November 11th, 2020 - Great November Fishing

The calm winds and sunny days of 70 degrees have combined to get the stripers feeding most everywhere. The bay is loaded with hungry rockfish all up and down the ship's channel. Small breakers on the top and some fine keepers up to 30 inches on the bottom. Trollers are using smaller umbrella rigs and tandems to full effect. Both the Patuxent and Potomac have plenty of rockfish for trollers.

The Potomac has found the bigger fish hitting trolled lures on the bottom. Sixteen to twenty ounce in-line sinkers are the ticket. Ragged Point to Sandy Point on the Virginia side has been terrific in 20 to 30 feet. Look for the birds to guide you to the daily hot spot. The fish will gradually work their way south to Smith Point. The schools of fish can come up in the middle of the river at any time. Piney Point and St. George Island has lots of fish too, but most are under the 20 inch minimum for the Potomac. We are allowed two per day 20 inches or longer. Maryland tributaries of the Potomac allow a 19 inch fish and only one per day.

The Patuxent has Maryland regulations allowing only one fish, but at a 19 inch minimum. The stripers can be difficult in the upper regions of the river as the tides have been very low and flow has been has been minimal. This shortens the bite time, As one approaches the bay the super low tide influence is diminished and the fish are more active.

Shore fishermen suffer the most with the lack of significant tidal flow. Some of the most fertile areas for lure casters this week were reduced to mud flats. Some of the bigger tidal creeks had some good activity early in the week as some reported catching about half keepers on a run of catching a fish on every cast at Hog Point and in the outflow of Pearson Creek on the Naval Air Station. There were some slot redfish in the mix for a bonus. Later in the week the same surfcasters were skunked. As the saying goes: "they are either there or they are not." You never know if you don't try.

Perch have retreated to the deep in the rivers. They can be jigged up in 30 feet of water in all the usual spots. A double hook bottom rig with shad darts tied on and a bit of bloodworm on the hooks is a great way to bring home dinner. Jig this rig in 30 feet with a four ounce weight on the bottom. Catching white perch two at the time in the 8 to 10 inch length is a fine way to spend a sunny November afternoon.

Bay trollers have found rockfish breaking under birds from the PR buoy to Point No Point. Good catches were make from buoy 72A to the Target Ship.

The rockfish season ends mid December in Maryland waters. The season continues in the Potomac until December 31st.