park

Blue Catfish
74/100

Rolph's Wharf

Blue Catfish
74/100

Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)

Blue Catfish
74/100

Matapeake Pier

Spotted Seatrout
68/100

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area

Spotted Seatrout
47/100

Roaring Point Waterfront Park

Spotted Seatrout
47/100

Tyaskin Wharf

Spotted Seatrout
47/100

Cove Road Beach

Spotted Seatrout
47/100

Elms Beach Park

Spotted Seatrout
43/100

Solomons Island Fishing Pier

Blue Catfish

Breezy Point Beach

Blue Catfish

North Beach (Calvert)

Blue Catfish

Flag Ponds Nature Park

Spotted Seatrout

Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier

Spotted Seatrout

Belle Isle State Park

Spotted Seatrout

Smith Point Beach

Spotted Seatrout

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area

Northern Snakehead

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)

Blue Catfish

Ocean View Beach

Spotted Seatrout

Hilton Pier Park

Spotted Seatrout

Anderson Park

Spotted Seatrout

Point Lookout State Park

Spotted Seatrout

Kiptopeke State Park

Spotted Seatrout

Cape Charles Town Pier

Spotted Seatrout

First Landing State Park

Red Drum

Buckroe Beach

Spotted Seatrout

What anglers are reporting

From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 46 days old — a newer report may be available.

Middle Bay

Fishing for striped bass at the Bay Bridge piers has been good this past week and should continue. Boats have been anchoring up-current of the bridge piers on the east side and drifting live spot and assorted baits back to the pier bases. Other anglers are positioning close to the piers and casting soft plastic jigs to the pier bases with good success. Striped bass fishing is very good for light tackle anglers casting and jigging in many traditional locations in the middle Bay. Eastern Bay, Poplar Island, Thomas Point, and the mouth of the Choptank River are just a few locations where casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs is working well.

Species mentioned: spot, striped bass

Upper Chesapeake Bay

The weekend rain brought about some increased flows at the Conowingo Dam this week and anglers are fishing at the dam pool for blue and flathead catfish with good results. The blue catfish action mixed with channel catfish continues down the Susquehanna and out into the upper Bay. All the region’s tidal rivers also hold populations of blue and channel catfish. Overcast conditions often make for excellent fishing for striped bass, which anglers are reporting this week. Casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs near structure and jigging along channel edges is a very popular way to fish and obtain good results.

Species mentioned: blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, striped bass

Lower Bay

Deeper waters along channel edges are being targeted by anglers jigging with soft plastic jigs or by trolling with umbrella rigs down along the 30-foot edges. It is a good idea to place a few Drone spoons behind inline weights for the bluefish that are in the region. The steep channel edge of the Potomac from St. Georges Island to Piney Point, the lower Patuxent and the eastern side of the bay from Buoy 76 to Buoy 72 are worth exploring. Red and black drum are being found on the eastern side of the Bay from the Middle Grounds up past the Target Ship and Tangier Sound. Finding them on depth finders and dropping soft crab baits to them is the most popular way to fish.

Species mentioned: black drum, bluefish

Excerpts are anecdotal and reflect a single week's observations from DNR biologists and reporting anglers — not predictions. Use as one signal among many; verify against current conditions before planning a trip.

esc