THE FALL SWEET SPOT
The rockfish and perch have turned on in a big way in this beautiful fall season.
Jacob C. caught lots of rockfish in the mouth of the Patuxent Sunday evening.
Mike T. won the October The Tackle Box Big Perch contest with this 13-inch beauty.
The rockfish and perch have turned on in a big way [responding to the fall water turnover] in this beautiful fall season. Stripers are everywhere and are on a feeding frenzy. White perch are schooling up in the mouth of the Patuxent and hardy bottom fishermen are catching plenty in the deeper holes and oyster bar ledges. In addition, there are lingering gray and spotted trout, spot, and rockfish waiting for you to dangle some bait.
Rockfish near breaking at Swan Point in the Potomac everyday last week.
Rockfish biting on the St. George Creek side of the bridge to the Island.
The stripers are breaking in both the Patuxent and Potomac in all sizes. Reports from St. Clements Island, Cobb Island, and Ragged Point in the Potomac are excellent, with the majority of folks chasing the birds and casting all manner of lures with great success. Breaking rockfish are in the Patuxent from Benedict to Cedar Point.
Many of the breaking fish are over the 25 inch maximum.
Captain Bernie Shea is live lining small spot and scoring rockfish near the Patuxent River bridge.
The stripers don't bite every day all the time, but they bite every day at some time. The odds are best at dawn and dusk.
Perfect day, perfect fish. Fun and food!
Trout, both speckled and gray, are still here, mixed with perch and spot.
Those who prefer to troll are finding fish too. When the fish go down after a break, the trollers can cover a lot of water and find them. The bigger fish are usually below the breaking fish on top and trollers can get them without a lot of throwbacks. Small umbrella lures and the Captain John's Spoonbrellas are very effective.
White perch are schooling up in the lower Patuxent and will be wintering there in the deep holes. They love blood worms and will take small metal jigs.
Tyrone B. with Patuxent River perch this week.
Old man Winter is just around the corner. The opportunity to make a great memory is now when the fishing is hot.
Lest we forget, fresh water fishing is excellent now. Harrison C. landed this bass in a local pond Monday, Nov 2nd.
The views expressed in this Fishing Report are those of Ken Lamb and do not necessarily represent the views of Visit St. Mary's MD, its employees or board of directors. This report is for informational purposes only and details on MD fishing regulations can be found in the Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing.