All Systems Go

Hunter I. with a bull red from the Mud Leads this week.

The bull reds are everywhere and nowhere in the bay. You just have to be the lucky one that runs across them (or they run across you). Sight casters and trollers have had success this week. Trollers are using big spoons and surgical hose eels.

Two at a time!

Puppy drum are in the creeks and riverbanks mixed with perch.

Slot reds are now in the St. Mary's River and other areas of the Potomac for lure casters. The redfish showed up last Monday.  The Patuxent should have some slot reds soon. 

July leader in the perch contest!

There are good quantities of speckled trout in the Potomac and the bay shore. The mouth of St. Jerome's Creek has been hot. 

Eric P. shows off one of many speckled trout that are congregating in the bay near the mouth of St. Jerome's Creek.

Bluefish have been more numerous and consistent this year than in recent years. The fish had moved up as far as Hooper's Island Light but have retreated to the Target Ship area where they have been breaking most every day for weeks. 

The blues should resume their journey north all the bay to the Bay Bridge as the water clears from the barrage of rainy weather. 

Capt. Bernie Shea with a limit of bluefish from the Target ship area last Friday.

Bluefish will be on the beaches for surfcasters using lures and cut bait.

Mid-bay blues have been averaging two to six pounds. There have been a smattering of the huge ocean-going bluefish in excess of 15 pounds and 35 inches.  Don't set those drags too tight!  

Robert M. leads The Tackle Box blue catfish contest for July with this 36 inch / 19 pounder from Mattawoman creek.

Cobia catches are improving daily for trollers and chummers. The Target Ship and below are still the best locally.  The cobia at the Cut Channel and south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) are excellent.

The spot are at Ragged Point, and Cobb Island in the Potomac. The Patuxent is full of big spot.

Capt. Shea is loading up on big spot in the Patuxent.

There are very nice croaker at Cobb Island and in Brenton Bay. The Patuxent has keeper croaker and some fine white perch mixed with the spot.

The creeks and rivers have good white perch now that the incessant rain has ended and the water is clear and clean. 

Brannon S. with catch of crappie and bluegill from St. Mary's Lake last Saturday

I have not mentioned stripers as the season is out in Maryland waters and the Potomac.  Many anglers have had to go out of their way to keep the rockfish from jumping on their lures. The season resumes in Maryland on August 1st; the Potomac does not reopen until August 21st. 

Summertime is fishing time. 

The weekly Fishing Report is submitted by Ken Lamb of The Tackle Box.