Maryland fishing reports
127 reports for Maryland — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Post-Spawn Stripers Working Chesapeake Beaches
Water temperature is reading 53°F at NOAA buoy 44009 as of the morning of May 7, anchoring a solid early-May setup along the Chesapeake corridor. Smith's Bait Shop, reporting via The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, has striped bass above, below, and within the 28–31-inch slot at Collins Beach, Greens Beach, and Woodland Beach — most fish falling to bloodworms or cut bunker. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle (via The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake) drew more than 200 anglers to their surf fishing tournament this week, logging impressive striped bass alongside a few tautog caught on sand fleas and green crab near the inlet. OTW Saltwater confirmed on May 5 that big stripers are running the beaches from Maryland north to Long Island, signaling the post-spawn push is underway in earnest. In the tidal creeks and spillways, white perch and catfish remain reliably available on bloodworms and minnows, per Smith's Bait Shop via The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake. Summer flounder opened in federal waters late last week, though early results have been mixed.
Striper Migration Peaks as White Perch Fill Patapsco and Tidal Potomac Creeks
The Patapsco River is running at 66.6 cfs (USGS gauge 01589000) as of early May 7 — moderate spring flows that keep lower tidal reaches accessible from bank and boat. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reports Smith's Bait Shop is fielding catches of striped bass above, below, and within the 28-to-31-inch slot, with bloodworms and cut bunker the consistent baits. White perch are active in tidal creeks and spillways on bloodworms and small minnows, and catfish are holding in those same corridors. On The Water's May 1 striper migration map confirms the post-spawn push is accelerating as large females begin vacating the Chesapeake system. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge this report cycle; check conditions on arrival. Overall, early May looks like a solid multi-species window across the tidal Potomac and Patapsco — particularly for white perch, which are reliably biting.
Post-Spawn Striper Migration Snowballs as Bay Water Holds at 53°F
NOAA buoy 44009 recorded 53°F water and winds near 16 mph on May 4 — precisely the conditions framing the inflection On The Water's May 1 striper migration map identified: post-spawn females are now exiting the Chesapeake, and the migration "snowballs" from here. That departure concentrates transitional fish along the Bay mouth and main-channel structure for anglers positioned to intercept them. No in-Bay charter or shop reports came through this cycle, but The Fisherman (Northeast)'s Long Island coverage documents slot-to-over stripers becoming consistent wherever menhaden schools are pinning fish — a corridor pattern that historically telegraphs the next wave in the upper Bay. At 53°F, water remains cool enough for stripers to feed actively through daylight hours. The Waning Gibbous moon is building strong overnight tidal exchange; dawn outgoing tides along channel edges and point structure should produce the sharpest sessions of the week.
Patapsco moderate at 62 cfs; bass on beds, stripers in transition
On The Water's May 1 striper migration map signals that post-spawn females are beginning their push out of the Chesapeake system — timing that puts Potomac River rockfish in active transition right now. USGS gauge 01589000 recorded 62.5 cfs on the Patapsco as of early May 4, indicating moderate, fishable flows; no temperature reading was available from instruments. With largemouth bass likely moving onto beds in shallow coves and backwaters, Wired 2 Fish highlights a productive spring tactic for this phase: run a swimbait to cover water and locate fish holding near stumps and structure, then follow with a finesse bait to seal the deal. Smallmouth, which favor the rocky riffles and ledges of both the upper Potomac and Patapsco, should also be approaching spawn given seasonal water temperatures typically cresting 60°F by early May in this region. The waning gibbous moon adds low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Post-Spawn Striper Exodus Underway on the Chesapeake; Water at 51°F
On The Water's May 1 Striper Migration Map signals the turn of the season: "the striper migration really snowballs once the large post-spawn females leave the Chesapeake," and NOAA buoy 44009 confirms we're squarely in that window with water reading 51°F Sunday morning. Winds were running around 24 mph with air temps near 48°F — expect a brisk, coat-weather day on the water. The wider Northeast corridor corroborates the momentum: The Fisherman (Northeast) reports aggressive stripers from 25 to 40 inches swarming Narragansett Bay and pressing into Long Island's bays and surf, with larger fish in the mix. That same migratory pulse originates from the Chesapeake's spring spawn — post-spawn cows are actively transiting the lower Bay and Bay mouth right now, moving north and out of the estuary. Full Moon tidal exchange is running at its monthly peak this weekend, concentrating bait and tightening the feeding windows that will define the bite.
Striper Migration Snowballing into Potomac as Patapsco Runs 70.9 CFS
On The Water's May 1 striper migration map notes the post-spawn push out of the Chesapeake is reaching peak momentum — timing that lines up well for intercepting migrating fish in the Potomac's freshwater reaches. USGS gauge 01589000 logs the Patapsco at a steady 70.9 cfs this afternoon, a moderate flow that keeps water fishable without the off-color surge that buries presentations. No water temperature reading is available from current sensors, though early May in this corridor typically falls in the upper 50s to low 60°F range based on historical norms. Tonight's full moon adds a high-activity window worth targeting — catfish and bass routinely feed hard around lunar peaks, especially on slower inside bends and wood-lined banks. With stripers migrating and bass approaching their spawn window, this opening weekend of May is traditionally one of the Potomac and Patapsco's most productive stretches of the year.
Post-spawn stripers exit the Chesapeake as water reaches 50°F
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 44009 are reading 50°F as of this morning — right in the optimal feeding band for striped bass. On The Water's April 24 striper migration map puts the Chesapeake squarely in focus: post-spawn fish are actively moving out of the Bay, while a broad coastal push of quality bass rolls northward through New Jersey and into southern New England. The Fisherman (Northeast) describes the regional striper front as being in "rapid expansion" mode, with schoolies quickly giving way to slot and over-sized fish over the course of just a few days. For Bay anglers, the late-April window — when larger post-spawn rockfish linger near tributary mouths before their northward run — may be starting to narrow. Light winds (~6 knots) are keeping boat conditions manageable. White perch are typical for the upper Bay's tidal rivers in late April, though no specific reports flagged them by name for the region this week.