October 24, 2018 - This Week

Trollers in the Patuxent and Potomac scored this week using medium sized bucktails on the oyster beds and drop offs.

Lure casters from shore and boats are finding stripers in the 22 to 30-inch range. The fish will hit at all hours now but demand a moving tide. The water has been very low for nearly two weeks and catching that tide as it just stats to move is critical.

Capt. Brady Bounds (301-904-0471) has had spectacular days spin casting lures and with his fly-fishing customers in the salt island on the eastern shore. The fish are in the shallows and structure ready to eat. The Patuxent has been very good also above Broomes Island.

The Potomac has breaking rockfish in the St. Mary's River and at Ragged Point.

This array of fishing locations allows a good catch in most any wind conditions as long boat is on a trailer and you keep an eye on conditions.

White perch are in the deeper holes in the rivers now as the cool temperatures have made the water clear and chased the perch out of the shallower creeks. Find the perch on your depth finder in the Patuxent or Potomac in 30 to 40 feet of water and load the boat with this fabulous dinner fare. They will hit bloodworms, shrimp, or squid.

Crappie are now active in the fresh water ponds and lakes. They love live minnows, crappie jigs, and shad darts. Beetle spins with a tiny, white curly tail is a favorite lure too.

Eric Parker shows off a typical crappie biting now in ponds and St. Mary's Lake

Kenneth Murphy with a 33 inch rockfish from Fishing Point in the mouth of the Patuxent that took a surface popper.

Erruck Goodman with a big white perch from the St. Mary's River. Sean Miles and his 31 inch striper from Point Lookout that also hit a sur