"Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Spring Awakening, Stripers on the Move, and Hot Spots to Try"

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for March 16, 2025. Let me tell ya, spring is definitely in the air and the fish are starting to wake up from their winter slumber. First off, let's talk tides. We've got a low tide at 6:29 AM and a high tide at 11:40 AM. The second low tide is at 6:38 PM, so plan your day accordingly. Sunrise is at 7:14 AM and sunset at 7:12 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with. Weather-wise, we're looking at a partly cloudy day with temperatures in the mid-50s. Winds are expected to be light and variable, which should make for some nice conditions out on the water. Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Striped bass (or rockfish, as we like to call 'em) are starting to move up the Bay for their spring spawn. Anglers have been having some luck with catch-and-release fishing, especially around the Calvert Cliffs area. Remember, it's catch-and-release only until May 16th, so handle those fish with care. White perch are also on the move, with good numbers being caught in the tributaries. The Choptank and Nanticoke rivers have been particularly hot spots. Grass shrimp under a bobber or small soft plastics on a 1/8 oz jig have been working well. For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are starting to bite more aggressively as the water warms up. The channel edges near the mouth of the Potomac have been producing some nice fish. Lure-wise, for stripers, I'd recommend trying some large soft plastic jigs in the 6-10 inch range. White or chartreuse have been good colors. For perch, small inline spinners or 2-inch curly tail grubs on a light jighead are your best bet. If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd suggest trying around the Bay Bridge pilings for stripers or heading up to the Susquehanna Flats. For perch, Waysons Corner on the Patuxent or the upper Choptank near Greensboro have been producing well. That's all for now, folks. Remember to check those regulations before you head out, and as always, tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.