Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers, Blues, Perch, and More in November

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for Wednesday, November 19, 2025. We're just past sunrise, with official first light at 6:47 a.m. and sunset scheduled for 4:54 p.m., so you’ve got a solid window to work the water before dusk sets in. As the sun came up, the bay was calm with southeast winds around 5 to 10 knots and waves laid down at about a foot, making for prime late-fall fishing conditions. The air’s crisp but not bitter, with high temps forecast to brush the low 50s by afternoon—classic November Chesapeake weather, perfect for layered gear and a thermos of coffee. According to the NOAA marine forecast, expect these manageable conditions to hold through the day, making it a great opportunity for both inshore and near-shore efforts. Tide tables show a falling tide through the first part of the morning, with low tide around mid-morning and a swing back to rising by midday. Those planning to chase the bite in creek mouths or around structure should focus efforts just before and after the low for best results, as moving water will get the fish on the prowl. According to tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov, Rudee Inlet and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel are matching this pattern, so pay attention to water flow changes wherever you launch. Now, let’s talk about what’s biting. The late-fall striped bass run is in full effect, and folks are reporting one of the stronger years in recent memory. As reported by the Southern Maryland Chronicle, breaking schools of striped bass—locals call 'em rockfish—have been erupting from lower river points up to bridge pilings. Anglers have been filling coolers in short order, especially trolling or jigging with 1/2-ounce bucktails and soft plastics. Early morning breaking action has been hot from the mouth of the Potomac up past Point Patience and into the inshore Bay itself. Right now, Chesapeake regs mean one rockfish per person per day in the 19- to 24-inch slot, so bring your tape and keep it honest. Bluefish are still active on the rips and deeper channels—Classic metal spoons and Gotchas are the perennial favorite, but don’t be afraid to toss a topwater plug if you see surface action on the outgoing. In the creeks and around the bridge pilings, white perch are bunched up in numbers. Anglers are loading up on them using Sabiki rigs tipped with bloodworm or shrimp pieces—one group reportedly landed over a hundred keepers in just a few hours this past weekend. Don’t overlook the blue catfish bite in the tributaries. Up near the mouth of the James and the lower Potomac, cut menhaden or chicken liver is tempting true “river monsters,” with fish up over 20 pounds not uncommon right now. The outflows near Benedict Bridge and the Chalk Point power plant are particularly hot. And for the adventurous: the northern snakehead continues to draw local bowfishers and lure anglers alike, especially in brackish marshes and creeks. According to the US Fish and Wil This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.