Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report April 4, 2025: Perch, Catfish, and Trout Hotspots

Good morning anglers! Here’s your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Friday, April 4, 2025. The weather today is shaping up to be a fine spring day with sunrise at 6:43 AM and sunset at 7:30 PM, giving you ample daylight for a productive outing. Tidal activity is notable, with high tides at 3:29 AM at 1.88 ft and 3:57 PM at 1.49 ft, and low tides at 10:58 AM at 0.15 ft and 10:56 PM at 0.12 ft. This moderate tidal movement could help invigorate fish activity, especially during the high tide windows. Although striped bass fishing is closed in both Maryland and Virginia waters this month, the Chesapeake Bay offers other excellent opportunities. White perch are still running strong in the tributaries, with good action reported on the Potomac, Choptank, and Pocomoke Rivers. Bloodworms, grass shrimp, and small shad darts are the best baits for targeting these perch. Anglers around the Patuxent River and Jug Bay have already enjoyed steady catches of perch this week. If you’re after something bigger, blue catfish is the star species right now. These “river monsters” are abundant in the upper and middle sections of the Bay, particularly around channel edges near Sandy Point, Hackett’s Point, and the mouth of the Patapsco River. Some anglers have reported landing blue cats over 20 pounds, while fish in the 5-10 pound range are commonplace. Cut bait using bunker, perch, or gizzard shad is your go-to option for targeting these bottom dwellers. For those looking to fish the lower Bay, areas like Lynnhaven Bay, Mobjack Bay, and the lower James River are hotspots for speckled trout and puppy drum. Anglers have found success fishing near docks, rocky shorelines, and oyster bars. Early spring lures such as paddle tails (3-4 inch) in natural colors or popping cork setups are proving effective. Hickory and American shad runs have picked up across the Bay tributaries, with strong activity along the Potomac River, Mattawoman Creek, and the Choptank River. Casting small spoons, shad darts, or twisty tail jigs will yield the best results. Shad fishing is a catch-and-release opportunity but offers plenty of action for light tackle enthusiasts. If you’re looking for hot spots today, try these two recommendations: 1. **Hackett’s Point**: Perfect for blue catfish action with fresh cut bait on bottom rigs. 2. **Mobjack Bay**: Excellent for speckled trout and puppy drum along marsh edges and oyster beds using soft plastics or popping cork rigs. Grab your bait and tackle, and enjoy the Bay’s bounty. Tight lines, everyone! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.