Elms Beach Park fishing conditions · Maryland

Tomorrow, 3 am–3 pmWhite perch

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

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.

963 am
96
96
966 am
86
90
869 am
88
88
10012 pm
100
100
963 pm
96
88
906 pm
86
86
869 pm
86
86
86Tue
92
92
963 am
96
96
966 am
96
96
1009 am
96
96
9612 pm
100
100

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 61°F
Wind: 1 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Clear
Air: 44°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 100% lit

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

Morone americana

100GoTomorrow, 3 am–3 pm

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. 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

Morone saxatilis

92GoTomorrow, 3 am–3 pm

Water

61°

40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

88GoTomorrow, 3 am–3 pm

Water

61°

48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside summer flounder's active range. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Sep. More on summer flounder

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

68MarginalTomorrow, 3 am–3 pm

Water

61°

50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside bluefish's active range. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 8" minimum; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on a for-hire boat (up from 3 and 5 in 2025). Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Oct. More on bluefish

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

68MarginalTomorrow, 3 am–3 pm

Water

61°

50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 14" minimum, 4 a day, open all year. May not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Oct. More on spotted seatrout

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

27Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°

55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). Red drum prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Jun–Nov. More on red drum

The water

Water temperature61°F
Seas0.3 ft at the nearest buoy
Barometer30.40 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:25 am
Sunset today6:13 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

A St. Mary's County beach on the Bay between Cedar Point and Point Lookout. DNR reports striped bass, bluefish, red drum, speckled trout, flounder and white perch along this lower western shore.

WaterChesapeake Bay
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMaryland tidal
WhereSt. Mary's County · 38.1568, -76.4265

Nearby

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

Point Lookout State Park8 mi · MarylandBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 3 pm

100Go

Solomons Island Fishing Pier12 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 am–3 pm

100Go

Myrtle Point Park13 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 5 am–3 pm

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Greenwell State Park16 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 5 am–3 pm

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Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum16 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 5 am–3 pm

100Go

Snow Hill Farm Park19 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 2 am–3 pm

100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Elms Beach Park?

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

Elms Beach Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, and 2 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 Elms Beach 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 Elms Beach 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 Elms Beach Park have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Elms Beach Park?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Elms Beach 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 Elms Beach Park tidal water?

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