March 29, 2025 Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Striper Farewell, Perch & Cats Aplenty

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay fishing report for March 29, 2025. Let me tell you, it's shaping up to be a beautiful day on the water. First off, let's talk tides. We've got a low tide at 5:25 AM, followed by a high at 10:38 AM. Then we'll see another low at 5:37 PM and a high at 10:59 PM. The sun's coming up at 6:54 AM and setting at 7:24 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet our lines. Now, onto the fish. Folks, the striped bass catch-and-release season is wrapping up, so get out there while you still can. We've been seeing some nice keepers in the 30-inch range around the Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Remember, after March 31, it's hands off the stripers until June. White perch are running strong in the tributaries. The Patuxent and Choptank rivers have been hot spots. Grass shrimp on a shad dart or small jigs with soft plastics are your best bet for these tasty panfish. For you catfish enthusiasts, the blue cats are biting like crazy. Cut bait or chicken liver in the deeper channels are filling coolers left and right. The Chester River and the area around the Conowingo Dam have been particularly productive. Now, if you're looking to tangle with some yellow perch, head to the upper reaches of the Bay. Minnows fished close to the bottom have been the ticket. The North East River has been giving up some nice catches. As for lures, I've been having great luck with the Rapala X-Rap for stripers. Those Storm WildEye Swim Shads are also killer for both stripers and perch. Don't forget your trusty bucktails either, especially if you're jigging around structure. For you bait fishermen, bloodworms and grass shrimp are hard to beat for perch. If you're after the big blues or stripers, fresh cut menhaden or spot will do the trick. Hot spots this week? I'd say give the Susquehanna Flats a shot for some catch-and-release striper action. The mouth of the Choptank has also been on fire for a mixed bag of species. Remember, folks, the water's still a bit chilly, so dress warm and fish safe. Tight lines, and I'll catch you on the flip side! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.