Blues and flounder keep biting as Chesapeake Bay shakes off nor'easter
Water temperatures at the Chesapeake Bay NOAA station sit at 67.6°F this week, warm enough to keep bluefish and flounder active after last week's nor'easter scattered action across the Mid-Atlantic. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reports that Old Inlet Bait and Tackle saw blues taking metal lures on the incoming tide despite 40-50 knot winds, while anglers aboard the Judy V and Gale Force boxed flounder and sea bass once they could clear Indian River Inlet, and a dozen bluefish came aboard elsewhere on the same trip. The same report has Smith's Bait Shop noting croaker and spot thick on the reef sites, with occasional trout and flounder mixed in, live minnows working best for flounder right now.
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Behind the storm, surface temps should ease a touch over the next few days as northerly winds build, a pattern that typically sharpens the bite on flounder and sea bass before they push offshore for the season. Smith's Bait Shop, per The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake, expects the trend to keep improving into October on the reef sites.
The predicted low tide at 6:26 PM local is worth planning around for the outgoing-water bluefish bite described at Old Inlet. With the moon in its waning gibbous phase, expect a modest bump in current speed through the weekend that should concentrate bait and keep blues and flounder feeding on the moving tide.
Context
Early October marks the heart of the fall transition for Chesapeake Bay saltwater anglers, as baitfish push out of the back bays and gamefish stage up to feed before the seasonal move south. A storm like the one that just moved through is typical for this window and often resets the bite for a week or two once boats return to the water. Current reports line up with a normal fall timeline for the region, not an early or late shift.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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