Good Trout News
Rockfish, perch, and speckled trout were eager to bite on the first of June in all of southern Maryland.
The trout news was good in the Hooper Island area where one experienced fisherman landed six and missed another two at the boat in about an hour and a half last Saturday. The specks were reported on the rocks at Point Lookout Marker along with some rockfish in the 22-inch range. The trout are also in the mouth of Smith Creek a little further up the Potomac and in the St. Mary's River. Most of these trout are in the 18-to-24-inch range.
Robert LeGrande with rockfish from the beach at Cedar Point, NAS.
Good striper fishing was reported up the Patuxent on the 15-to-20-foot edges for trollers. As the water warms the rockfish will come into the shallows to feed on crabs and baitfish.
The bay water temperature on Tuesday morning was 68 degrees, which is a record low temperature for June 6 according to the Sea Temperature info website. The old record was 69.4 degrees on this date in 2007. Every day has been a new record low since April. June average temperature is 75.4. The cold water is slowing the advance of cobia, spot, and redfish.
Capt. Greg Buckner is limiting out daily!
Perch are not bothered by cool water and are eager to bite bait and lures on moving tides. I have found perch by the singles in most of my favorite holes in the creeks. Working hard will get a mess for dinner. Good times are coming when I can get three to five good ones in each spot visited.
The cow nosed rays (skate) are plentiful. Catfish are loving the cool water up the Potomac and Patuxent and are eager to bite cut bait. Fresh water fish are very active. Catches are made daily of bass, bluegill, crappie, and pickerel in St. Mary's Lake and local ponds.
Fabulous rockfish from near Bay Bridge.
Crabs are in the creeks for dock owners using crab pots and for recreational crabbers using chicken necks and hand traps. Remember, if you are using hand traps or rings you must purchase the recreational crab license add-on to your fishing license, a $2.00 fee. If you do not have a fishing license, the crab permit is $5.00.
Spot were reported from Solomons Pier Tuesday night. One party caught 60 at about 6 inches. Others did as well, often getting them two at a time on double hookbottom rigs. Bloodworms, lug worms, and fishbites are the best bait.
Ken Lamb with perch from Tuesday afternoon from a Patuxent creek. They love those small spinner baits.