• Fall Fishing Forecast for Chesapeake Bay: Stripers, Perch, and Tautog Bite

  • Nov 9 2024
  • Length: 3 mins
  • Podcast

Fall Fishing Forecast for Chesapeake Bay: Stripers, Perch, and Tautog Bite

  • Summary

  • For November 9, 2024, in the Chesapeake Bay area around Baltimore and Washington D.C., here’s what you can expect:

    ### Weather and Tidal Conditions
    Today, expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 58 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 45 degrees. Winds will be moderate, blowing at about 10 mph from the northwest. Sunrise is at 6:33 AM, and sunset will be at 4:53 PM. Tides will be moderate, with high tide at 8:15 AM and low tide at 2:15 PM.

    ### Fish Activity
    The striped bass bite has been mixed across the Upper, Middle, and Lower Bay. In the Upper Bay, anglers are catching a mix of white perch and some striped bass, particularly in the creeks of the Magothy River[1].

    In the Middle Bay, the striped bass bite has been slower due to the fall turnover, where cooler surface waters mix with oxygen-deprived bottom waters, making fish less active. However, using smaller baits with slow presentations, such as four-inch Z-Man Diezel Minnowz, has been effective. Schools of striped bass are roaming along the edges of Poplar Island, and white perch are moving to deeper waters, often found under schools of striped bass[2].

    In the Lower Bay, the striped bass action has slowed a bit, but there are still good opportunities, especially around the mouth of the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. Anglers are finding schooling fish, particularly during early-morning and evening hours when birds are active. Tautog and sea bass fishing also remains steady in the deeper waters[3][5].

    ### Best Lures and Bait
    For striped bass, casting 1/2- to 3/4-ounce jigheads paired with 5- to 7-inch plastics, such as BKDs and paddletails, has been working well. Subtly jigging small silver spoons and chartreuse lures on bottom in 10’ to 12’ of water can also trigger bites. For inactive fish, a three-quarter ounce white Rat-L-Trap can be effective[2][3].

    For white perch, small metal jigs dropped to the bottom under bird activity or around dock lights at night are recommended[2].

    ### Hot Spots
    - **Poplar Island in the Middle Bay**: Schools of striped bass are roaming along the edges, and using subtle jigging techniques can yield results.
    - **Mouth of the Potomac and Patuxent rivers in the Lower Bay**: These areas are seeing good striped bass action, especially during early-morning and evening hours when birds are active.
    - **Creeks of the Magothy River in the Upper Bay**: Good for catching a mix of white perch and striped bass.

    Remember to adjust your tackle according to the wind and water conditions, and be patient as the fish adjust to the fall turnover.
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