Upper Chesapeake Susquehanna inflow, Bay Bridge, shallow flats

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.

Upper Chesapeake Bay. Cooler water temperatures are turning up the fishing action for striped bass anglers casting paddletails and topwater lures in the shallower waters, especially near the edges of the Susquehanna Flats and structured shorelines along the Bay and tidal river shores. The best action occurs during the morning and evening hours when a good tide is running, and a flood tide is always an advantage. Upper Bay water temperatures are holding around 60 degrees this week. Baitfish in the form of juvenile menhaden are moving out of the major tidal rivers into the upper Bay, and into a gauntlet of hungry striped bass hoping to put on some weight after a long hot summer.

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