Harford County, MD · Chesapeake Bay

Conowingo Dam Tailrace

The tailrace below Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River is one of the most productive fisheries on the East Coast. Stripers, walleye, white perch, and catfish concentrate below the dam. Access via Fisherman's Park on the west bank.

Live · updated Jun 11, 10:07 PM ET

Top picks today

Channel Catfish & Blue Catfish — tied at the top (16/100)

2 species tied for best of 7 tracked at Conowingo Dam Tailrace.

16 /100

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NWSActive weather alert

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 11 at 10:04PM EDT until June 12 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Atmosphere

Air Temp

92°F

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind

1 to 7 mph

Rain

66%

Friday

Pressure

Steady

6-hour trend

Water

Water Temp

75°F

Tidal waters

Tide

incoming

Seas

1 ft

Nearest buoy wave height

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

5:36 AM

Sunset

8:32 PM

Moon · 11%

waning crescent

Today's Tides

Time	Type	Height
3:44 AM	High	1.9 ft
11:02 AM	Low	0.6 ft
3:35 PM	High	1.2 ft
9:30 PM	Low	0.3 ft

Species at Conowingo Dam Tailrace

7 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 2 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.

#1 Channel Catfish Check local Channel Catfish regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 16/100

Regulations not yet verified

We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Channel Catfish in MD on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.

What's helping

75°F water — right in channel catfish's ideal range
7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Ictalurus punctatus — Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.

Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 5–30 ft.

No regulations on file for Maryland tidal / tidal-bay. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.

#1 Blue Catfish Skip the Blue Catfish trip today. In season 16/100

What's helping

75°F water — right in blue catfish's ideal range
7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Ictalurus furcatus — Invasive apex predator, now abundant throughout the tidal Potomac, Patuxent, and Nanticoke. MDDNR actively encourages harvest. Caught on cut bait (bunker, white perch, gizzard shad) fished on bottom. 50+ lb fish are routine on the Potomac.

Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 10–60 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Daily creel: 0

Invasive species in Maryland tidal waters. No minimum size, no creel limit, open year-round. MDDNR encourages anglers to harvest rather than release. Not listed in the Chesapeake Bay seasons/sizes/limits table because no restrictions apply.

Source: Maryland tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#3 Smallmouth Bass Check local Smallmouth Bass regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 4/100

Regulations not yet verified

We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Smallmouth Bass in MD on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.

What's helping

75°F water — inside smallmouth bass's active range
7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.

Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.

No regulations on file for Maryland tidal / tidal-bay. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.

#4 White Perch Skip the White Perch trip today. In season 0/100

What's helping

75°F water — inside white perch's active range
7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

incoming tide — white perch prefers outgoing tide
Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Morone americana — Smaller cousin of the striped bass and arguably the Bay's most popular panfish. Schools heavily in tidal rivers and creeks; hits bottom rigs with bloodworms, grass shrimp, or small jigs. Spring spawning run into the freshwater ends of tributaries is the marquee fishery.

Prefers. Water 50–78°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 3–25 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Daily creel: 0

No minimum size when caught with hook and line; 8-inch minimum for other legal gear. No daily creel limit. Open year-round in Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries.

Source: Maryland tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#4 Striped Bass Skip the Striped Bass trip today. In season 0/100

What's helping

incoming tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

75°F water — above striped bass's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Morone saxatilis — Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."

Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–35 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size: 19"
Max size: 24"
Daily creel: 1

Chesapeake Bay recreational regulations (2026). January 1–April 30 and December 6–31 are catch-and-release only (no harvest) — the April C&R period was restored in 2026 for the first time since 2019. August 1–31 is closed to all targeting to protect fish from thermal stress. Spawning rivers (Choptank, Chester, Manokin, Nanticoke, Patuxent, Transquaking, Wicomico) and the Upper Bay spawning area / Susquehanna Flats are closed to targeting March 1–May 31. Circle hooks required when fishing with bait. Potomac River main stem is managed separately by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Atlantic coast regulations (28–31 in slot, year-round) differ.

Source: Maryland tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#4 Walleye Check local Walleye regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 0/100

Regulations not yet verified

We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Walleye in MD on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.

What's helping

Dark moon — walleye feeds aggressively in low light
7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

75°F water — above walleye's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.

Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.

No regulations on file for Maryland tidal / tidal-bay. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.

#4 Yellow Perch Skip the Yellow Perch trip today. In season 0/100

What's helping

7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

75°F water — above yellow perch's active range (45–70°f) — fish move deep
incoming tide — yellow perch prefers slack tide
Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out

About. Perca flavescens — Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.

Prefers. Water 45–70°F (ideal 58°F) · slack tide · depth 5–30 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size: 9"
Daily creel: 5

Chesapeake Bay tidal waters: 9-inch minimum, 5 per day, open year-round. Some tributaries have historically had emergency closures during the spring spawn — check the MDDNR site annually before the February–March run.

Source: Maryland tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

Location Info

Water Body

Chesapeake Bay

Access

Shoreline access

Jurisdiction

Maryland tidal

Coordinates

39.6619, -76.1728

Notes

Parking at Fisherman's Park (west bank, Harford County). Flow and access vary with dam generation schedule — check Exelon's generation forecast. High water after storms can make the area unfishable.

What anglers are reporting

From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 15 days old — a newer report may be available.

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

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.

Local reports & rules for Conowingo Dam Tailrace: Maryland DNR fishing report → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →

Nearby Access Points

Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)

8.6 mi

Cecil Co., MD · Multi · Chesapeake

Havre de Grace Fishing Pier

9.0 mi

Harford Co., MD · Pier · Chesapeake

Susquehanna Flats

11 mi

Cecil Co., MD · Ramp · Chesapeake

Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)

12 mi

Cecil Co., MD · Multi · Chesapeake

Frequently Asked

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Conowingo Dam Tailrace?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Conowingo Dam Tailrace 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 Conowingo Dam Tailrace?

Conowingo Dam Tailrace is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, and 3 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 Conowingo Dam Tailrace?

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 Conowingo Dam Tailrace 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 Conowingo Dam Tailrace have?

Conowingo Dam Tailrace has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Parking at Fisherman's Park (west bank, Harford County). Flow and access vary with dam generation schedule — check Exelon's generation forecast. High water after storms can make the area unfishable.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Conowingo Dam Tailrace?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Conowingo Dam Tailrace. 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 Conowingo Dam Tailrace tidal water?

Yes. Conowingo Dam Tailrace sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.