Blues, Bull Reds, Slot Reds, Rockfish, Cobia, and Perch!
There have been bluefish in the 4-to-8-pound category eating surgical hose lures (eels) in the bay for the last two months.
Charter boats and experienced trollers using number 2 planers are doing well. Working from the PR buoy south to Hooper's Island Light to 72 and on down to the Target Ship and below the fishing is very good. The bigger boats that can put out bigger spreads and handle rough weather have the advantage. There is a generous mix of cobia, bull reds, and slot reds taking the lures as well. When the bull reds gather for a surface feeding frenzy they can be caught casting lures on light tackle. The boats pull in their trolling gear and drift into the feeding fish with lure casters hooking up on any dangling lure.
Bull reds on light tackle this week on the Miss Susie.
Miss Susie Charters is landing big bluefish daily out of Solomons, Md.
The spanish mackerel were not in the mix much in the bay this week, but good catches of spanish, rockfish and bluefish were made in the Potomac on the Virginia side from Ragged Point to the 301 Bridge with a concentration in the area of Machodoc Creek. The rockfish were very good there for jiggers who spotted them on their electronics. The blues and mackerel were chasing bait on the surface, attracting birds. Rockfish were underneath for deep jiggers. Slot reds and puppy drum show up at any time amidst the other feeders.
Cobia are taking trolled surgical eel lures along with the bluefish.
Slot reds, too!
Lure casters in the fish in the shallows of the Potomac and Patuxent are doing well at dawn and dusk. There are redfish, rockfish and an occasional trout (usually very good-sized) ready to take your surface popper, soft plastic, or swimming plug. Shore fishermen are getting their share. The St. Mary's River is still the hottest location.
Bill Connelly connected on rockfish and redfish in his kayak casting soft plastics with jig head in Tall Timbers area of Potomac.
Perch fishing is off and on in the creeks. Good days are very good; off days not so much. The puppy drum are not as numerous in some creeks. The river shorelines are best now for under-sized puppy drum, white perch and slot reds. The rockfish are slowly moving back into their familiar haunts. Their feeding activity is improving with the cooler water temperatures.
Ken Lamb found some hefty perch that hit small spinners in a Patuxent Creek.
Spot and croaker are all over the rivers and creeks. The problem is they are in the tiny bait-stealing size. There are jumbo spot and keeper croaker on the oyster bars and holes, but you have to search for them.
Chris Madere with a Patuxent River rockfish that took a surface popper in the shallows.