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Chesapeake Bay

The defining estuary of the mid-Atlantic — striper country.

Live · updated

From the Susquehanna flats to the mouth at Virginia Beach, the Bay drives almost all mid-Atlantic tidal fishing. Rockfish run the spring and fall migrations, white perch work the tributaries year-round, and blue cats have become one of the largest inshore fisheries on the East Coast.

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area

Red Drum
100/100

Kiptopeke State Park

Summer Flounder
92/100

Cape Charles Town Pier

Summer Flounder
92/100

Anderson Park

White Perch
92/100

Solomons Island Fishing Pier

Red Drum
75/100

Point Lookout State Park

Red Drum
75/100

Roaring Point Waterfront Park

Spotted Seatrout
68/100

Buckroe Beach

White Perch
67/100

Ocean View Beach

White Perch
67/100

Hilton Pier Park

White Perch
67/100

First Landing State Park

Red Drum
59/100

Sandy Point State Park

Bluefish
43/100

Rocky Point Park — Essex

Bluefish
43/100

North Point State Park

Bluefish
43/100

Elms Beach Park

Spotted Seatrout
43/100

Great Marsh Park (Gerry Boyle Park)

Bluefish
43/100

Blackwater NWR — Fishing Area

Northern Snakehead
41/100

Flying Point Park

Blue Catfish

Tyaskin Wharf

Spotted Seatrout

Cove Road Beach

Spotted Seatrout

Kent Narrows — Public Fishing Pier

Bluefish

Romancoke Pier

Bluefish

Matapeake Pier

Bluefish

Flag Ponds Nature Park

Bluefish

Chesapeake Beach — Rod N' Reel Pier

Bluefish

Breezy Point Beach

Bluefish

Mayo Beach Park

Bluefish

Beverly Triton Nature Park

Bluefish

Martinak State Park

Bluefish

North Beach (Calvert)

Bluefish

Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)

White Perch

Conowingo Dam Tailrace

Blue Catfish

Susquehanna Flats

Blue Catfish

Havre de Grace Fishing Pier

Blue Catfish

Choptank River — Cambridge

Northern Snakehead

Fort Smallwood Park

Blue Catfish

Downs Park

Blue Catfish

Miami Beach Park

Blue Catfish

Cox's Point Park

Blue Catfish

Mariner Point Park

Blue Catfish

Betterton Beach

Blue Catfish

Rock Hall Beach

Blue Catfish

North East Community Park

Blue Catfish

Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)

Blue Catfish

Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)

Blue Catfish

Rolph's Wharf

Blue Catfish

Belle Isle State Park

Red Drum

Smith Point Beach

Red Drum

What anglers are reporting

From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 15 days old — a newer report may be available.

Middle Bay

Fishing for striped bass at the Bay Bridge piers has been good this past week and should continue. Boats have been anchoring up-current of the bridge piers on the east side and drifting live spot and assorted baits back to the pier bases. Other anglers are positioning close to the piers and casting soft plastic jigs to the pier bases with good success. Striped bass fishing is very good for light tackle anglers casting and jigging in many traditional locations in the middle Bay. Eastern Bay, Poplar Island, Thomas Point, and the mouth of the Choptank River are just a few locations where casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs is working well.

Species mentioned: spot, striped bass

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

Lower Bay

Deeper waters along channel edges are being targeted by anglers jigging with soft plastic jigs or by trolling with umbrella rigs down along the 30-foot edges. It is a good idea to place a few Drone spoons behind inline weights for the bluefish that are in the region. The steep channel edge of the Potomac from St. Georges Island to Piney Point, the lower Patuxent and the eastern side of the bay from Buoy 76 to Buoy 72 are worth exploring. Red and black drum are being found on the eastern side of the Bay from the Middle Grounds up past the Target Ship and Tangier Sound. Finding them on depth finders and dropping soft crab baits to them is the most popular way to fish.

Species mentioned: black drum, bluefish

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.

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