Baltimore County, MD · Chesapeake Bay

Rocky Point Park — Essex

Baltimore County's 375-acre Rocky Point Beach and Park sits at the mouth of the Back and Middle Rivers in Essex, facing Hawk Cove and Hart-Miller Island on the upper Chesapeake. Shoreline access plus a fishing pier and shallow- and deep-water boat ramps. Popular for stripers and white perch in spring; bluefish through summer and fall.

Live · updated Jun 11, 10:07 PM ET

Also a beach day? Swim conditions and water-quality advisories at Rocky Point Park — Essex on itsabeachday.com →

Top pick today

Bluefish — Marginal conditions for Bluefish.

Best conditions of 4 species tracked at Rocky Point Park — Essex.

43 /100

Atmosphere

Air Temp

98°F

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind

2 to 8 mph

Rain

64%

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

5:38 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 Rocky Point Park

4 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top pick is open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.

#1 Bluefish Marginal conditions for Bluefish. In season 43/100

What's helping

75°F water — inside bluefish's active range
incoming tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide
8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Pomatomus saltatrix — Toothy, aggressive pelagic predator. "Snapper blues" invade the lower Bay and coastal bays in summer; bigger choppers along the Atlantic coast. Hits metal jigs, topwater, and cut bait savagely — wire leaders recommended.

Prefers. Water 60–80°F (ideal 70°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–50 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

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

Min size: 8"
Daily creel: 5

Chesapeake Bay: 8-inch minimum. 5 per person on shore or private boat; 7 per person on for-hire (charter) boats. Federal ASMFC bluefish allocation — limit may change annually.

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

#2 Blue Catfish Marginal conditions for Blue Catfish. In season 41/100

What's helping

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

What's hurting

Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

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 White Perch Skip the White Perch trip today. In season 23/100

What's helping

75°F water — inside white perch's active range
8 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

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 7/100

What's helping

incoming tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
8 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

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.

Location Info

Water Body

Chesapeake Bay

Access

Pier, shore, and ramp

Jurisdiction

Maryland tidal

Coordinates

39.2519, -76.4044

Notes

Day-use fee for non-Baltimore-County residents in season. Boat ramps on-site. The Back and Middle River system is subject to nutrient runoff — water-quality advisories may apply.

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 Rocky Point Park — Essex: Maryland DNR fishing report → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →

Nearby Access Points

North Point State Park

2.7 mi

Baltimore Co., MD · Shore · Chesapeake

Cox's Point Park

4.3 mi

Baltimore Co., MD · Multi · Chesapeake

Miami Beach Park

4.5 mi

Baltimore Co., MD · Multi · Chesapeake

Fort Smallwood Park

7.2 mi

Anne Arundel Co., MD · Multi · Chesapeake

Frequently Asked

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Rocky Point Park — Essex?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Rocky Point Park — Essex 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 Rocky Point Park — Essex?

Rocky Point Park — Essex is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Bluefish, Blue Catfish. 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 Rocky Point Park — Essex?

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 Rocky Point Park — Essex 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 Rocky Point Park — Essex have?

Rocky Point Park — Essex has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use fee for non-Baltimore-County residents in season. Boat ramps on-site. The Back and Middle River system is subject to nutrient runoff — water-quality advisories may apply.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Rocky Point Park — Essex?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Rocky Point Park — Essex. 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 Rocky Point Park — Essex tidal water?

Yes. Rocky Point Park — Essex 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 Rocky Point Park — Essex?

Day-use fee for non-Baltimore-County residents in season. Boat ramps on-site. The Back and Middle River system is subject to nutrient runoff — water-quality advisories may apply.