SOUTHERN MARYLAND — Bottom fishing near the mouth of the Patuxent River is excellent, with spot and croaker carpeting the bottom from Helen’s Creek to the Three Legged.
It is not uncommon for anglers to catch 100 spot and croaker per person. The fish are hitting bloodworms, Fishbites, lugworms, shrimp, squid and even pieces of night crawlers.
Now is the time to schedule a trip with a bottom-fishing specialist such as Capt. Bernie Shea at 301-672-3282. This is a sure thing.
Pickerel are great fighters and plentiful in St. Mary’s Lake right now! 
Eric is enjoying the hot fishing in St. Mary’s Lake. 
Ken Lamb found hungry perch in a creek off the Patuxent. 
Two at the time! 
Spot are hot in the Patuxent. Captain Bernie knows how to find them 
Rockfish that came for a snack on Capt. Bernie Shea’s charter (302 672 3282) out of Solomon’s this week. The target was spot and croaker (caught plenty), but you never know what might come hungry. 
Jake Cullum chummed up this cobia that took a live eel. 
Jason, Ricky, and Griffin show off Cobia that took a trolled surgical eel lure near the Target Shop. 
Noel with rockfish from Cedar Point. Night fishing with peeler crab
Spot and croaker are also in the Potomac River, along with some fine speckled trout that have made their way to the mouth of Breton Bay and Ragged Point.
All other fishing can be very good to excellent on any given day, particularly around sunrise, sunset and moving tides.
White Perch Fishing Can Change Daily
White perch fishing in the creeks can be hot for lure casters one day and produce nothing the next.
Rainstorms can stain the water and suppress tidal flow, causing the fish to flee to the river in search of cool, clear water. The next day, they can be back and feeding again.
Sea nettles are thick, making casting a chore because fish will not hit a lure covered with nettle fragments. However, the good days are very good.
Rockfish, Speckled Trout And Bluefish
Rockfish, speckled trout and bluefish are all providing good action for lure casters during moving tides.
Anglers must be patient and wait until the fish get the bite signal from Mother Nature. When you are in the right place at the right time, it is fishing heaven.
Bluefish and cobia are hitting trolled surgical eels. Popular colors include orange, pink and white.
Trolling with planers and inline sinkers works well, depending on the angler’s preference.
The bluefish are everywhere and nowhere between the Targets below Cedar Point and Smith Point. They range from 3 to 10 pounds and love to come to the surface while breaking on baitfish.
Cobia fishing has been very good for anglers chumming with live eels and for those trolling. There are plenty of throwbacks below the 42-inch minimum size.
Even the undersized cobia are big, powerful fish that will test an angler’s equipment.
Red Drum Roaming The Lower Bay
Red drum are schooled up and roaming the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Sight casters are finding large bull reds and cobia daily. It can be the ultimate long shot, but there are big payoffs when an angler’s number comes up.
Crabbing Remains Excellent
Crabs are plentiful and huge this year.
Crab pots placed off private piers are loading up daily, and recreational crabbers using chicken necks are also doing well.
The weekend forecast calls for highs in the low 80s, lows in the 60s and light winds. The heat wave has broken.
The August striped bass moratorium is 12 days away, so catch them now or wait until September.
Tackle Box is located at 22035 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653.
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