Super Summer Fishing

The cold front and rain early last week awakened the fish and cleansed the waters.

Blues to the left; Spanish mackerel to the right. Capt. Bernie Shea out of Solomons is getting them daily.

Spot are eager to bite two at a time in the mouth of the Patuxent. Spot are in the bay and Potomac too. There are tropicals such as cutlass fish, cobia, whiting, and kingfish showing up. The cutlass fish are especially abundant in the Patuxent around the mouth of Mill Creek.

Capt. Bernie is loading up on spot.

Cutlass fish, too!

Puppy drum are in the creeks in numbers that are record-breaking. I caught about 30 in 30 casts in a redfish hole in a creek off the Patuxent on Sunday evening. They ranged in size from 8 to 14 inches. These are undersized fish as the minimum is 18 inches and we are allowed one per day. The maximum is 27 inches. There are plenty of slot reds available in bigger creeks, the rivers, and in the bay. Redfish are very active in shallow water. The Potomac allows five reds per day.

Scott Collins and friend caught a 23 inch red drum, and a 26 inch rockfish casting lures in shallow water last Friday.

Rockfish season is now open in Maryland and the Potomac. There are plenty for trollers and lure casters.

Out of the mouth of the Patuxent the 4 to 8-pound Bluefish are going wild.

Cobia catches were better this week, but many were not quite the 40 inches required. The cobia fishing will be much better now until the season ends on September 15.

There are Northern Kingfish and whiting in the mix of Spot, Croaker, and perch for bottom fishermen in the Patuxent.

Big bull reds are in the bay and rivers in schools huge and small. The 30 to 50-pounders show up in the oddest places, and could be under your pier or dock right now. Several were caught this week off docks in the Patuxent, surprising folks seeking much smaller species.

Spanish mackerel are hot now in the bay just south of Cedar Point near the Targets.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish are mixed in the bay. They are plentiful and are an easy catch when located. Planers and small spoons are the trick. Trolled surgical eels are magic on bluefish, which are now increasing in size. Four to eight-pound blues are common.

Justin Morgan leads the August big perch contest with this 13 inch beauty.

Some fine white perch catches were made in the creeks and rivers this week. Beetle Spins and Perch Hounders cast into the shallows around logs and trees and docks and piers will do the trick. Tipping your lure with a bit of crab, bloodworm or Fishbites will greatly enhance strikes.

Tony Barrett with a catch of white perch from a tributary of the Patuxent. He casts Beetle Spins and Perch Hounders to structure.

Blue catfish are wide open in the Potomac. The area just south of the 301 bridge on the 30-foot ledge is excellent. The catfish are huge and 30 to 60 pounders are a regular feature for experienced anglers. The catfish like fresh bait; alewives are the key.

Tony with his personal best 60 pound blue cat caught in Potomac on Saturday.

Vicki and her 32 pound blue cat from the Potomac near the 301 Bridge.

Blue cats by the wheelbarrow from the Potomac.