It’s a fishing day

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until tomorrow 8 amWhite perch

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 61°, inside their 50–78° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 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. 963 am
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 966 am
  5. 96
  6. 100
  7. 969 am
  8. 98
  9. 100
  10. 10012 pm
  11. 100
  12. 100
  13. 1003 pm
  14. 100
  15. 100
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 98
  18. 98
  19. 989 pm
  20. 98
  21. 98
  22. 98Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 983 am
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 1006 am
  29. 100
  30. 91
  31. 959 am
  32. 91
  33. 91
  34. 9112 pm
  35. 95
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
61°F

White perch range 50–78°

Wind
1 mph

From the west

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:24 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
46°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

100GoNow until tomorrow 8 am

Water

61°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

White perch is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. White perch prefers outgoing tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on white perch

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

Esox niger

96GoToday, 11 am–6 pm

Water

61°
35°45–80° · ideal 60°90°

Why

Right in chain pickerel's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tidal waters: 14" minimum, 10/day. Open May 1–March 14 (closed to harvest mid-March through April during spawning).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on chain pickerel

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

84Worth the tripToday, 11 am–6 pm

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day (Jan 1–Feb 29, Jun 16–Dec 31); 15" minimum · 5 a day (Mar 1–Jun 15)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters: 5 black bass a day (largemouth and smallmouth combined); 15" minimum Mar 1–Jun 15 and 12" the rest of the year. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Northern Snakehead

Northern snakehead

Channa argus

84Worth the tripToday, 11 am–6 pm

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside northern snakehead's active range. Holds 2–10 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters ("Chesapeake Channa"): no size limit, no daily limit, open all year. Illegal to possess alive.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on northern snakehead

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

84Worth the tripToday, 11 am–6 pm

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside blue catfish's active range. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters: catfish have no size limit and no daily limit, open all year. DNR encourages anglers to keep invasive blue catfish.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Year-round. More on blue catfish

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer30.40 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:24 am
  • Sunset today6:12 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 pm

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, Oct 14

Middle Bay. Anglers are enjoying good fishing for striped bass at the Bay Bridge when live-lining spot, small white perch, or eels near the pier bases. The east side of the bridge near the 30-foot drop-off tends to offer some of the best fishing. Most boats are anchoring up current and drifting baits back to the bridge pier bases with good success. Other anglers are enjoying good fishing for striped bass by casting soft plastic jigs and bucktails at pier bases along the bridge. The best opportunities are early in the morning and late evening and a good running tide is always important. Some of the best striped bass fishing is occurring along the shallower waters of the Bay and tidal rivers this week.

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

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County offers fishing in brackish tidal marshes. Chain pickerel and largemouth bass in the shallow backwaters; northern snakehead is established and actively targeted.

Fishing is permitted in certain areas of the refuge; public areas outside the paid Wildlife Drive are free of charge. The Wildlife Drive itself requires a $3 daily vehicle fee or a Duck Stamp / Interagency Pass. Check the USFWS Blackwater NWR site for current access rules. Snakehead may not be released alive (MD law).

Nearby

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

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)10 mi · MarylandBest now until tonight 2 am
100Go
Choptank River — Cambridge12 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 4 am–3 pm
100Go
Tyaskin Wharf15 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 8 am
100Go
Cove Road Beach15 mi · MarylandBest today 11 am to tomorrow 8 am
100Go
Roaring Point Waterfront Park16 mi · MarylandBest today 10 am to tomorrow 8 am
100Go
Flag Ponds Nature Park19 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 2 am–3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Blackwater NWR — Fishing 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 Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: White Perch, Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead, and 1 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 Blackwater NWR — Fishing 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 Blackwater NWR — Fishing 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 Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area have?

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Fishing is permitted in certain areas of the refuge; public areas outside the paid Wildlife Drive are free of charge. The Wildlife Drive itself requires a $3 daily vehicle fee or a Duck Stamp / Interagency Pass. Check the USFWS Blackwater NWR site for current access rules. Snakehead may not be released alive (MD law).

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Blackwater NWR — Fishing 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 Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area tidal water?

Yes. Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area 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 Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area?

Fishing is permitted in certain areas of the refuge; public areas outside the paid Wildlife Drive are free of charge. The Wildlife Drive itself requires a $3 daily vehicle fee or a Duck Stamp / Interagency Pass. Check the USFWS Blackwater NWR site for current access rules. Snakehead may not be released alive (MD law).