December Rockfish
2021 has been an excellent fishing year for stripers, cobia, spot, perch, Spanish mackerel, and speckled trout.
Bluefishing was was fair, but croaker did not make their usual summer visit to the bay. We are looking forward to 2022 and hope that the blossom of bait fish in late 2021 will entice our summer visitors eager to make their trip into the bay.
The striper season continues in the Potomac river until December 31. Trollers using smaller and mid-sized baits are putting on the heavy weights and doing very well on 20- to 30- inch fish. Smaller umbrellas and tandem rigs are golden for this size striper class. The bite seems to be best on an every-other-day pattern. One day is excellent, the next good. There has not been much bird activity to indicate where the schools of stripers are feeding.
Some days take longer than others to find the fish, but persistence pays off.
Lary Rummel shows off a big rockfish caught on Capt. Greg Buckner's" Miss Susie" charter boat Tuesday morning, trolling in the mouth of the Potomac.
There was a 48 inch striper caught in the Choptank last week and had its photo posted on the internet. At that time it was the only big fish reported; since then there have been four or five reported in the lower Potomac. We have not seen photo evidence of any of these. There could be a surge of big fish as the season runs out. We will forward the news as it arrives.
Jiggers searching for birds indicating feeding fish in the bay are getting some fun. The striper season is now closed in Maryland waters, but catch and release is allowed.
Crappie are still active in St. Mary's Lake and local ponds. The weather forecast has no freezing temperatures for the ten days, and the high temperatures will be near 60. These are prime conditions for crappie, bass and pickerel. Live minnows will entice all fresh water fish. Fried crappie makes a fine Christmas dinner!
Captain Greg Buckner is limiting out daily in the lower Potomac
Steve Helmrick landed this 40 pound, 48-inch striper Tuesday morning in the mouth of the Patuxent. Steve was jigging big metal on the bottom using 20 lb. test. A minute battle got the big fish to the boat, and resulted in a broken net getting him into the boat. Steve found lots of eager fish up to 27 inches in addition to this one.
This party from Glenville, Pa. scored big Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, with Capt. Greg.