It’s a fishing day

Susquehanna Flats fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 7 amBlue catfish

The bite peaks at 75. Water is 69°, close to the 72° blue catfish like best.

Frost Advisory until Monday 9 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 73 for blue catfish, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Blue catfish, 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. 733 am
  2. 73
  3. 75
  4. 756 am
  5. 65
  6. 65
  7. 659 am
  8. 65
  9. 65
  10. 6512 pm
  11. 73
  12. 73
  13. 733 pm
  14. 73
  15. 65
  16. 636 pm
  17. 63
  18. 65
  19. 659 pm
  20. 73
  21. 73
  22. 73Tue
  23. 73
  24. 73
  25. 733 am
  26. 73
  27. 73
  28. 736 am
  29. 73
  30. 73
  31. 739 am
  32. 73
  33. 73
  34. 7312 pm
  35. 73
  36. 65
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
69°F

Blue catfish range 55–85°

Wind
2 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:25 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
52°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.

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

75Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

69°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in blue catfish's ideal range. Blue catfish is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters: catfish have no size limit and no daily limit, open all year. DNR encourages anglers to keep invasive blue catfish.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Year-round. More on blue catfish

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

63MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

69°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in largemouth bass's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day (Jan 1–Feb 29, Jun 16–Dec 31); 15" minimum · 5 a day (Mar 1–Jun 15)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland tidal waters: 5 black bass a day (largemouth and smallmouth combined); 15" minimum Mar 1–Jun 15 and 12" the rest of the year. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

63MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

69°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Right in common carp's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland's tidal Chesapeake rules list no carp limit, size or season. The 15-a-day carp limit applies only to non-tidal waters above the tidal line.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

63MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 2 pm

Water

69°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

White perch prefers outgoing tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside white perch's active range. 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

57MarginalNow 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

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

45Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

69°
35°45–70° · ideal 58°80°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside yellow perch's active range. Yellow perch prefers slack tide. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

9" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries: 9" minimum, 5 a day (down from 10 in 2025), open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Feb–Apr, Oct–Dec. More on yellow perch

The water

  • Water temperature69°F
  • Barometer30.43 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:25 am
  • Sunset today6:10 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

Upper Chesapeake Bay. The Conowingo Dam late-day water releases have been above normal this week, but the dam pool is providing good fishing. Anglers are catching a mix of striped bass, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. If you want to get in on the action, you’ll need a medium weight surf rod loaded with braid and a pair of waders. All are necessary to make the long casts to the turbine wash and control a fish in the strong current. Fishing for striped bass in the shallower edges of the Susquehanna Flats, Bay shore and tidal river waters is a good option for anglers. The morning and evening hours offer the best fishing opportunities for anglers casting poppers, paddletails and crankbaits.

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

The Susquehanna Flats — the broad shallow upper Bay where the Susquehanna meets the Chesapeake — is a designated MD DNR striped bass spawning area with its own special schedule. Also holds white perch, blue catfish, and tidal largemouth. Boat access required for most of the flats.

Striped bass: special Upper Bay schedule under MD DNR rules — alternating catch-and-release windows and a peak-spawning closure in April; check current regulations before targeting. Launch from Havre de Grace or Perryville boat ramps. Very shallow; low-profile boats preferred.

Nearby

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

Havre de Grace Fishing Pier2 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 2 am–2 pmFrost Advisory
73Worth the trip
Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)2 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 2 am–2 pmFrost Advisory
87Go
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)5 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 4 am–2 pmFrost Advisory
87Go
North East Community Park7 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 3 am–2 pmFrost Advisory
87Go
Conowingo Dam Tailrace11 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 7 am–2 pmFrost Advisory
73Worth the trip
Betterton Beach11 mi · MarylandBest today 10 am to tomorrow 3 pmFrost Advisory
67Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Susquehanna Flats?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Susquehanna Flats 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 Susquehanna Flats?

Susquehanna Flats is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Blue Catfish, 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 Susquehanna Flats?

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 Susquehanna Flats 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 Susquehanna Flats have?

Susquehanna Flats has a public boat ramp. Shore access at this location is limited. Striped bass: special Upper Bay schedule under MD DNR rules — alternating catch-and-release windows and a peak-spawning closure in April; check current regulations before targeting. Launch from Havre de Grace or Perryville boat ramps. Very shallow; low-profile boats preferred.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Susquehanna Flats?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Susquehanna Flats. 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 Susquehanna Flats tidal water?

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