The Bay is Heating Up

Spot!

A couple of articles I've had in tabs for a while.... It's a rainy day Southern Maryland Chronicle, Maryland Waters Witness Early Arrival of Summer Fish Species.

In an unexpected turn, Captain Bernie Shea of the charter boat Shea-D-Lady reported a significant catch of 64 eating-sized spot fish last Wednesday at the mouth of the Patuxent River, signaling an early start to the summer fishing season in Maryland. Traditionally, spot fish arrive by mid-Jun and peak around the Fourth of July. However, this year, they have shown up earlier than usual.

Shea, who is experienced in navigating the local waters, found success at several proven fishing spots including Drum Point and The O’ Club. The early arrival of spot fish has also been corroborated by local fishermen who noticed the fish in pound nets around Cornfield Harbor in the Potomac River since last week.

Speckled Trout

Spot are a small, but extremely numerous member of the drum family; a huge one might reach 12 inches. Often used as live bait for rockfish or other fish, they are good eating, and excellent target when fishing with children, or people with little patience. 

The recent uptick in fish activity may indicate the beginning of the summer fish migration, although it is still unclear whether this surge represents the start of a full migration or merely an early seasonal fluctuation.

Other signs of early summer include the appearance of speckled trout, caught by a lure caster in a kayak earlier this week. Additionally, large quantities of skate, specifically cow-nosed rays, have invaded the mouth of the Potomac, eagerly taking lures at Point Lookout.

Striped bass, commonly referred to as stripers, are also active, often being caught on lures intended for other species across most locations in the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers. Anglers are reminded to release these fish carefully, adhering to current regulations that allow the keeping of one striper per day within a 19 to 24-inch slot, starting May 16th in the bay and Potomac. 

Cobia

Chesapeake Bay’s Lower Region Hotspot for Cobia 

The lower Chesapeake Bay is currently seeing excellent action for cobia enthusiasts, with large fish approaching prime spots such as the Middle Grounds, the Target Ship, and the Mud Leads. Anglers are primarily using chum lines and cut bait, particularly alewife, to attract these big fish. Live eels placed in the chum lines have also proven successful. For those who prefer trolling, big surgical hose lures are yielding results as well. The key to a successful cobia fishing trip is to arrive at the fishing grounds at daybreak and set up the chum early, as the mid-day winds can make the process difficult and the heat can become unbearable.

While cobia action is strong, bluefish and Spanish mackerel have yet to appear in significant numbers in the waters. However, there is hope that large schools of these fish will arrive soon, as the hot and salty water conditions are ideal for mackerel.