Midsummer Night's Fish Tale
There is good action for cobia chasers in the lower bay.
The big fish are approaching the Middle Grounds, The Target Ship, and the Mud Leads. Most fishermen are setting up chum lines and using cut bait (alewife). There has been success with live eels in the chum. Trollers using big surgical hose lures have also scored. The idea is to get to the fishing grounds at daybreak and set up the chum. The wind tends to build in the mid-day and making the process untenable, and the heat builds to intolerable levels.
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Eric Packard landed this 48 inch Cobia near Smith Point with cut bait, chumming.
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The next generation of fishing Tippetts show off a cobia from lower bay.
Riley, Hunter, Maverick, and Walker.
The bluefish and spanish mackerel have yet to manifest themselves in our waters. We are hoping for big schools to show up soon. The hot, salty water is a boon to the mackerel.
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Hunter House of Brunswick, MD used a live eel to catch this hefty cobia last Tuesday.
The spot are everywhere and growing fast. By September we should have plenty of jumbos.
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The spot just keep on coming for Capt. Bernie Shea on his boat the Shea-D-Lady out of Solomons.
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Bernie's fish box full of spot!
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Two at the time!
Puppy drum are in the creeks and rivers in record numbers from 6 to 15 inches. The keepers (18 to 27 inches), referred to as "Slot Reds" are being caught daily.
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Makhai Hanna caught this slot redfish in St. Inigoes Creek on the Fourth of July with peeler crab.
Perch are plentiful in creeks and rivers for bottom fishermen and lure casters. Beetle Spins and other small spinner baits tipped with peeler crab, fish bites, bloodworm or other incentives are key.
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Glenna Walker with string of perch from the Patuxent. That one in the middle, 10 1/4 inches is the leader in The Tackle Box big perch contest for July.
Flounder are now in the mix with redfish, rockfish, bluefish, and sea trout for jiggers and lure casters in the mouth of the Potomac.
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Kevin Harris shows off a catch of perch from the Patuxent.
There are rockfish in the rivers around structure for lure casters, but the action is dusk and dawn. The midday heat drives them out of the shallows to sulk in deep water. Trollers can score with small umbrella rigs and tandems. The fish are on the bottom; bring out the heavy trolling sinkers.
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Robert Wahrenbrock with a 30 inch striper that took his surface popper at daybreak in the lower Patuxent.
Snakehead and catfish are always available above the Benedict Bridge in the Patuxent and the 301 Bridge in the Potomac. They love fresh cut alewife.