Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers Staging, Perch Spawning, and Catfish Biting Big

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for March 12, 2025. We're looking at a beautiful day on the water with partly cloudy skies and temps in the mid-60s. Sunrise was at 7:19 AM and sunset will be at 7:09 PM. Tides are running average today with high tide at 9:53 AM and low tide at 4:57 PM. The fishing has been heating up as we move into spring. Striped bass are starting to stage for their spawning run, but remember it's catch-and-release only until May 16th. Anglers have been having luck jigging soft plastics and throwing shallow-diving crankbaits in 15-40 feet of water near channel edges. The CCNPP warm water discharge has been a hot spot. White perch are moving into the tributaries to spawn. Bloodworms and grass shrimp on small jigs or bottom rigs have been producing well. The Patuxent and Nanticoke rivers are good bets. Blue catfish are everywhere and hungry. Cut bait on the bottom is the ticket. Try the Potomac River or the Susquehanna Flats for some real monsters. For you lure chunkers, I've been having great luck with 4-inch paddletails in pearl or chartreuse on 1/4 to 1/2 ounce jigheads. The Rapala X-Rap in silver/blue has also been money for stripers. Don't forget to swap out those trebles for single hooks. If you're looking for some shore fishing action, Sandy Point State Park and Matapeake Pier have been producing nice catches of catfish and the occasional striper. Remember to check those regulations before you head out, especially with the striped bass closures in effect. Tight lines, everyone! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.