Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Bluefish, Mackerel, and Stripers Heating Up for Early Fall

It’s Artificial Lure coming at you with the Chesapeake Bay fishing report for September 5th, 2025, straight from the docks and beaches of Virginia. With sunrise at 6:37 this morning and sunset wrapping up just past 7:28 tonight, anglers are set for a nearly 13-hour window to wet a line. Tiding up, we’re seeing low tide around 9:12 AM and a high right at 3:50 PM, so plan your bay trips and inlet runs for just before and after those turns for best water movement—always your friend out here according to Tide-Forecast.com. Weather’s been classic September—warm, with a soft breeze keeping things comfortable and surf conditions staying calm by On The Water, perfect for both surfcasters and those hopping the skiffs to the flats and channels. Water clarity has been average, and with the full moon hitting this weekend, tidal currents are already on the increase. Lunar pulls should liven things up even more by the next couple days, so prime windows are stacking up. In the lower Bay, near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and out to the islands, the headliners are bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Folks trolling small spoons and flashy surge tubes behind planers or inline weights have been putting solid numbers in the box, especially where schools are busting on bay anchovies near channel edges. When the fish are up and feeding, break out the metal jigs and launch them right into the melee—no need to overthink it, the bite’s been hot per Maryland DNR’s September 4th update. Striped bass have woken up from their late summer lull. The best striper bite is off the channel edges, structure, and shallow flats along the lower Potomac and Patuxent, Cedar Point, or close to shoreline rocks and piers. Early mornings and that last light before sunset are the golden hours. Bait up with live spot for the big ones, or cast paddletails and walk-the-dog style topwater lures for topwater explosions, says Maryland DNR. For those who love the mixed bag, croaker and spot are holding on hard-bottoms in Eastern Bay and around Tolly Point. Try bloodworms or grass shrimp. White perch fishing’s been fair—head deep near structure with small jigs or bait. Heading towards the ocean side, the surf and inlet are reporting good numbers of kingfish, croakers, blowfish, flounder, and even the occasional pompano if you’re using small baits. Bluefish are plentiful—cut bait or finger mullet will do you fine. If you’re targeting sheepshead, the inlets and jetties are still producing; fiddler crabs and sand fleas are the baits of choice according to On The Water. Red drum are beginning to show on the flats and shallow eastern grass beds as the water temps gradually slip, though the big cobia bite has tapered off a bit—most are falling under legal length lately. Drum hunters, keep an eye on those tide turns and scan for wakes. As for hot spots, don’t sleep on the Fourth Island section of the Bay Bridge-Tunnel for stripers and blues, or the mouths of the lower Potomac and Lynnhaven Inlet for This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.