Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Bull Reds, Flounder, and More for May 3rd, 2025

Hey y'all, Artificial Lure here with your May 3rd, 2025 Chesapeake Bay fishing report! Folks, we're seeing some fantastic action all around the Bay this morning. The weather's finally settled into that sweet spring pattern, and the fish are responding beautifully. The big news right now is those bull red drum - they're showing up in force around the mouth of the Bay, particularly at Latimer Shoal and the northern section of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. These bruisers are running 25 to 50 pounds, and they'll keep building in numbers through the month. If you're looking to tangle with one, try trolling with 3 1/2 Drone spoons in the shallows, or anchor up on the shoals with 7/0 hooks baited with peeler crab or cut menhaden. Black drum fishing has been downright superb in the surf, so beach anglers should definitely get out there. Those flounder are also starting to show up in better numbers in the bay areas. For you striper lovers, the bite continues to improve with some bigger fish joining the party. Down Ocean City way, they're sight casting on the flats for stripers and blues, plus hitting the local bridges at night where the bass have been more than happy to oblige. Speckled trout and puppy drum are thick in the shallows of the lower bay rivers, inlets, and creeks. Rudee Inlet has been on fire throughout April, and the Lynnhaven River shallows are producing consistently. The tautog bite remains excellent around wrecks, reefs, rocks, and CBBT pylons. Blue crabs, fiddler crabs, clam, or whelk will do the trick, but remember that season closes May 15th so get after 'em while you can. For you snakehead hunters, those northern snakeheads are holding tight to the forming grass beds in the upper sections of western Bay tidal rivers. Weedless white paddletails or chatterbaits rigged with white plastics are your best bet. White perch are spreading out into the many smaller creeks and tidal rivers of the middle Bay, making for fun fishing off docks and shorelines. Hot spots this weekend? I'd hit the CBBT pilings early morning for tautog, then shift to chasing those bull reds as the tide changes. For inshore folks, Rudee and Lynnhaven are producing consistently, and don't sleep on the Choptank River if you're up north - plenty of catfish action there too. Remember folks, with all these reg changes this month, double-check the rules before you head out. Nobody needs that headache. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines to all you Chesapeake anglers this weekend! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.