Maryland anglers are entering a high-activity window as water temperatures dip into the low 60s across the main Bay and the 50s in smaller streams, triggering a seasonal surge in striped bass and blue catfish aggression. According to the October 28 fishing report, the cooling trend is pushing fish toward channel edges and deeper structures, creating a prime environment for fall jigging and trophy catfish hunting.
For local charter captains and recreational fishers, the timing is critical; the intersection of falling temperatures and the lingering effects of the October 26 full moon has created above-average tidal currents that move baitfish and trigger predatory strikes.
Striped Bass congregate along channel edges
The “fall jigging” season that striped bass anglers anticipate has arrived in the Upper Bay. In tidal rivers, casting paddletails during morning and evening hours is producing results along the shorelines, while jigging with soft plastics along channel edges is keeping the action going through the midday heat. The Baltimore Harbor and the mouths of the Susquehanna, Chester, Magothy, Bush, and Gunpowder rivers are currently the hotspots for this activity.
Further south in the Middle Bay, the strategy shifts toward structure. At the Bay Bridge, charter boats are anchoring up-current of the piers near the 30-foot drop-off on the eastern side, drifting live spot or cut bait back toward the pier bases.
In the Lower Bay, the window for shallow-water fishing remains open. The Patuxent, St. Marys, and lower Potomac rivers are seeing success with topwater lures and paddletails. Anglers have a brief tactical advantage this week: the late sunrise—some as late as 7:26 a.m.—provides an extended window for early-morning strikes before Daylight Savings Time ends on November 1.
Blue Catfish enter aggressive feeding phase
While the striped bass are moving, blue catfish are essentially feeding non-stop. The cooling waters have spurred a level of aggression that makes this the ideal time for anglers to stock their freezers. In the Lower Bay, the Patuxent and tidal Potomac rivers are reporting excellent numbers as fish move outside the deepest channels to feed.
For those chasing trophy-sized fish, the tactics are more specific. While scented baits and cut bait work for general numbers, those targeting the largest blue catfish are utilizing live bluegill sunfish or small white perch. In the lower Susquehanna, live bait is also the primary tool for targeting flathead catfish.
Blue catfish meat is mild and freezes well.
Bass move to deeper structure as tautog limits increase
Beyond the salt, the western and central region reservoirs are seeing a broader range of fish activity. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are moving freely, following prey like crayfish and baitfish as they migrate toward deeper structure. The upper Potomac is currently providing excellent smallmouth fishing.
In the Atlantic coastal waters, the season is transitioning. Surf anglers are catching the tail end of the red drum fall migration. However, a significant regulatory change is coming: starting November 1, the daily limit for tautog will increase from two fish per day to four. This change comes as anglers at the Ocean City Inlet and Route 50 bridge are already seeing a higher percentage of tautog exceeding the 16-inch minimum length.
The current environmental conditions provide a complex backdrop for these catches. While oxygen levels in most Bay bottom waters are adequate, Bay salinities are running higher than normal due to continued dry conditions. Algal blooms have reduced water clarity in the Sassafras and Back Rivers, forcing anglers to rely more on sonar and structure than visual sighting.
Trout stocking ends as bass shift water column position
The fall trout stocking program concludes this week, marking the end of the “put-and-take” phase. Anglers will now transition to delayed harvest and catch-and-return management waters to sustain their activity through the winter. For those targeting landlocked striped bass in reservoirs like Piney Run, Liberty, and Triadelphia, the strategy is shifting from the deep summer holes to higher in the water column.
White perch, for example, are already moving into the deeper waters of the tidal rivers. Once the true winter temperatures arrive, these fish will move even deeper into the Bay, ending the accessibility of the autumn season.
