Maryland Fishing Report: May 2

May 2, 2018

Warmer and more seasonable weather has finally descended upon the Maryland landscape, offering a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors. The warm air temperatures and sunny weather, along with relatively cool water temperatures make for perfect fishing conditions in many local waters. Community ponds, trout management waters and lakes offer fun shoreline fishing adventures that are particularly tuned for children. Many are stocked with bluegills, and some are stocked with trout and set aside for youth fishing. There are also fishing rodeos and other youth events held all over the state. Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary: May 2-9, 2018

Bay water temperatures should quickly rise into the low and mid-60s and speed up the progression of rockfish spawning and shad moving into the upper bay creeks, now lined with bluebell and may apple. Maryland’s portion of the bay continues to have suitable oxygen conditions from surface to bottom. In addition, there are slightly warmer surface water temperatures, so anglers may want to scan these shallower areas for fish during conditions of moving water and low light, after sunset and before sunrise. Main bay water temperatures are in the high 50s as reported from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoys at Annapolis, Gooses Reef and Potomac River near Point Lookout State Park. Temperatures should increase through the week and expect temperatures in smaller, dark-bottomed shallow creeks to hold much warmer temperatures. As tides empty the water in these warm creeks, look for nearby structure to target feeding gamefish. Expect above-average flows for the Susquehanna River and average flows for the Potomac and for smaller rivers and streams entering the bay. There will be above-average tidal currents through Thursday as a result of the full moon April 30. For the full weekly fishing conditions summary and more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out Click Before You Cast.

Upper Chesapeake Bay The Susquehanna Flats catch-and-release striped bass fishing is steadily improving and may take a big leap with warmer weather this week. There have been some reports of striped bass spawning in the Elk River, and water temperatures in the flats area are generally in the 50s. There are a lot of small male striped bass being caught on jigs and swimbaits with some large females also being caught at times. The biologists keeping watch on the Susquehanna Flats spawn sampled the channels south of the Elk Monday. They saw few large female striped bass in their survey work but a lot of males. The Conowingo Dam has been releasing substantial amounts of water this week, from the morning through the evening hours. Those who love the hickory shad catch-and-release fishery at Deer Creek and Octararo Creek in the lower Susquehanna River have been anxiously waiting; it should be coming soon. Right now both creeks are running stained and chilly, but with no rain expected until the weekend, a couple of days of 80-degree weather may be all it takes get water temperatures to 60 degrees and kick this fishery into gear. I suspect when it happens it will be a big run, since the hickory shad are overdue and have been waiting out chilly water for some time in the Susquehanna. The mouth of Deer Creek is a great place to fly-fish for the beginner or the veteran; there is plenty of room to cast and the hickory shad are eager to take a variety of small, flashy lures. Small crappie jigs, shad darts and colorful or flashy flies work well. A 7-weight fly rod is a good all-around round choice, and a sinking tip or sinking line works well. Casts are quartering to the current and most hits occur on the down current swing while retrieving. Hickory shad hit hard and often jump like mini-tarpon. Those with spinning tackle can use shad darts, small jigs or spoons.

Middle Bay Those looking for some light tackle jigging action have been finding it this week at the Bay Bridge piers and rock piles. The striped bass being caught and released are resident size, but offer some fun action. Unfortunately windy conditions hampered the efforts of many last week and there was even some dense fog on the weekend. Water temperatures in the middle bay region are about 56 degrees this week, and hopefully better conditions will prevail. The striped bass spawning continues in the Choptank River and with higher temperatures there is bound to be another large surge later this week. Large post-spawn striped bass from the Choptank reached the bay over the weekend, and the steep channel edge at the CP Buoy and False Channel were good places to intercept them. The Bloody Point Light, Buoy 83 and Thomas Point are also popular edges, and there were reports of a few fish caught there earlier this week.