Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers Staging, Perch Biting, Blues on the Move

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for March 24, 2025. It's a beautiful spring morning with temps in the mid-50s, expected to hit the mid-60s later. We've got partly cloudy skies and light winds out of the southwest. Sunrise was at 7:11 AM and sunset will be at 7:13 PM, giving us a nice long day on the water. Tides are running strong today with high tide at 10:58 AM and low tide at 4:55 PM. Water temps are climbing into the upper 40s in the main bay, while some of the shallower areas are hitting the low 50s. The big news is the striped bass are staging for their spring spawn run. Catch-and-release fishing has been hot, especially near the mouths of rivers and in areas with 10-20 feet of depth. Anglers are reporting success with soft plastic jigs and shallow-diving crankbaits. Just remember, the catch-and-release season ends March 31st, so get out there while you can! Yellow perch fishing has been on fire in the tributaries. The Tuckahoe River has been particularly productive, with anglers limiting out using small jigs tipped with minnows. White perch are also starting to show up in good numbers. For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are biting well throughout the upper Bay. Cut bait like gizzard shad or menhaden is your best bet. As for lures, you can't go wrong with a 6-inch Storm WildEye Swim Shad for stripers. For perch, try a 1/8 oz white and pink shad dart. If you're after blues, any cut bait on a bottom rig will do the trick. Hot spots this week include the Calvert Cliffs Power Plant warm water discharge for stripers, the Chester River for perch, and the Bay Bridge pilings for a mix of species. Remember, folks, always check the latest regulations before heading out. Tight lines and see you on the water!