October is a very special month for Maryland fishermen due to all the choices that are presented in regard to outdoor fun. The weather is always so inviting; cool enough to be active and the changing of the leaves can leave one breathless at times. So many choices; trout fishing, smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass, channel catfish, striped bass, bluefish, white perch, surf fishing and offshore fishing and that is not considering family and jobs.

The fall trout stocking program is presently underway for the month of October. These stockings provide some excellent fishing opportunities for fishermen in trout waters across the state. Cooler water temperatures and beautiful fall foliage make for wonderful fishing experiences at a trout stocked water near you. Be sure to check the Fisheries Home page and Trout Stocking web site for the latest stocking information. Crews are busy releasing fish this month to make your fishing experience all it can be.

Chesapeake Bay fishermen are enjoying good fishing for a mix of bluefish and striped bass in all regions of the bay. Striped bass are schooling up near channel edges and shoal areas in the upper bay region and are being caught by jigging and trolling. Fishermen are encountering breaking fish in the form of striped bass and bluefish chasing bay anchovies throughout the middle and lower bay regions. Many fishermen are casting to the breaking fish or vertical jigging underneath the surface action. Trolling deep with inline weights or small planers has also been a good way to catch striped bass and bluefish as well as chumming. Striped bass are holding to deep structure now and the Bay Bridge piers and rock piles are one of the most prominent forms of structure in the bay.

Freshwater fishermen are enjoying good fishing for trout, walleye and smallmouth bass in the western region this week. Largemouth bass fishermen are seeing bass beginning to move to a fall pattern of activity and holding to sunken wood and other deeper structure. Small crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft plastics have been the baits of choice for some wonderful fall fishing opportunities.

Ocean city area fishermen are enjoying good fishing for tautog, striped bass and bluefish in and around the Ocean City Inlet. Surf fishermen are catching a mix of bluefish and sharks and wreck fishermen will have to focus on tautog for the remainder of the season due to the emergency closure of the sea bass season. Offshore fishermen are catching a mix of wahoo, dolphin and white marlin.