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Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Guide

Maryland

The lower Chesapeake Bay runs from the mouth of the Potomac to Tangier and Pocomoke sounds; Maryland DNR's weekly reports follow striped bass, bluefish, red drum, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel and cobia here.

Part of Chesapeake Bay.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Lower Chesapeake Bay for striped bass, redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, black drum, cobia and white perch. In November, striped bass and white perch are prime, and for striped bass, Clouser Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver and Walking Topwater are a good place to start.

There are 10 shops within 45 miles (1 fly, 9 bait and tackle); the closest is DICK'S Sporting Goods in Lexington Park, about 16 mi away. Also nearby: Toms Cove (Assateague), about 50 mi away.

Season at a Glance

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Striped Bass
Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Sheepshead
No Agency Season
Bluefish
Spanish Mackerel
Black Drum
No Agency Season
Cobia
White Perch

Legend

This Month Prime: Top Months Open, Slower State Pattern No Agency Season Found Closed by Regulation

Agency: Maryland DNR: Striped Bass and White Perch; Redfish; Speckled Trout; Bluefish; Spanish Mackerel; CobiaState Pattern: NOAA Fisheries (Flounder), not confirmed for this water

Season Rules & Licenses

  • Striped bass: catch-and-release only Jan. 1 to Apr. 30 (spawning rivers and the Upper Bay spawning area off limits from Mar. 1); one fish 19 to 24 inches a day on the main Bay May 1 to 15, in more areas May 16 to 31, and everywhere June 1 to July 31 and Sept. 1 to Dec. 5; no striped bass fishing in August; catch-and-release only Dec. 6 to 31, 2026. Maryland DNR 2026
  • Lower Bay: Tangier and Pocomoke sounds and the Potomac tributaries below the U.S. 301 bridge open to harvest May 1; the Patuxent, Nanticoke, Wicomico, Manokin and Transquaking are spawning rivers, closed Mar. 1 to May 31; the Potomac main stem follows the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, 2026. Maryland DNR 2026
  • Red drum: 18 to 26 inch slot, 3 a day, open all year. Maryland DNR 2026

Rules: our short summary, not the official text. Gear & Tackle is independent, not a government site; rules change, so read the agency's current rules before you go.

Most anglers need a Maryland fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state.

Salt Water: Separate Non-Tidal/Freshwater and Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing licenses; free Saltwater Angler Registration for some tidal anglers.

Buy a License from Maryland DNR Maryland DNR Fishing Regulations

License Sellers Nearby

Kellam's Seafood

16616 Three Notch Road, Ridge

Ridge Marine Sale

13734 Point Lookout Road, Ridge (301) 872-5886

Hoopers Island General Store LLC

2806 Hoopers Island Rd, Church Creek

Source: Maryland DNR's license agent list, Oct 2026. Call ahead.

Parts of Chesapeake Bay

Lower Chesapeake Bay Species

Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Prime Now
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Prime: May to Jul, Oct to Nov

View Species
Redfish

Redfish

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Prime: Jun, Aug, Oct

View Species
Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

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Prime: Jun, Aug to Oct

View Species
Flounder

Flounder

State pattern per NOAA Fisheries (most caught in Maryland, 2023 to 2025): Jul to Aug. Not yet confirmed here.

View Species
Sheepshead

Sheepshead

No agency season found.

View Species
Bluefish

Bluefish

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Prime: Aug to Oct

View Species
Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel

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Prime: Aug

View Species
Black Drum

Black Drum

No agency season found.

View Species

Cobia

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Prime: Jul

View Species
White Perch

White Perch

Prime Now
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Prime: May to Jun, Nov

View Species

Species per Maryland DNR: Striped Bass and White Perch; Redfish; Speckled Trout and Bluefish; Flounder; Sheepshead; Spanish Mackerel; Black Drum; Cobia.

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory, NOAA; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Public domain, CC BY 2.0.

What to Use

Fishing In
Fish● Prime in November

Striped Bass

Prime Now · May to Jul, Oct to Nov

Spin / Cast

7 to 8 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 30 lb braid with a 20 to 30 lb leader.

Rod, Reel and Line

  • RodPenn Battalion III Inshore Spinning RodCheck Price
  • ReelPenn Battle IV Spinning Reel · 4000 or 5000Check Price
  • LinePowerPro Spectra Braided Line · 30 lbCheck Price

Tie On in November

  • Lure for November · 3.5 to 4.5 inWalking Topwater · Heddon Zara SpookSurface blitzes.Check Price
  • Lure for November · 4 to 7 inPaddle-Tail Swimbait · Z-Man DieZel MinnowZCheck Price
  • Lure for November · 1/4 to 2 ozBucktail Jig · Spro Bucktail JigsCheck Price

Named by Maryland DNR: the Maryland Department of Natural Resources names this kind of fly, lure or bait for this fish here; tap the name for its page. It names the type, not the product we link, and does not endorse this site.

Other Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Buy Local

Shops near Lower Chesapeake Bay:

Map of Lower Chesapeake Bay

View Larger Map© OpenStreetMap contributors

Fishing VideosWatch Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Videos on YouTube

Planning for a Month

Prime in November

Striped Bass, White Perch

Daylight

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Moon

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Typical Weather

59°F high, 41°F low

About 3.1 in of precipitation for the month.

Typical, Not a Forecast: weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 11 mi away.

Also Worth Packing

Flies

Saltwater Baitfish Fly Assortment

Clousers and Deceivers in sizes for stripers, snook, and reds.

Check Price

Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

Check Price

Terminal Tackle

Egg Sinkers and Swivels

Egg sinkers, swivels, and beads for slip-sinker and Carolina rigs.

Check Price

Terminal Tackle

Gamakatsu Circle Hooks

Circle hooks designed to set in the corner of a fish's mouth, for fresh and saltwater bait fishing.

Check Price Maker's Page

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Shops Near Lower Chesapeake Bay

Within 45 mi

Farther Out

Guides and Charters Near Lower Chesapeake Bay

Within 25 mi

Nearby Water

Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0

Saltwater & Coast · Virginia

Toms Cove (Assateague)

About 50 mi

The cove and surf at the south end of Assateague Island near Chincoteague, open to fishing in marked areas, with red drum, flounder, stripers, and bluefish.

Redfish · Flounder · Striped Bass

View Water

Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland

Ocean City Inlet

About 63 mi

A Maryland inlet with sheepshead, flounder, striped bass, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, false albacore, and tautog.

Sheepshead · Flounder · Striped Bass

View Water

Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0

Saltwater & Coast · Delaware

Indian River Inlet

About 70 mi

An Atlantic Ocean inlet at Delaware Seashore State Park, with fishing along the inlet and from its South Jetty for striped bass, flounder and bluefish.

Striped Bass · Flounder · Bluefish

View Water