Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report March 2025: Perch, Stripers, and Monster Catfish

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for March 15, 2025. We're looking at a partly cloudy day with temps in the mid-50s. Sunrise was at 7:23 AM and sunset will be at 7:06 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet our lines. Tide-wise, we've got a high tide around 6:06 PM, so plan accordingly. The water's still on the chilly side, but things are starting to wake up. Yellow perch are running strong in most tributaries, so head up to the Susquehanna or Mattaponi if you're after those golden beauties. Minnows have been the ticket for getting bites. Striped bass fishing has been hit or miss, but there's still some catch-and-release action to be had before the no-targeting closure kicks in next month. The Calvert Cliffs power plant area has been producing some decent-sized rockfish in the 20 to 30-inch range. Just remember to check those regulations, folks! Blue catfish have been active lately, especially after that rain we had. Anglers are pulling in some monsters in the 20 to 40-pound class. Try fishing the channel edges in 15 to 25 feet of water with cut bait like gizzard shad or eel. As for lures, you can't go wrong with a Rapala X-Rap for those stripers. The Storm WildEye Swim Shad has also been producing, especially for kayak anglers. If you're fly fishing, tie on a 9 to 12-inch Lefty's Deceiver and you might just land yourself a trophy. For you bottom-feeders out there, bloodworms on a top-and-bottom rig are still the go-to for panfish like spot and croaker. Hot spots this week include the Susquehanna Flats for catch-and-release striper action, and the James River for those big blue cats. The Patuxent's also been heating up for white perch. Remember, folks, spring's just around the corner, and the fishing's only gonna get better from here on out. Tight lines, and I'll catch y'all next time! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.