Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area, Dorchester County, MD
Chain Pickerel fishing today
Chain Pickerel harvest is closed today.
86/100
Why today scores 86
- 63°F water — Right in Chain Pickerel's ideal range
- 6 mph wind — Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Right now at Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area
- Water temp
- 63°F
- Air temp
- 80°F
- Wind
- 2 to 6 mph NW
- Tide phase
- outgoing
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:18 AM / 7:46 PM
- Moon
- first quarter, 33% illuminated
- Solunar windows today
- 12:40 AM - 1:40 AM · 4:40 AM - 6:40 AM · 9:50 AM - 10:50 AM · 5:10 PM - 7:10 PM
- Forecast
- Mostly Sunny
About Chain Pickerel
Esox niger. Native toothy predator of mill ponds, blackwater rivers, and grassy shorelines — especially common on the Eastern Shore. Hits spinners, spoons, and minnow plugs aggressively. Cold-weather fishery when bass have shut down.
Preferred water temp: 45–80°F (ideal 60°F). Preferred tide: either.
MD regulations
No regulations recorded for MD/tidal-bay — check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.