Fishing Fast and Furious

Opening day rockfish caught trolling in Potomac on the Shea-D-Lady charter.

Opening day of striped bass season found good action in the Potomac, the mouth of the Patuxent, and bay. Trollers in the Potomac did well in about 30 feet of water between Piney Point and St. George Island. The cow nose rays were making a pest of themselves with one captain reporting three on at one time. The big rays (known locally as skate) are feeding on the small croaker and spot. Kayakers and shore fishermen found stripers in good numbers in the portion of Patuxent that is open for striped bass (below a line between Point Patience and Kingston Creek). One experienced fisherman reported hooking up on an average of every 20 casts using a variety of swimming plugs and plastics. An experienced fisherman reported good numbers of healthy rockfish in the St. Mary's River. The fish bite on moving tides and early morning is best. The Patuxent opens completely for rockfish catch on June 1.

Bluefish in good size are moving into all areas now. Trollers, lure casters, and shore fishermen have all found bluefish. There have not been sightings of breaking fish reported. One reason may be the lack of alewife (bunker) that are not here in their normal numbers. There is no bait showing up for pound netters in any portion of bay that I have contact with. There have been schools of bait observed in the Potomac in the deeper water.

Beautiful rockfish from Captain Bernie Shea s charter boat. 301 672 3282.

Tiny spot and croaker are just about everywhere. Some of these bottom fish are approaching eating size.

Eric Packard fished the shallows of Cornfield Harbor throwing yellow jig head and plastics 5-20-25, and found plenty of willing rockfish in the slot. Also heard of 19 inch speckled trout in the Potomac.

White perch are off to a slow start. I have heard of some good catches by Beetle Spinners in the creeks and rivers which is encouraging, but low tides and dirty water are hindering this early season. Finding clean water is the trick.

Eric Packard shows off bluefish from Calvert power plant outfall last Friday.

There are reports of cobia and bull redfish at the Bay Bridge Tunnel and in Hampton Roads. Fishermen are limited to catch and release until June 1. There is already a demand for live eels in the Norfolk area. Spanish mackerel have also been reported in the bay's most southern regions, and they are venturing up the James River. All these summertime fish are heading up the bay. There was a sighting of a big school of bull reds off Hooper's Island last week.

Eric caught this striper in mouth of Patuxent opening day. Fish were plentiful.