November 16, 2018 - This Week
It is a great time to be on the hunt for rockfish in Southern Maryland.
These fish were 39 and 38 inches, and are the largest I have heard of this fall season. This is the location where we would expect sea-run stripers in the 40 to 50 inch range. The fish may have come in from the Atlantic, but could have been the out-sized version of our domestic stock. There were no sea lice on the fish which is a sign of ocean fish.
Breaking fish are east of buoy 72 stretching out north and south for miles. Capt. Brady Bounds (301-904-0471) on the "Miss Lena" counted six separate flocks of gulls indicating that many distinct schools of rockfish on Monday this week. His party caught plenty in the 22 to 28-inch range on bucktails fished below the smaller breakers on the surface. There are still stripers on structure in the shallower water.
Trollers are doing well in the Patuxent and Potomac on the oyster bars. The small umbrellas rigged with smaller lures are hot. Look for the ones made by Doug's Lures, June Bug, or Hard Head Custom Baits. There were some fish caught in the mouth of the Patuxent by lure casters and bait fishermen from the shore, but the fish are now trending to deeper water.
Crappie, bass, and pickerel are all active in St. Mary's Lake.
A fine crappie from St. May's Lake last Thursday
A happy party returns with stripers from a day fishing with Capt. Greg Buckner.
Michele Chelednik with a 30 icnch stiper that took a Diawa SP Minnow lure at Cedar Point Rip this week.