It's a Fishing Day

Species

Chain Pickerel

Esox niger · family Esocidae

Native toothy predator of mill ponds, blackwater rivers, and grassy shorelines — especially common on the Eastern Shore. Hits spinners, spoons, and minnow plugs aggressively. Cold-weather fishery when bass have shut down.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
45–80°F (ideal 60°F)
Tide
either
Moon
either
Depth
3–15 ft
Active months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best chain pickerel conditions today

  1. Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area Dorchester, MD · harvest closed
    86/100
  2. Jug Bay — Patuxent River Anne Arundel, MD · harvest closed
    86/100
  3. Prettyboy Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    74/100
  4. Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb Allegany, MD
    68/100
  5. Loch Raven Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    68/100
  6. Liberty Reservoir Carroll, MD
    68/100
  7. Triadelphia Reservoir Howard, MD
    68/100
  8. Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake Montgomery, MD
    68/100
  9. Lums Pond State Park New Castle, DE · harvest closed
    68/100
  10. Burke Lake Park Fairfax, VA
    68/100
  11. Deep Creek Lake Garrett, MD
    41/100
  12. Monocacy River — Buckeystown Frederick, MD
    33/100
  13. Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania, VA
    15/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (non-tidal)

non tidal

Min size
14"
Creel
5

Non-tidal MD: 14-inch minimum, 5 per day. Open year-round.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)

non tidal

Creel
5

Non-tidal VA: 5 per day, no statewide minimum size. Lake Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) have no daily limit. Less restrictive on size than MD (which requires 14-inch minimum).

Source · verified 2026-04-22