It’s a fishing day

Downs Park fishing conditions · Maryland

Tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 3 pmWhite perch

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 69°, inside their 50–78° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 for white perch, goTap 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. 98
  4. 986 am
  5. 88
  6. 92
  7. 889 am
  8. 88
  9. 96
  10. 10012 pm
  11. 100
  12. 100
  13. 963 pm
  14. 96
  15. 96
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 96
  18. 88
  19. 889 pm
  20. 88
  21. 96
  22. 96Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 963 am
  26. 96
  27. 96
  28. 966 am
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 1009 am
  32. 96
  33. 96
  34. 9612 pm
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
69°F

White perch range 50–78°

Wind
2 mph

From the west

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:26 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
51°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

100GoTonight 11 pm to tomorrow 3 pm

Water

69°
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. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

82Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

69°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside striped bass's active range. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay, 2026. Catch and release only Jan 1–Apr 30 and Dec 6–31; harvest May 1–Jul 31 and Sep 1–Dec 5 at 1 fish a day, 19–24"; closed to all striped bass fishing in August. In May, harvest is only allowed in the main Bay (and Tangier and Pocomoke sounds), not in its bays, rivers and creeks. Spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area are closed to all striped bass fishing Mar 1–May 31. Non-offset circle hooks with bait; eels may not be used as bait; no possession midnight–5 a.m.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an incoming tide. More on striped bass

The water

  • Water temperature69°F
  • Seas0.3 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.41 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:26 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

An Anne Arundel County park on the Bay shore in Pasadena. DNR reports striped bass and white perch along the upper Bay shoreline from the Patapsco to the Magothy.

Nearby

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

Fort Smallwood Park4 mi · MarylandBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
North Point State Park7 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 2 am–3 pm
98Go
Sandy Point State Park7 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Rock Hall Beach10 mi · MarylandBest today 4 am–7 amFrost Advisory
77Worth the trip
Rocky Point Park — Essex10 mi · MarylandBest today 8 am to tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Matapeake Pier11 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 amFrost Advisory
93Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Downs Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Downs Park 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 Downs Park?

Downs Park is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch. 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 Downs Park?

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 Downs Park 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 Downs Park have?

Downs Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Downs Park?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Downs Park. 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 Downs Park tidal water?

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