Fish Lines (by Washington Post's Gary Diamond)

[treed942000]

Fish Lines

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, April 2, 2004; Page WE60


Fish Lines

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Blue Plains, Fox Ferry Point, Washington Channel and pier pilings in Pentagon Lagoon all provided anglers with good to excellent catches of largemouth bass over the past weekend. While the vast majority of the bass ranged just 12 to 15 inches, there were a few exceptionally large caught as well. Tube lures and crankbaits cast near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge pilings and worked slowly close to the bottom resulted in arm-jolting strikes from bass, which just a week earlier were quite lethargic in chillier waters. The coves near Belle Haven Marina provided some excitement for anglers tossing spinnerbaits and Sassy Shad when a mix of striped bass and tidewater largemouths slammed their offerings. In Mattawoman Creek, the shallow flats adjacent to the 6-mph zone were extremely productive, particularly during late afternoon when water temperatures were at their highest point of the day. Largemouths to four pounds smacked Silver Buddies and Sassy Shad cast into the emerging spatterdock and worked over the channel edge. Hickory shad arrived in the vicinity of Fletcher's Boat House, where shore-bound anglers casting shad darts caught and released large numbers of fish over the weekend. Additionally, fair numbers of American shad, big white perch and large channel catfish were caught in the same vicinity by anglers fishing from both rental boats and from the adjacent shores. Most of the catfish ranged from three to eight pounds and were taken on bottom-fished night crawlers and cut herring baits, while the perch hit night crawlers and bloodworms.

 
 
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river's upper reaches have cleared considerably, particularly in the vicinity of Whites Ferry, Edwards Ferry, Lander and Point of Rocks, locations where smallmouth bass to two pounds slammed live minnows, live hellgrammites, tube lures and tiny, shallow running crankbaits fished in the deeper pools.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The Juniata River's mouth provided relatively clear water and good smallmouth bass action for mid-afternoon anglers casting tube lures to the fast-flowing waters adjacent to the rock wall and downriver of the bridge pilings. The stretch of main river between Fort Hunter and Montgomery Ferry also proved productive for bronzebacks ranging up to four pounds. Most were taken from small coves where eddies were created from large, partly submerged boulders relatively close to shore.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Most action centered around crappie, which are just beginning to migrate into the shallows of both impoundments. Several midsize channel catfish were also caught by weekend anglers bottom-fishing with night crawlers and live minnows.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Crappie to 10 inches were caught from the decks of Dulaney Valley Bridge, most taken with live minnows suspended about six feet beneath a small float. Boating anglers should find small to midsize largemouth bass lurking in the shallows of coves situated along the impoundment's northern shore, locations where water temperatures are considerably warmer.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- The impoundment is extremely clear, and several large rockfish to 21 pounds were taken on large live minnows, the largest taken by Travis Hawkins while fishing just above the launch ramp in the lake's lower reaches. Niccodemus Bridge anglers caught a few large crappies on small minnows, tube lures and Minnie Mites.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- The impoundment came to life last weekend when water temperatures rose into the mid-40s. Shorebound anglers using night crawlers and live shiners caught a mix of yellow perch, chain pickerel and the season's first walleye while fishing some of the shallow coves near Deep Creek Lake State Park.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- Lots of smaller bass being taken from the lake's shallows, fish that average less than two pounds. The larger fish seem to be holding in depths of six to 10 feet, where tube lures and deep-diving crankbaits have been effective. Striped bass action has been good at both ends of the lake, with the best catches now reported from the lake's main body from Dukes to d**e III, and also the upper end from Christopher Run and Dillards Bridge. Sea Shad, Sassy Shad, Boss Baitfish or Storm Wildeye lures, mainly pearl colored, proved highly effective. Five-year-old Hunter Gatewood caught a 10-pound, 12-ounce striper. Crappie are stacked beneath piers and in the tangles of most underwater brush piles, many of which measure up to 12 inches in length. Live minnows, tube lures and shad darts have all been effective.

KERR RESERVOIR -- Water temperatures in the back ends of north-shore coves climbed to the upper 50s last week, high enough to trigger an incredible spawning run of crappie. Almost every submerged brush pile held slabsides to 15 inches, and all you needed was a bucket of live minnows to fill a cooler with these fish. Large channel catfish were in the same areas, with most lurking in depths of 10 to 15 feet, where jumbo shiners and bottom-fished night crawlers proved effective.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- The upper bay's catch-and-release striper season has been a hit-or-miss situation. Last Friday, the action was great, with some anglers reporting huge catches of fish to 42 inches, but by the next day it was difficult to find a fish. The same held true for Sunday, but on Monday the action resumed with fair numbers of midsize stripers migrating into the North East River's shallows near Rocky Point. Shore-bound anglers caught a few big white perch and released an occasional striper from the shores of Elk Neck State Park at Turkey Point. Most were bottom-fishing with bloodworms and night crawlers. Scattered catches of channel catfish were made at the same location by anglers bottom-fishing with cut herring baits. Anglers fishing from the decks of Eastern Neck Island Bridge caught a mix of white perch and stripers during the past few days. Most of the perch measured eight to 10 inches, but a few were in the 12- to 13-inch category. Bottom-fished bloodworms produced the best perch action when fished during high tide and the first few hours of ebb tide. White perch were also caught at Millington in the Chester River's upper reaches and several of the smaller tributaries to the river's middle reaches. Western shore anglers found large white perch lurking in the shallows at Beachwood Park, located in the Magothy River. Some of the perch measured up to 13 inches and many anglers claimed to have caught several dozen before the tide ebbed. Most were taken on bottom-fished grass shrimp, but bloodworms were a good second-choice bait. Trout were stocked at Patapsco State Park, where Berkley Power Baits lured rainbows to 16 inches, with the average fish measuring nearly 12 inches.

BAY BRIDGE AREA -- Red Bridges, Marshyhope Creek and Blackwater Creek were among the weekend hot spots for white perch. Most anglers said they caught good numbers of white perch to 12 inches, while the average fish measured 8 to 10 inches. Bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp were the best baits, but some folks said live minnows were equally as productive. Fair numbers of crappie and a few channel catfish were also caught at Marshyhope, and rockfish were caught from Sandy Point, Mattapeake Terrapin Industrial Park's piers on bloodworms, some measuring up to 32 inches. The stripers were all released.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- Anglers fishing from the Choptank River's public fishing pier caught a mix of small white perch, small stripers and some hefty channel catfish. Most of the catties ranged from two to six pounds and were taken on chunks of cut herring fished close to the bridge pilings.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Many of the smaller creeks in the river's upper reaches are loaded with white perch of varying sizes, from eight-inch males to 12-inch females. This time of year, however, is also when the area's insect life emerges from the tidal marsh. Swarms of mosquitoes, gnats, ticks and other biting, stinging insects will greet visiting anglers fishing the fertile waters of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and other nearby waters. It's a good idea to spray your pants legs and boots with a high-quality repellent.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- A few croaker have been caught in pound nets as close as Onancock, Va.

CAPE CHARLES -- Croaker to 15 inches and tautog to eight pounds were caught from among the submerged boulders of the CBBT's Forth Island and across the bay at the Small Boat Channel. Croaker were also found at the mouth of the York and James rivers, where bottom-fished bloodworms lured fish to 15 inches last weekend.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Headboat anglers continue to catch tautog to 10 pounds while fishing some of the offshore wrecks, and nearly all were taken on bottom-fished green crab baits. Inshore, several anglers fished from Ocean City's Route 50 Bridge with bloodworms and clam strips in hopes of catching a stray striper or two, but the few fish that were caught had to be released because they only measured 20 to 22 inches. A few anglers said they found tautog among the submerged boulders at Fourth Street's bulkhead, but the catches were not confirmed by local tackle shops.

OUTER BANKS -- Outer Banks anglers had a good week on speckled trout and puppy drum, both of which were plentiful just inside Oregon and Hatteras inlets, and several locations within the back-bays. Most were taken on bottom-fished bloodworms during high and ebb tides. Pier anglers fared best on puppy drum, and a few reported catching an occasional flounder as well. Offshore, yellowfin tuna to 55 pounds slammed rigged ballyhoo and mullet baits fished along the Gulf Stream's edge, but it's still too early for billfish. Morehead City headboat anglers reported great sea bass action, good numbers of snapper and even a few keeper-size grouper on days when the weather cooperated.

[treed942000]

Fish Lines
By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, April 9, 2004; Page WE59

Maryland's 2004 recreational crabbing season opened April 1, the same day the recreational crabbing license was re-established. For Maryland residents, the cost is $5; for nonresidents, $10. The Chesapeake Bay pleasure boat sport fishing license ($40) is also good for crabbing. Details on catch limits and other regulations are available at the Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.dnr.state.md.us.
   
The following Fish Lines details conditions up to April 2.
What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- The river was high, muddy and difficult to fish, particularly for largemouth bass. However, anglers inside some of the river's smaller tributaries found small pods of relatively clear water close to shore where good catches of bigger bass were reported. Another productive location was the main river just downstream of Blue Plains, where the plant's warm water discharge had some positive effects on water clarity and temperature. The waters adjacent to Fletcher's Boat House continued to provide good-to-excellent catches of channel catfish to nearly 10 pounds, fair numbers of chunky white perch and lots of action on hickory shad. The shad catches, naturally, are best when water quality improves and the fish can readily see shad darts tossed in their direction. A few anglers also reported fair catches of hickory shad using streamer flies.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river's upper reaches are extremely high and muddy, conditions not conducive to any activity requiring access to the river.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- Before heading to the Susquehanna River above Harrisburg, it may be a good idea to call 888-881-7555 for current river conditions. Water temperatures reached the 50-degree mark by last week, and bass fishing really improved.
Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- The upper reaches of both impoundments were a bit muddy, but bottom-fished night crawlers produced fair catches of channel and bullhead catfish for anglers willing to brave the elements. Bass and crappie action came to a halt when the cold front passed through.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- The impoundment was in excellent condition, and boating anglers had no trouble finding good numbers of chunky, pre-spawn, largemouth bass lurking in Dead Man's, Pierce's, School House and Hampton coves. Most of the bass were lurking near submerged stumps and large boulders, locations where they'll begin fanning out nests in the lake's sandy bottom during the next few weeks. Scattered catches of chain pickerel were reported at the same locations, and an occasional northern pike was caught and released from the shallows of Pierce's Cove. Only a few crappie were taken from the decks of Dulaney Valley bridge, but anglers fishing a half-mile above the bridge from shore managed to catch a mix of crappie and white perch from a location known locally as the Log Jam. Both were taken on live minnows suspended beneath small floats.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- While the weather curtailed much of last week's fishing action, a few die-hards reported catching a mix of crappie and white perch from the decks of Nicodemus Bridge and from the lake's shores near Bollinger Mills using live minnows. Scattered catches of stripers to 23 pounds were made by trollers using deep-diving crankbaits fished in the deeper water just above the Route 26 bridge. Local ponds have been stocked with a mix of rainbow and brown trout, the largest checked at Old Reisterstown Bait & Tackle, a brown topping four pounds that smacked a live minnow.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- The passage of last week's cold front dumped a few inches of snow on the mountains surrounding this western Maryland impoundment, but there were fair numbers of chain pickerel, walleye and a few northern pike reportedly caught by local anglers dunking live minnows in some of the deeper coves.
Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- In contrast to last week's weather, striped bass action has been hot throughout much of the lake. Most of the larger fish have come from the mouth of Sturgeon Creek, d**e III and the Splits, locations where four-inch Sassy Shad proved highly effective when rigged to half-ounce leadheads. Crappie fishing beneath piers, near brush piles and among bridge pilings has been awesome, with some fish measuring 12 inches or larger smacking live minnows suspended beneath small floats. Small largemouth bass ranged in and out of the shallows, while larger fish seemed to still be holding along the edges of deep drop-offs in depths of 12 to 15 feet.

KERR RESERVOIR -- Bluestone, Grassy and Buffalo creeks were the hot spots for both largemouth bass and big crappie. Most of the bass measured 12 to 16 inches, with many of the crappie only an inch or two shorter. Spinnerbaits and shallow-running crankbaits lured most of the larger bass from the stumps and blowdowns, while the crappie seemed to prefer small, live minnows lip-hooked to the back end of tiny tube lures and suspended beneath a small float.
Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- Striper catches improved in the bay's upper reaches toward last weekend, when the rains finally began to subside and water temperatures ranged from 48 to 51 degrees at the Susquehanna Flats. Local guides casting Bass Assassins caught stripers to 17 pounds near Rocky Point, Red Point and the shallow waters between Rocky Point and Perryville. White perch are plentiful throughout the area, with some measuring 12 to 14 inches in length. A few of the striper guides caught perch using lures intended for rockfish. Bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp produced good numbers of 10- to 12-inch white perch in the lower Susquehanna River from depths of 18 to 22 feet found just upriver of the Interstate 95 bridge. Hickory shad were caught by shorebound anglers at Lapidum Landing, the mouth of Deer Creek and upriver near the base of Conowingo Dam. Tiny shad darts produced the best results. Most of the upper bay creeks were loaded with blueback and branch herring. Good catches of channel catfish to 15 pounds were reported last week in the C&D Canal near Chesapeake City. Most were taken on bottom-fished night crawlers, clam snouts and cut herring baits. Down the bay near the mouth of Chester River, scattered catches of both striped bass and white perch were reported by shorebound anglers using bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp for perch. Some of the stripers caught and released measured up to 36 inches. Upriver, beneath Chestertown's Route 213 bridge, channel catfish to 10 pounds, small white perch and a few small stripers were taken. All the stripers were subsequently released.

BAY BRIDGE AREA -- While most of the larger female white perch have already spawned and began making their way downriver, there were still large numbers of medium-size males and a few large female perch lingering at Millington, Shipyard Creek and inside Kent Narrows. Bottom-fished bloodworms, grass shrimp, night crawlers and live minnows were all effective perch baits. Anglers fishing from Mattapeake Pier for white perch were surprised to find stripers to 32 inches lurking just a short cast from the pier's end.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- Scattered catches of white perch were made at Red Bridges and Blackwater River. A few small white perch and yellow perch were also caught and released at Marshyhope Creek, both types taken on bottom-fished bloodworms, live minnows and grass shrimp.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Most of the area charter captains said they're just waiting for a break in the weather before heading out on early scouting parties to find where the rockfish are traveling.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Tributaries in the river's upper reaches provided anglers with fair to good white perch catches early last week, but as the weather turned progressively colder, the fish moved back to deeper water.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Rumor has it that a few croaker were caught in local pound nets last week, and large numbers of big menhaden were found migrating along the bay's eastern shore shallows. This is a good sign for the next few weeks.

CAPE CHARLES -- Croaker to 17 inches slammed bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips fished along the bay's channel edges near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) on days when the wind was not howling from the northeast. Croaker were also caught at the mouth of the James and Rappahannock rivers. Scattered catches of tautog to eight pounds were made at the CBBT's Fourth Island and from among the submerged wreckage of Kiptopeke's Liberty Ships. Chunks of crab and pieces of sea clam were the most productive baits.
Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- A few stripers were taken from the Assateague surf last week by anglers bottom-fishing with chunks of fresh-cut bunker. The largest, a 17-pounder, was taken by a local angler that said he just didn't have anything better to do that day so he decided to go surf fishing. While there were a few rockfish caught from Ocean City Inlet as well, none were large enough to keep.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder to 25 inches were caught at both inlets, most taken with live minnows drifted along the bottom. Similar catches were also reported at Quimby and Shipshoal inlets, where combinations of squid and live minnows produced most of the larger fish.

OUTER BANKS -- Skates, spiny dogfish and a few scattered black drum were reported recently from the beach along the south end of Hatteras Island, and a few blowfish were caught near Cape Point at Buxton. Striper fishing between the two bridges in Croatan Sound was fair to good. All were holding close to the bridge pilings where they're feeding on small baitfish.

[treed942000]

Fish Lines
By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, April 16, 2004; Page WE60
Fish Lines
What's The Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

POTOMAC RIVER -- The river is fairly turbid, but that hasn't dampened the spirits of anglers hoping to catch hefty largemouth bass that are in the pre-spawn mode. Toss a tube lure anywhere near the pilings of Woodrow Wilson Bridge or the submerged rocks at Fox Ferry Point and eventually something of size will materialize and engulf your offering. Tube lures, shallow-running crankbaits and spinnerbaits produced fair numbers of largemouths when cast in areas immediately downriver of Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant, some tipping the scales at more than five pounds. The shallows of Mattawoman Creek continue to provide anglers with largemouth action, however, most of the fish caught during the past week at this location were smaller males. Apparently, the larger females are busy preparing spawning beds and not interested in artificial lures unless they land right in front of their noses.  Channel catfish to nine pounds inhaled cut herring baits and bottom-fished night crawlers near Fletcher's Landing, and there are still fair numbers of chunky white perch lurking close to shore. Swarms of blueback herring, hickory shad and good numbers of American shad were also found at the same location, most smacking small shad darts cast into the murky, fast-flowing waters. A few monster carp were taken by anglers bottom-fishing with night crawlers for white perch in Washington Channel, some reportedly weighing more than 20 pounds.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- While the river's upper reaches are still quite cold, murky and above normal levels, the waters have receded sufficiently to permit anglers to fish some of the deeper segments. Scattered catches of smallmouths were made at Whites Ferry, Edwards Ferry, Lander and Point of Rocks, locations where tiny tube lures and live minnows were effective when cast in the back eddies of large boulders close to shore.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- When river flows subside to near normal rates, anglers fishing the Juniata River's mouth catch good numbers of bronzebacks to four pounds while casting dark-colored tube lures rigged to half-ounce leadheads and fished slowly, tight against the bottom. Live minnows and crawfish are also quite effective.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Still not much activity but during the early part of the week, there were reports of crappie moving into the shallows of both lakes to spawn. Live minnows suspended just a few feet beneath a small float provided the best action. Scattered catches of largemouth bass were made in the upper reaches of both reservoirs. All of the bass were released unharmed.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Loch Raven Fishing Center opened last week, and much to the delight of anglers, the reservoir's waters were clear, relatively warm and provided good to excellent fishing. The shallows of School House, Dead Man's and Pierce's coves produced good catches of pre-spawn largemouth bass and chain pickerel for anglers casting plastic worms, spinnerbaits and shallow-running crankbaits tight against submerged logs and stumps. A few crappie were caught from the decks of Dulaney Valley Bridge by anglers dunking live minnows, but the best crappie reports came from uplake coves near Warren Road Bridge, where warmer waters triggered an early spawning run at some locations.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Crappie fishing seems to be improving beneath Nicodemus Bridge, where small, live minnows lured slabsides to 12 inches a few afternoons last week. Upriver, white perch have arrived at several traditional spawning haunts, where bottom-fished night crawlers and tiny shad darts lured perch to 10 inches. Trollers found a few stripers lurking near the end of Oakland Mills Point and downlake in the deeper waters just above the Route 26 bridge. Deep-diving crankbaits and jumbo shiners slowly trolled eight to 10 feet beneath the surface were effective.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Chain pickerel, yellow perch, crappie and smallmouth bass have migrated into many of the shallow coves. Live minnows fished near floating docks, submerged brush piles and partly submerged trees proved highly effective, particularly late in the day.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- From Dukes Creek to d**e III, and also the upper end from Christopher Run and Dillard's Bridge and uplake, large numbers of stripers to eight pounds are slamming a variety of lures and live shiners. Although the best catches were made in the lake itself, don't neglect the shorelines, especially early and late in the day. Sea Shads, sassy shads, Boss Baitfish, or Storm Wildeye baits, pearl in color, have all been equally effective. Largemouth bass action has been up and down, depending mainly on wind conditions. On windy days, the fish retreat to depths of eight to 12 feet, where tube lures and plastic worms are effective. Crappie action has been hot beneath piers and bridges, where tiny shad darts and live minnows lure slabsides to 12 inches.

KERR RESERVOIR -- The lake is still fairly muddy, but crappie action continues to hold up well at the back ends of many of the larger, spring-fed coves, where water temperatures and conditions are significantly better than those found in the main lake. Scattered catches of largemouth bass were also reported at the same locations by anglers casting shallow-running crankbaits and spinnerbaits close to shore.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- Spring finally arrived in the Chesapeake, particularly in the upper reaches at the Susquehanna Flats, where catch-and-release striped bass action finally got underway. Good numbers of fish to 40 inches were caught and released near Red, Rocky and Turkey points, and the shallows situated between the VA Hospital and Rocky Point, locations where Bass Assassins and large streamer flies proved effective late in the day. White perch ranging from six-inch runts to 14-inch monsters were found in the Susquehanna River's lower reaches just above the I-95 bridge. Bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp were successful when fished in depths of 22 to 25 feet. Good catches of hickory shad were made from the bulkhead of Lapidum Landing and the Susquehanna River's shores near the mouth of Deer Creek. A few hickory shad were also taken in Deer Creek near Stafford Road Bridge and upstream near the pumping station, mostly by anglers casting weighted streamer flies with sink-tip lines. Rock Hall anglers found fair numbers of small white perch lurking beneath Eastern Neck Island Bridge where bottom-fished bloodworms and pieces of clam snout lured perch to eight inches. Scattered catches of larger perch were reported in the Chester River's confines near Chestertown's Route 213 Bridge and the mouths of some larger, downriver tributaries. Channel catfish to six pounds were found lurking in the river's shallows, well within casting distance of piers.

BAY BRIDGE AREA -- Scattered catches of stripers were made by anglers fishing for white perch from the decks of Mattapeake Pier. Many of them will be big enough to keep when the season opens. A few anglers fishing the fast waters of Kent Narrows found post-spawn white perch migrating through the area earlier in the week, but the action was short-lived. White perch to 12 inches were found a bit farther down Eastern Bay near the mouth of Crab Alley Bay, where bottom-fished bloodworms and pieces of clam snout were effective.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- The river's upper reaches continue to provide anglers with good catches of white perch, but most are too small to keep. The larger female perch have all spawned and retreated downriver, and some have arrived beneath the Route 50 bridge. Bottom-fished bloodworms lured perch to 10 inches from the river's channel edge just below Chancellor Point, while beneath the fishing piers, channel catfish to five pounds and a few large rockfish smacked cut herring baits. The stripers were all released.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Nearly all of the area charter captains are talking of big stripers roaming the channel edges between the Gas Docks and Radar Towers, where large spoons, umbrella rigs and tandem bucktails should lure good numbers of legal-size fish measuring 28 inches or larger.

SOLOMONS AREA -- Local angler Michael Fahey caught the first croaker of the season that was checked into the Tackle Box on April 9. Shop owner Ken Lamb says Fahey was fishing Point Lookout Pier in the state park, and most of the fish were in the 16-inch range. About a dozen croaker as well as stripers ranging from 20 to 28 inches were landed that night by the pier anglers. The rockfish were released as the season does not begin until Saturday. Maryland's rivers do not open until June 1, except the Potomac, which goes by Bay rules. Trollers who have ventured out in the bay to test the rockfish action found plenty of big fish eager to strike all manner of lures, with the umbrella rigs the favorite. Daisy chains, big spoons, parachutes, glass-eyed bucktails and Manns Stretch swimming plugs should all be effective on days when the weather cooperates.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- The rivers upper reaches are loaded with small to mid-size white perch and fair numbers of crappie. The same holds true for the fast-flowing tidal waters beneath Blackwater River Bridge, where small, live minnows and grass shrimp lured perch to 14 inches and crappie measuring up to 10 inches. There are lots of small stripers in this area as well, most measuring 10 to 12 inches at best.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Croaker arrived in the shallows of Fox, Janes, Smith and Tangier islands. Some measured up to 14 inches in length. This is a prelude of what anglers can anticipate during the next few months when huge numbers of these tasty fish will soon show up along the sound's deeper channel edges.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- A huge school of croaker moved into the Potomac over the last 10 days, many of which were caught in the deep water nets. The fish refuse to come inshore in the cold, and may have headed back out to the bay to wait for warmer weather. Netters found their nets empty the past few days, so the pattern of migration is anybody's guess. Sunny days will likely bring them into the shallows at night to seek food, and things should get back to normal.

CAPE CHARLES -- Croaker are still migrating through the area, however, the vast majority seems to have made their way north. They've been replaced by fair numbers of tautog ranging up to six pounds, fish that have taken up residence among the tangled wreckage of Kiptopeke's concrete ships, the Mussel Beds and the submerged boulders of the CBBT's Fourth Island, where chunks of crab were the most effective bait. Within the next few weeks, black drum should arrive at the Cabbage Patch and flounder will be in the adjacent shallows.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Headboat anglers continue to catch good numbers of tautog at the wrecks. Many tipped the scales at five or more pounds. The week's largest weighed nearly 10 pounds and was taken on a green crab. Inshore, anglers fishing from the U.S. 50 Bridge managed to catch a few stripers, however, none were big enough to keep. The larger fish should begin arriving sometime in mid-May or early June after the spawning run. A few legal-size rockfish were reportedly caught from Assateague's surf earlier in the week, but none since.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder to six pounds were caught by anglers drift-fishing with live minnows just inside the inlets of both ports, mainly from along channel edges. Limit catches were also reported at Shipshoal, Quimby and Great Machapongo inlets as well.

OUTER BANKS -- Offshore, on days when the wind's were not howling, excellent catches of yellowfin tuna were made by both the Hatteras and Oregon inlet charter fleets. The tuna were mixed with mid-size dolphin, and a few wahoo. Inshore, pier anglers found scattered pods of speckled trout lurking just inside the inlets, while surf and pier anglers caught a mix of puppy drum, speckled trout and other panfish species.

[Fat Boy]

Just to let everyone know that these reports are typically a few days late, so use them with a grain of salt.  For fishing info, they're fine, but for conditions on the upper rivers, use the links on the river threads that I put there for the water levels.  Learn what is normal for your area and then compare them each time you plan a trip with the current level.

Right now, for example, in our area, the Potomac crested at Little Falls yesterday afternoon and is much higher than it's been in the past 2 months, very muddy and dangerous.  So, if you go there, be very careful.

[treed942000]

Fish Lines


By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, April 23, 2004; Page WE60



Fish Lines

Maryland's striped bass season opened with mixed success, and of course, lots of stories about the big one that got away. Most anglers on charter boats reported limit catches of stripers up to 40 pounds. The daily limit is currently one fish measuring 28 inches or larger per angler. That soon will change to two fish daily measuring 18 inches or larger, but only one can measure more than 28 inches. For additional information, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.dnr.state.md.us and click on "fishing."

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity


TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Much of the river resembles chocolate milk covered with patches of floating sticks and other debris. Consequently, there were only a small number of largemouth bass caught, and most of them were taken from Mattawoman Creek, where the water was somewhat clearer. White perch, channel catfish and a few hickory shad dominated the action near Fletcher's Landing over the weekend, but most of the perch were a bit too small to keep. Bottom-fished night crawlers and bloodworms accounted for the best perch action, while cut herring baits lured catties to eight pounds.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river's upper reaches are clearing to some degree, but before heading upriver for smallmouth bass it would be a good idea to call 703-260-0305 for river conditions.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- Water temperatures are slowly rising, and levels falling to near normal. If the weather remains warm and dry for a week, levels should be back to normal and smallmouth bass action near Duncannon should be outstanding.

Maryland


TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Local angler David Wong caught a walleye measuring 24 inches, with a girth of 11 inches and weighing 3 pounds, 12 1/2 ounces while fishing with a live minnow below Brighton Dam. Water temperatures were just 54 degrees when the fish was caught. A largemouth bass measuring 24 inches with an 18-inch girth was caught at Triadelphia by Joe Clem of Rockville while casting a pig-N-jig combination.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Most boating anglers caught good numbers of largemouth bass and chain pickerel while casting shallow-running crankbaits along the impoundment's north shores. A few northern pike were also caught and released. Crappie are beginning to stack up in the submerged brush piles, many measuring 12 to 15 inches. Live shiners produced the best crappie action when fished tight against the submerged brush piles.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Anglers fishing from the decks of Nicodemus Bridge caught a few crappie and channel catfish, but overall the action has not been up to par for this time of year.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Water temperatures are still too cold for bluegills to migrate into the shallows, but there have been good catches of chain pickerel and yellow perch reported by anglers bottom fishing with night crawlers and small live minnows.

Virginia


LAKE ANNA -- Stripers to 12 pounds were taken from the impoundment's upper reaches during the past week, but muddy water conditions slowed the action to some degree. The most productive areas were Christopher Run, Dillard's Bridge and Terry's Run, locations where four-inch Sassy Shad rigged to half-ounce leadheads and cast to depths of four to six feet proved effective. Largemouth bass to six pounds were caught and released from the lake's shallows near the mouth of Sturgeon Creek and other locations where sharp drop-offs make up much of the structure. Limit catches of crappie were reported from throughout the lake, most taken from depths of four to six feet by anglers dunking live minnows.

KERR RESERVOIR -- The reservoir was high, muddy and almost to the point of being unfishable last week. Fortunately, there were a few clear water locations found within Bluestone, Grassy and Buffalo creeks, where crappie to 14 inches slammed live minnows suspended beneath small floats.

Chesapeake Bay


UPPER BAY -- Upper bay catch-and-release anglers caught fair numbers of stripers while fishing with chunks of cut herring at the Susquehanna Flats, some measuring up to 40 inches. Unfortunately, flood gates have been opened at Conowingo Dam, thereby churning the upper bay's waters to a sea of mud loaded with flotsam. This makes fishing with artificial lures nearly impossible. Bottom-fished night crawlers and bloodworms produced good catches of channel catfish and white perch in the Susquehanna River's lower reaches between the mouth of Deer Creek and the Interstate 95 bridge, while inside Deer Creek, swarms of hickory shad were seen beneath the railroad bridge, Stafford Road Bridge, and also in the fast waters just downstream of the pumping station. Trollers fishing along the bay's western channel edge between the Patapsco River's mouth and Gibson Island found a few big stripers measuring up to 42 inches that were willing to smack umbrella rigs trimmed with Sea Shad. A few similar-size fish were also taken on tandem-rigged bucktails and large, silver spoons trolled at speeds of 1 to 2 knots. Anglers bottom-fishing with bloodworms in the Chester River's upper reaches caught fair numbers of small- to mid-size white perch near Chestertown's Route 213 bridge and at the mouths of several creeks. Large channel catfish to 10 pounds were also taken from the same areas on bottom-fished chunks of cut herring. Scattered catches of smaller stripers were reported inside the Patapsco River's mouth near Bodkin Creek, Fort Carroll and Fort McHenry, locations where bottom-fished bloodworms produced the best action.

BAY BRIDGE AREA -- Anglers fishing from the decks of Mattapeake Pier caught a few keeper-size stripers on bottom-fished bloodworms, but the lion's share of larger fish were taken by trollers dragging a mix of umbrella rigs, tandem-rigged bucktails and large spoons at various depths ranging from four to 12 feet beneath the surface. Most were found lurking along the bay's eastern channel edge between the Bay Bridges and Bloody Point Light, suspended over depths of 40 to 70 feet. Scattered catches of white perch were made in Kent Narrows by weekend anglers fishing the south end of the narrow's jetty with bloodworms and grass shrimp. A few larger perch were also reportedly taken at the mouth of Crab Alley Bay and several locations along Eastern Bay's channel edges near Parson's Island.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- A few white perch were caught at Red Bridges by weekend anglers, but most were small males measuring eight to nine inches at best. Larger perch and some hefty channel catfish were taken from beneath the Route 50 bridge fishing piers by anglers bottom fishing with bloodworms and chunks of cut herring.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- The charter fleet reported a great weekend of striper action with catches that ranged in size from 28 to 47 1/2 inches. Nearly all were taken along the bay's channel edges while trolling large umbrella rigs and parachute bucktails trimmed with nine-inch Sassy Shad. However, some of the largest fish slammed smaller lures, bucktails that were trimmed with six-inch white shad.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Umbrella rigs were the hot ticket -- mainly chartreuse, white and bubble-gum pink -- for trollers fishing the bay's western channel edge between the Gas Docks and Cedar Point Rip, locations that produced limit catches of stripers to 47 inches. Daisy-chain rigs were also very popular, along with big spoons and swimming plugs.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Area charter captains had a banner weekend trolling for stripers along the bay's eastern channel edge just south of Hooper Island Light. Rockfish to 46 inches slammed an array of lures fished just beneath the surface over depths ranging from 45 to 75 feet and trolled in a zigzag pattern. A few croaker were found lurking in the river's shallows, some measuring up to 16 inches. Bottom-fished bloodworms were the ticket to success for both croaker and small stripers when fished in depths of just four to six feet near Lower Hooper Island and Bentley Point.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Croaker arrived in the shallows of Tangier Sound near Fox, Janes and Smith islands, where bloodworms bottom-fished in the sloughs and guts lured fish to 17 inches.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- What an incredible weekend for shorebound and boating anglers alike. Stripers to 44 inches were caught both from charter and private boats and from Point Lookout State Park's public fishing pier. Additionally, large numbers of croaker to 16 inches were taken from the pier as well, most caught late in the afternoon and evening, and again just before sunrise. Bottom-fished squid strips and bloodworms produced the best croaker action, particularly during the first few hours of moving tides. Upriver, croaker have arrived at the mouth of the Wicomico River, some measuring up to 16 inches. Bottom-fished bloodworms produced limit catches of these fish.

CAPE CHARLES -- Huge schools of big croaker have been passing through the area for more than two weeks, producing great bottom-fishing action at dozens of locations between Cape Charles Light and Kiptopeke. Rumor has it the season's first black drum was caught and released at the Cabbage Patch, but this has not been substantiated by local tackle shops. Buoy 36A was the weekend hot spot for fantastic flounder fishing in the confines of Chesapeake Bay, which produced flatfish to more than six pounds. Tautog were caught at the Mussel Beds, Kiptopeke's concrete ships and the CBBT's Fourth Island, some weighing up to five pounds. Nearly all were taken on chunks of fresh, hard-shell crab.

Atlantic Coast


OCEAN CITY -- Headboat anglers caught a few tautog and the season's first sea bass while fishing some of the offshore wrecks. Still no reports of mackerel, but they may be offshore and out of normal cruising range. Inshore, a few stripers were taken from the Assateague surf and also the Route 50 bridge by anglers dunking bloodworms during the first few hours of ebb tide. Flounder fishing was slow.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder action ranged from fair to good at both ports, with flatties to seven pounds weighed in at local tackle shops. Most were taken on a combination of live killfish and squid strips fished along the channel edges just inside the inlets.

OUTER BANKS -- On days the weather cooperated, charter boats running from both Oregon and Hatteras inlets found yellowfin tuna and a few mid-size dolphin. Inshore, pier and surf anglers caught a mix of flounder, sea mullet, speckled trout and a smattering of puppy drum. Headboat anglers fishing from Morehead City caught a mix of large sea bass, triggerfish, grunt and snapper while bottom fishing along the Gulf Stream's edge.

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Fish Lines
By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, April 30, 2004; Page WE67

Fish Lines

HMS anglers, it's time to renew your fishing permits. Permits issued for the 2004 fishing year will be valid from the date of issuance through May 31, 2005. The fee is $22.

You will need your Atlantic tunas or your Atlantic HMS (highly migratory species) permit number to renew. Changes in the permit category must be made before the start of the fishing year, June 1. However, applicants are allowed to correct any potential errors in their permits within 10 calendar days of the date of issuance.

For questions, call 888-872-8862 Monday through Friday from 8 to 5. For more information, visit www.nmfspermits.com.

Queens Creek Outfitters, at Routes 3 and 198 in Cobbs Creek, Va., will sponsor and host a monthly Ten-Species Fishing Tournament this year from May through October. Entry forms are available at the store. The tourney will allow anglers to fish in as many categories as desired from pier or boat. Monthly entry fee is $20 per species. All entry fees will be awarded monthly as prizes or rolled over to the next month if no fish are weighed in for a species. Fifty percent of the money will go for the biggest fish in each category, 30 percent for second place, 20 percent for third.

An "All or Nothing" women's tournament will be offered for women who wish to compete separately. The winner in each species will take all entry fees each month. Eligible species are bluefish, cobia, croaker, flounder, gray trout, spadefish, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, spot and striped bass. All entries must be weighed in at Queens Creek Outfitters. A drawing from among first-place winners will take place at the end of October for a free trolling rod and reel. For more information, call 804-725-3889.

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity


TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good. Some largemouths have already spawned, while many are waiting for next week's full moon. Tidewater largemouths weighing just over four pounds were found in the grass beds of Aquia Creek and Arkindale Flats and on rock ledges leading to shallow coves. Nearly all were taken while casting pearl-colored plastic shad rigged to one-quarter-ounce leadheads. Buzzbaits and spinnerbaits proved effective in Mattawoman Creek last Saturday, while tube lures accounted for bass in Spoils Cove as well as Smoot Bay. Bridge foundations and the Washington Channel wall gave up a few largemouths to four pounds. Piscataway Creek provided scattered catches of tidewater largemouths at both the marina and the grass beds near the creek's mouth. Bryan's Cove and Swan Creek both hold fair numbers of spawning largemouths. Channel catfish are still big and hungry at Fletcher's Landing, where anglers had no trouble catching catties to 10 or more pounds while dunking night crawlers, cut herring and chicken liver baits from shore and rental boats. Fair numbers of white perch are still in the same vicinity, but many are small males measuring six to eight inches.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river remains high and muddy, but there were a few reports of smallmouth bass caught near Whites and Edwards ferries by anglers dunking live hellgrammites and minnows.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The river level is 5.5 feet, and smallmouth-bass fishing has been spectacular. Smallmouths measuring more than 18 inches were caught and released near Riverfront Campgrounds through much of last week, most taken on tube lures fished slowly close to the bottom. A 36-inch musky was taken near Sherman's Creek on a tube lure by an angler casting for smallmouth bass. Much of the action takes place in large eddies created by the mid-river islands below Fort Hunter. At the Juanita River's confluence, smallmouths exceeding three pounds slammed a variety of lures fished just inside the river's mouth. Call 888-881-7555 for up-to-date river conditions.

Maryland


TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Joe Allen of Gaithersburg caught a 1-pound 14-ounce crappie at Triadelphia Reservoir while casting live minnows. The slabside was 15 inches long. Both impoundments are at normal levels, waters are relatively clear, and by next week, largemouth bass, channel catfish and walleye should be quite active.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Lots of chain pickerel and pre-spawn largemouths lurking in the impoundment's coves, mostly in depths of two to four feet where partly submerged trees and inundated shoreline brush provide good cover. Shallow-running crankbaits, spinners and plastic worms were all effective lures for weekend anglers fishing from the decks of rental boats. Uplake, crappie are still spawning and can be found nearly anywhere there is a partly submerged tree. Live minnows produced the best crappie catches when fished just after sunrise.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Scattered catches of crappie were made from the decks of Nicodemus Bridge, while downlake, trollers using large, live shiners caught a few striped bass to 20 pounds. White perch are still tough to find, but should be active within the next week or two. A 23-pound striper was caught at Piney Run by Robert Ellis of Carroll County while fishing with chicken liver.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Water temperature topped 50 degrees for the first time this year, then after a few days of cool weather dropped back to the 40s. Scattered catches of smallmouth bass were reported by anglers fishing live minnows near the state park, while fair numbers of crappie and chain pickerel were found in the north shore coves.

Virginia


LAKE ANNA -- A significant increase in the lake's water temperature over the past week sent most female largemouths scurrying to their spawning beds, especially in the impoundment's lower reaches. Valentine, Levy, Blounts and Dukes creeks, and Dikes II and III were all hot spots. These fish are difficult to catch this time of year because they are concentrating solely on spawning, not feeding. The most effective lures were plastic lizards retrieved directly over the nests. Striped bass action ranged from good to excellent in the upper end of the lake from Christopher Run and Dillard's Bridge and locations a short distance uplake. Fish the main lake, but don't neglect the shorelines. Sea Shad, Sassy Shads, Boss Baitfish and Storm Wildeyes that are pearl in color were extremely effective. Rick Jarrell and Bucky Marks of Goochland returned to the docks with an 8-pound 10-ounce striper last weekend.

KERR RESERVOIR -- Buffalo, Bluestone and Grassy creeks are still the most productive waters for both largemouth bass and crappie.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Fishing was slow at best. Another week of warm, dry weather will make a big difference here.

Chesapeake Bay


UPPER BAY -- The Susquehanna Flats are again muddy and covered with debris, but there were a few big stripers caught by anglers casting a variety of lures and bottom fishing with cut herring baits. Most were taken just north of Rocky Point along the North East River's northern channel edge in depths of four to six feet. Shorebound anglers fishing the lower Susquehanna River caught white perch between Lapidum and the mouth of Deer Creek, while inside Deer Creek, hickory shad slammed streamer flies at a half-dozen locations upstream of Stafford Road Bridge. Channel catfish are plentiful near the Susquehanna River's I-95 bridge, while just above the bridge anglers found good concentrations of white perch willing to smack bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp. Channel catfish and white perch were caught from the shores of Turkey Point at Elk Neck State Forest and just inside the mouth of the Elk River. Trollers found tough fishing conditions in the upper bay, especially between the Bay Bridges and Rock Hall. In Chester River, anglers found a few pods of white perch near Eastern Neck Island Bridge and the entrance to Kent Narrows. Channel catfish are plentiful throughout the river's length, with the best catches being made beneath Chestertown's Route 213 bridge on bottom-fished night crawlers, clam snouts and cut herring.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Scattered catches of white perch were reported by anglers fishing Kent Narrows late in the day, most taken on bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp. At Terrapin Park Beach, a 42-inch striper was caught by a Kent Island man while bottom fishing with bloodworms for white perch.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- Channel catfish to eight pounds were caught beneath the decks of the river's public fishing piers at Cambridge, most taken on cut herring baits fished at night. A few white perch were also caught at the same location, most measuring eight to 10 inches and slamming bottom-fished bloodworms.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- The local charter fleet has been returning to the docks early with limit catches of stripers ranging from 32 to 44 inches. Most were taken from the bay's channel edges in a vast area stretching from the radar towers south to the Gas Docks. Umbrella rigs trimmed with chartreuse nine-inch Sea Shad produced the largest fish, but some were also taken on tandem-rigged parachute bucktails and large, silver spoons trolled just beneath the bay's turbid surface.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Striped bass action was hot and heavy just south of the Patuxent's mouth, where a circle or figure 8 trolling pattern produced excellent catches. Similar reports came from boats fishing the Gas Docks, Buoy 77 (Little Cove Point), Buoy 76, Point No Point and Buoy 72. The rockfish slammed a variety of lures, with umbrellas and daisy chains of white and chartreuse among the most popular. The beaches and inlets of the Naval Air Station provided lots of croaker at night, and a few during daylight hours. The seawall is especially good during periods of tidal movement, enabling shorebound anglers to make limit catches.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Trollers fished the bay's eastern channel edge between Hooper Island Light and Buoy 72 last week, a location that produced limit catches of stripers to 44 inches.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Croaker arrived in relatively large numbers along the channel edge near Deal Island, some measuring up to 18 inches in length. Bottom-fished bloodworms produced excellent results when fished in depths of 25 to 30 feet near sharp drop-offs.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- The action has been hot for anglers at Point Lookout State Park's public fishing pier. Excellent catches of croaker to 17 inches were made both day and night, while upriver in the Potomac, at the Wicomico River's mouth, anglers had limit catches of croaker to 18 inches while drifting pieces of bloodworm and squid strips. Trollers are loading up on big stripers while trolling the bay's western channel edge between Smith Point Light and Point Lookout. Stripers to 47 inches slammed a variety of lures fished just four feet beneath the surface, with the best action taking place just after sunrise and just before sundown.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- Flounder action was hit-or-miss near Kiptopeke and Plantation Flats last weekend. Lots of small croaker in the shallows of the Rappahannock, Piankitank, York and James rivers, where bottom-fished bloodworms lured large numbers of 10- to 12-inchers, but nothing larger.

Atlantic Coast


OCEAN CITY -- Headboat anglers found a few tautog to 10 pounds and small pods of sea bass to four pounds lurking in the bowels of offshore wrecks within 20 miles of Ocean City Inlet. There were also a few cod caught, tagged and released at the same locations. Inshore, anglers fishing Ocean City Inlet and from the bulkhead between Second and Fourth streets caught tautog to 16 inches while dunking green crabs among the submerged boulders. A few keeper stripers and sand sharks were caught from the Assateague surf on cut bunker, cut herring and bloodworms, but the action was slow.

CHINCOTEAGUE AND WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder is the only game in town, and it has been hot and cold. One day you'll limit out, the next you'll have trouble drawing a strike.

OUTER BANKS -- Cool water temperatures along the northern beaches continued north of Hatteras Island, but fishing was good from Rodanthe down to Ocracoke. There were several reports of big red drum from Cape Point, Hatteras Inlet and the southern end of Ocracoke Island.

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Fish Lines

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, May 7, 2004; Page WE72

Fish Lines

The recreational summer flounder minimum size restriction and daily catch limit in Maryland waters have been changed: The minimum size is now 16 inches, down from 17 inches; the catch limit is now three fish per person per day; down from eight fish per person per day. These were established to stay within mandated, coastwide, recreational harvest limits for summer flounder set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Chesapeake Bay Summer Flounder Management Plan.

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

POTOMAC RIVER -- A few fish were found in coves near Belle Haven Marina and Hog Island, where extremely muddy waters hampered the best efforts. Grass beds in Piscataway and Broad creeks and Bulltown Cove have been fair for anglers casting spinnerbaits and imitation shad rigged to half-ounce leadheads. Mattawoman Creek has been very good most days, where tubes fished along drop-offs proved effective. Sugar Shad cast to the flats and adjacent grass near the creek's mouth lured bass to five pounds. A seven-pounder was caught near the mouth of Chickamuxen Creek by a local fishing guide. Aquia Creek's grass beds were equally productive.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river's upper reaches are extremely high and muddy.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- While anglers were catching fair numbers of bronzebacks between Fort Hunter and Montgomery Ferry, current river conditions are spotty. Call 888-881-7555 for conditions.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Good catches of mid-size largemouth bass were made in the upper reaches of both impoundments, most taken by anglers floating live minnows for crappie. Crappie are still congregated among the underwater brush piles and blowdowns, where live minnows suspended three to five feet beneath a small float lured slabsides to 12 inches. Channel catfish are plentiful in both lakes, ranging up to 10 pounds. Bottom-fished night crawlers and chicken liver baits were best for the catties.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- The season's first white perch were caught, fish ranging 10 to 12 inches and schooled just beneath the lake's placid surface in Hampton Cove. Similar-size bluegills were at the same location, and both were taken by anglers trolling inline spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler. Scattered catches of post-spawn largemouths were made in the impoundment's shallows, most on shallow-running crankbaits cast near emerging grass beds. Chain pickerel to 18 inches were found in the same locations and taken using the same lures.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Nicodemus Bridge anglers found a few crappie and white perch lurking beneath the structure, but larger numbers of white perch were found just a short distance uplake. Bottom-fished night crawlers and chicken livers accounted for the best weekend action, which also included catches of a few stripers to 24 inches. Largemouth bass have begun spawning in mid-lake coves, and a few walleye were taken by anglers trolling deep-diving crankbaits for stripers near the Route 26 bridge.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- A week of great fishing came to an end when Sunday's cold front passed through the area and dumped nearly an inch of cold rain in western Maryland's mountains. Just before the storm, anglers caught good numbers of largemouth and smallmouth bass in most of the impoundment's coves while casting live minnows and shallow-running crankbaits. Crappie to 13 inches were also reported at dozens of locations.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- The spawning run for largemouth bass is in full swing, especially in the impoundment's lower reaches at Valentine, Levy, Blounts and Dukes creeks, and Dikes II and III. Most of the bass are guarding spawning beds, which makes them easy targets for anglers casting soft plastics such as Zoom lizards, Flukes, crawfish imitations and five-inch Yamamoto hula grubs. Spinnerbaits have also been productive, especially in the lake's upper reaches. Mike Cornwell of Spotsylvania set his hooks on a five-pound largemouth. Dillards and Holiday bridges, Christopher Run and Hunters Landing have all been productive for big stripers. Most of the larger fish were found in the main lake, in depths of four to 10 feet. Sea Shads, Sassy Shads, Boss Baitfish and Storm Wildeye Baits, most pearl color, have been effective. Earl Devers and Bill Tibbs of Fredericksburg had seven fish with a combined weight of 37 pounds.

KERR RESERVOIR -- The lake's upper reaches are extremely muddy after Sunday's torrential rains, but anglers trolling downlake of Clarksville caught a few keeper stripers while dragging shallow-running crankbaits and bucktails just beneath the surface. Bluestone, Grassy and Rudd's creeks continue to produce the best largemouth bass and crappie action.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Anglers were able to get in a few good days of smallmouth bass fishing before conditions worsened.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- While there were a few big stripers caught at the Susquehanna Flats before the rain, most were taken on live herring fished along the North East River's southern channel edge. Big channel catfish were also caught at the same location by anglers drift-fishing with chunks of cut herring and bottom-fished night crawlers. Good catches of white perch continue to dominate the action just above the Susquehanna's I-95 bridge, where bottom-fished bloodworms and grass shrimp produced perch to 12 inches during the past week. Lots of channel catfish in this area as well. Trollers managed to catch a few keeper stripers while fishing near Belvedere Shoals, Swan Point Bar, Love Point and the Dumping Grounds, where umbrella rigs and tandem, parachute bucktails lured rockfish to 20 pounds when trolled just beneath the surface. White perch remain plentiful in Chester River near the Route 213 bridge and downriver near Eastern Neck Island Bridge.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Muddy, debris-laden water curtailed the action, but there were good reports of white perch action in Kent Narrows and a few keeper stripers taken from Mattapeake Pier, both caught on bloodworms.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- Route 50 bridge anglers found a good mix of channel catfish, white perch and throwback stripers. This area is closed to striped bass fishing until June 1.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Local charter boats returned to the docks early with limit catches of stripers to 44 inches during the past week. Most were caught while trolling the bay's channel edges near the False Channel and Gas Docks, the largest tipping the scales at 52 pounds. During the Rod 'N' Reel Dock Pro-Am Fishing Tournament, a 46.38-pound fish was caught off Little Cove Point by Carl Jameson of Hughsville, Md. The catch produced a paycheck of $5,000.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Trollers hammered big stripers at a half-dozen locations, the largest a 54-incher that tipped the scales at 55 pounds. Because of erratic weather conditions and water temperatures, many of the larger fish are fresh from the ocean and covered with sea lice. The cooler water temperatures seem to have extended the spawning run by several weeks. If you catch a fish that appears to be roe-laden, gently release it so it may continue its journey to its natal spawning river.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- The bay's eastern channel edge between Hooper Island Light and Buoy 72A has been a red-hot area for anglers trolling a vast array of big lures for striped bass. Rockfish to 44 inches slammed umbrella rigs, tandem bucktails and large silver spoons trolled just beneath the bay's surface. Croaker have entered the Honga River and can be found upriver as far as Bentley Point, where bottom-fished bloodworms lured fish to 17 inches from depths as shallow as two feet.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Anglers drift-fishing with bloodworms and squid strips in upper Tangier Sound and lower Pocomoke Sound found schools of croaker ranging from 12 to 18 inches. Scattered catches of weakfish to 18 inches were reported by shorebound anglers at Roaring Point, and just a short distance up the Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers, white perch to 12 inches smacked bloodworms and squid strips.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Charter captains reported good to excellent catches of big stripers at the Potomac River's mouth, and across the bay along the Chesapeake's eastern channel edge between Buoys 68 and 72, where umbrella rigs and daisy chains were effective. Anglers at Point Lookout Fishing Pier caught a mix of keeper stripers and big croaker while fishing with squid strips and bloodworms at night. Up the Potomac at the Wicomico River's mouth, limit catches of croaker to 18 inches were made by anglers fishing from boats out of Bushwood.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- Croaker to 17 inches slammed bottom-fished squid strips and bloodworms from the river's mouth upriver to White Stone Bridge. A few throwback weakfish and flounder were also reported at the same locations.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- Tautog, some weighing up to eight pounds, smacked chunks of crab and clam at the Mussel Beds, the submerged boulders of the CBBT's Fourth Island and from the bowels of Kiptopeke's concrete Liberty Ship wreckage. Flounder to eight pounds were caught near The Cell by anglers drifting live minnows and squid strips, and a few speckled trout were found lurking just inside the mouth of Plantation and Hungar's creeks.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Scattered catches of slammer bluefish were made from Assateague Island's surf before the passage of Sunday's cold front. Most weighed 10 to 12 pounds, were quite skinny and had monster heads with razor-sharp teeth. A few keeper stripers were taken from the surf, but the best action took place from the decks of Route 50 bridge, where bucktails trimmed with six-inch white twister tails proved effective at night.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder catches ranged from fair to good for weekend anglers fishing just inside the inlets of both ports, while offshore, sea bass to seven pounds slammed bottom-fished squid strips at the wrecks.

OUTER BANKS -- Speckled trout and puppy drum were hot items along the northern beaches during the past week. Several 2- to 3-pound specks and puppy drum delighted surfcasters fishing between Avalon and Nags Head, and many of the drum exceeded the maximum size of the slot limit. That's 27 inches-plus. Oregon Inlet's bottom fishing was slow, but the beaches between Rodanthe and Avon produced bluefish to three pounds, sea mullet, small gray trout and a scattering of black drum. Big bluefish were beached in the Buxton area, big drum continued to please anglers wading to the bar at Cape Point, and a mix of big bluefish and sea mullet were reported in the surf between Frisco and Hatteras Inlet. Small weakfish are schooled just outside the inlet, which is also where albacore to 15 pounds were reported. Red drum were caught on the shoals at the mouth of Hatteras and Ocracoke inlets, and some larger bluefish are beginning to appear behind Pea Island. Pier fishing ranged from good to excellent, with the Hatteras Island Piers reporting most of the best catches.

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Fish Lines
By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, May 14, 2004; Page WE48

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- The full moon triggered a major spawn, the second of the spring. Rockfish seemed to have turned away from northern haunts, probably driven downriver by high, muddy water, but can be caught downriver of Morgantown Bridge (U.S. 301). In the river's District sector, dirty water caused poor fishing at traditional hot spots, with the exceptions of Washington Channel and Pentagon Lagoon. In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge sector, largemouth bass catches have been dismal at best through most of the spring. Fortunately, newly emerged grass beds provided relatively clear water, and fair numbers of bass seem to have returned to the area. The Spoils Cove, west and south shores of Oxen Run Cove, South Point section of Smoot Bay and coves south of Belle Haven have been productive. Fort Washington Lighthouse, grass beds in Piscataway Creek, and main river coves south of Piscataway and Bulltown Cove seem to be improving as well. Grass beds in Mattawoman, Chickamuxen and Aquia creeks have consistently produced midsize largemouths through much of the spring.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- High, muddy and unfishable.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The river is high and muddy, and conditions are poor at best. Just before the storm, anglers loaded up on smallmouth bass to three pounds at the island eddies between Fort Hunter and Duncannon. Most were taken on tube lures rigged to half-ounce leadheads and fished close to the bottom.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Jake Sizmore of Dayton, Md., caught a 1-pound 13-ounce crappie at Triadelphia Reservoir. It measured 15.5 inches with an 11-inch girth. Crappie action ranged from fair to good for weekend anglers dunking live minnows in both impoundments. Scattered catches of white perch, largemouth bass and catfish were reported by anglers fishing with live minnows for crappie.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Last weekend's action was red hot for bluegill, white perch and yellow perch, all of which are lurking at the mouths of coves. The white perch seem to be suspended over deep-water drop-offs, where trollers using in-line spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler had no trouble catching perch to 13 inches. Most of the yellow perch are in the deeper coves near the outer edges of grass beds, where bottom-fished night crawlers and live minnows were effective. Big bluegill, some measuring up to 11 inches, were in the process of spawning and can be seen guarding their saucer-shaped nests fanned out in the lake's sandy bottom. Largemouth bass and chain pickerel are plentiful in the shallows as well, and both will slam shallow-running crankbaits and spinnerbaits worked close to partly submerged trees and stumps.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- White perch and crappie were found lurking in the impoundment's upper reaches between Nicodemus and Route 140 bridges, where live minnows, chicken livers and night crawlers were productive baits. Downlake, trollers found a few big stripers just above the Route 32 and Route 26 bridges, where large, live shiners, deep-diving crankbaits and big Sassy Shad lured stripers to 12 pounds. Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, most guarding nests in the back ends of major coves.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Just before Sunday's storm, anglers enjoyed good catches of big bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and chain pickerel while dunking live minnows and night crawlers in most of the deeper coves. Trout fishing remains slow for this time of year. Scattered catches of both largemouth and smallmouth bass were made by anglers casting shallow-running crankbaits along the lake's rock-strewn shores near the state park.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- Largemouth bass spawning continues at Valentine, Levy, Blounts and Dukes creeks, and the shallows near Dikes II and III. The bass are guarding their nests in depths ranging from two to 10 feet. Predator-type lures such as Zoom lizards, Flukes, crawfish and four- to five-inch Yamamoto hula grubs were extremely effective. Some top-water action takes place on calm mornings and evenings. Steve Wright of Haymarket caught two largemouths last week weighing six pounds, and 5 pounds 4 ounces, respectively. Local angler Page Campbell sunk his hooks into a 4-pound 4-ouncer. Big stripers are lurking in the lake's upper reaches but have started migrating downlake. The best action has been near Hunters Landing, Holiday Bridge and Christopher Run. Most of these fish were found in depths of four to 10 feet, and some top-water action has been reported in early morning and late evening. Sea Shad, Sassy Shad, Boss Baitfish or Storm Wildeye baits, pearl in color, have been the hot lures. Earl Tule of Gordonsville bagged a big striper weighing 20 pounds 3 ounces. Dan Snyder of Staunton caught two fish, a 13- and 10-pounder.

KERR RESERVOIR -- Though the impoundment seems to be in relatively good shape, largemouth bass action has been spotty. Striped bass have completed spawning and headed downlake, where they'll spend much of the summer. Crappie have also migrated to deeper water and can be found in depths of 12 to 20 feet near bridge pilings and sharp drop-offs.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- The river is in great shape, water temperatures are in the low 70s and smallmouth bass action seems to be slowly improving near Bentonville Bridge. Panfish should soon be spawning in the river's shallows.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- The Chesapeake's upper reaches are again nothing more than a sea of muddy water laden with huge quantities of debris. Before Sunday's storm anglers fishing the Susquehanna River's lower reaches caught large numbers of chunky white perch to 12 inches while bottom fishing with bloodworms just above the Interstate 95 bridge. Deer Creek anglers continue to catch good numbers of hickory shad early and late in the day, but the action ends by 9 a.m. Susquehanna Flats anglers caught a mix of chunky white perch and channel catfish while fishing from the shores of Rocky Point, Turkey Point and Town Park Pier in the North East River. Boating anglers reported similar catches from the flats, and they also released fair numbers of big stripers that smacked cut herring and chicken liver baits intended for channel catfish. Channel catfish to 10 pounds were also found in the Elk, Bohemia and Sassafras rivers' lower reaches, as well as the C&D Canal near Chesapeake City.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Trollers fishing the bay's eastern channel edge between the twin spans and Bloody Point Light found a few keeper stripers to 34 inches, while just inside the mouth of Eastern Bay croaker are showing up in commercial pound nets. Some of the croaker reportedly measured 19 inches or more. White perch to 10 inches were caught from the southern end of Kent Narrows and mouth of Wye River. Bottom-fished bloodworms produced the best results.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- The river's mouth is loading up with croaker, and while none had been taken on hook and line yet, there were some real monsters caught in local pound nets. Upriver, channel catfish, small white perch and throwback stripers were caught from beneath the Route 50 bridge at Cambridge. Most were taken on bottom-fished bloodworms and pieces of clam snout fished at night.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Area charter boats continue to run south to the Gas Docks, or across the bay to the False Channel, where they're limiting out on stripers ranging from 28 to 44 inches while trolling a vast array of lures -- umbrella rigs, tandem bucktails and daisychains, all trimmed with nine-inch, chartreuse Sea Shad fished just beneath the surface.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Red-hot striper action for weekend anglers trolling between the Gas Docks and Point No Point Light along the bay's western channel edge, and across the bay between Hooper Island Light and Buoy 72-A. While Saturday was a blowout with 25-knot winds, rockfish to 47 inches slammed just about anything that got within range Sunday afternoon. Good catches of croaker were reported just inside the river's mouth, where bottom-fished squid strips and bloodworms were the ticket to success, with some fish measuring up to 18 inches. White perch are schooling in the mouths of creeks upriver of Route 4 bridge, where spinners trimmed with a morsel of bloodworm have been effective.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Trollers had a bumpy ride on Saturday, but by Sunday the wind subsided and striper fishing was red hot along the bay's eastern channel edge. Big croaker moved into the river and can be found lurking in the shallows along the river's southern shore below Bentley Point, where bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips are effective.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Sunday was a great day for headboat anglers looking for croaker. Terrapin Sands and Buoy No. 9 in Tangier Sound's upper reaches were productive locations; the lower reaches of Pocomoke Sound proved best for big croaker. Squid strips and bloodworms were the best bait selection.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Pier anglers continue to catch good numbers of big croaker and a few keeper rockfish to 30 inches. Anglers fishing near St. George's Island and the Wicomico River's mouth caught limits of croaker to 19 inches while drifting squid strips and bloodworms along the bottom in depths of 20 to 25 feet.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- Large numbers of croaker were found along the river's channel edges downriver of White Stone Bridge to Stingray Point, where bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips were productive.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- The season's first black drum were taken on hook and line at the Cabbage Patch, the largest tipping the scales at more than 60 pounds. Three red drum were caught and released as well, the largest caught by local angler Kevin Crum, who bagged a 49-incher. Good catches of tautog were made at the High Rise Bridge and from among the wreckage of Kiptopeke's concrete ships, where pieces of crab were the most effective bait.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- A slow weekend for the resort city, mainly because of brisk northeast winds that kept boats tied to the docks. Just before the blow, headboat anglers loaded up on a mix of big sea bass and tautog while bottom fishing over some of the inshore wrecks. Inshore anglers caught flounder to five pounds, lots of hickory shad and a few stripers while fishing just above and below Route 50 bridge. Jetty anglers found a few keeper stripers, and slammer bluefish to 12 pounds were found in Assateague's surf on Sunday morning. CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder fishing picked up on Sunday, when several anglers using frozen shiners returned to the docks with limit catches of flatfish to five pounds. Most were taken from channel edges.

OUTER BANKS -- A 60-inch cobia weighing 87 pounds was pulled from the Hatteras surf by local angler Paul Cupka, the season's first. Several anglers fishing from Avon Pier reported catches of pompano weighing up to two pounds, lots of sea mullet, snapper bluefish, flounder and even a few puppy drum.

[treed942000]

Just want to say Hi to all from Linbergh Intl Airport in San Diego, CA.  Save some fish for my return.   

Fish Lines

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, May 21, 2004; Page WE60

Fish Lines

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity


TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Smoot Bay, The Spoils, Fox Ferry, Oxen Run, Belle Haven and Charley's Cove were all weekend hot spots for largemouth bass, with reports of some more than six pounds. Road Kill Mizmo tubes were best, but Case Majic Sticks accounted for the largest bass. Arlene Rogers (her home town was not available) caught one of the largest of the week, a six-pounder that slammed a four-inch grub. Thirteen-year-old Killian Hartson landed 20 bass between 15- and 20-inches long; all were released. Fishing to the southeast has slowed, probably the result of a post-spawn situation. Fortunately, a few larger bass were found lurking in the shallows of Mattawoman, Aquia and Occoquan creeks, and along the edges of grass beds near Mallows Bay. At Fletcher's Landing, the river is relatively clear. There are still good numbers of huge catfish being caught along the river's channel using cut herring baits. Some of the catties weighed up to 25 pounds. The same area also holds good numbers of post-spawn largemouth bass and a few white perch to 10 inches. Shorebound anglers are also catching good numbers of big catfish, both channel cats and flatheads alike.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- River levels are high, but the water quality has improved dramatically over the past week. Smallmouth bass action improved as well, especially in the Whites Ferry and Point of Rocks areas, where tube lures fished tight against the bottom proved quite effective at luring bronzebacks to three pounds.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- River conditions improved significantly, especially at the mouths of the Juniata River and Sherman Creek, where tube lures provided anglers with arm-jolting strikes from post-spawn smallmouth bass. Keep in mind this is a catch-and-release fishery only until mid-June, when Pennsylvania's bass seasons officially open.

Maryland


TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Donald Rice of West Friendship caught a 1-pound 12.5-ounce crappie measuring 15 inches in length with a girth 11.5 inches while fishing Triadelphia Reservoir with a yellow twister. Chris Lin of Clarksville was tossing small crankbaits in Rocky Gorge for largemouth bass when he caught a 1-pound 5-ounce crappie measuring 14 inches long with a 10-inch girth. John Michael of Brookeville set the hooks of his crankbait on a 1-pound 9.5-ounce crappie measuring 15 inches long while fishing at Triadelphia. He also caught a 1-pound 10-ounce fish on the same outing. Anna Levergood of Silver Spring was fishing with live minnows in Triadelphia when she hooked and landed the season's largest crappie, a 1-pound 7.5-ouncer measuring 16 inches in length with an 11-inch girth.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Hot, sticky weekend weather produced an incredible hatch of 17-year cicadas, which in turn provided avid fly anglers with some of the best fly fishing in nearly two decades. Bass, crappie, bluegill and even carp slammed the imitations just as fast as they hit the water. Modest catches of white perch were made in the impoundment's middle reaches, particularly at the mouths of Dead Man, Pierce's and School House coves. Most were taken while trolling inline spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler, which also was the top bait for big bluegills as well. Both averaged eight to 10 inches in length, but a few perch to 14 inches were weighed in at Loch Raven Fishing Center. Largemouth bass and chain pickerel were plentiful early and late in the day, especially along rocky shorelines where steep drop-offs were relatively close to shore. Shallow-running crankbaits and spinnerbaits were effective for both species.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- A mix of crappie and white perch were caught from the decks of Nicodemus Bridge and several locations uplake of the span, where bottom-fished chicken livers and live minnows were productive early and late in the day. Trollers found a few stripers to 12 pounds lurking near Oakland Mills Point, Route 32 bridge and just uplake of the launch ramp near Liberty Road bridge. Most were taken on deep-diving crankbaits and large, live shiners trolled along the lake's channel edges.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- The lake is finally warming to the point where big bluegill have begun to migrate into the shallows to spawn, some measuring 10 to 12 inches in length and topping the one-pound mark. Chain pickerel and largemouth bass can be found in most of the coves as well, and both will hit live minnows cast near the lake's rocky shores. Scattered catches of rainbow trout were reported in the lake's lower reaches just above the dam.

Virginia


LAKE ANNA -- Largemouth bass seem to be spawning throughout the impoundment. Several six- to seven-pound bass were caught and released, mainly on topwater plugs fished early and late in the day. Midday anglers switched to shallow-running crankbaits, tube lures and grubs rigged to quarter-ounce leadheads and reported equal success when casting near beds guarded by highly aggressive females. Striper fishing remains good at most uplake hot spots, especially in the vicinity of Holiday Bridge, Christopher Run and Hunter's Landing, where four-inch Sassy Shad, large minnows and some topwater plugs have been responsible for limit catches of fish to six pounds. Several crappie of more than two pounds were weighed in at local tackle shops, nearly all taken on live minnows.

KERR RESERVOIR -- The best largemouth bass and striper action has been between Clarksville and Ivy Hill, where largemouths to six pounds have been lured from submerged brush piles.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Smallmouth bass are on their spawning beds and panfish action is getting underway in the Bentonville Bridge area. Seasoned anglers had no trouble pulling in good catches.

Chesapeake Bay


UPPER BAY -- Nearly four inches of rain slammed the Susquehanna River's lower reaches last Sunday evening, producing flooding conditions in several streams that ultimately churned the bay's upper reaches into a sea of muddy water. Just before the onset of muddy water, the Susquehanna River's lower reaches were loaded with white perch, big channel catfish and fair numbers of largemouth bass. White perch, channel catfish and some monster carp were caught from the shores of Elk Neck State Park's Turkey Point, where bottom-fished bloodworms, night crawlers and chicken livers were the most productive baits. Striped bass season is closed in this part of the bay until June 1. Rock Hall area anglers managed to catch a few keeper stripers on Sunday, the day the size limit was lowered to 18 inches for most of the bay's open waters south of Brewerton Channel. While some were taken by trollers using umbrella rigs trimmed with big Sassy Shad, there were several caught while chumming with ground menhaden and using cut menhaden for bait. Love Point, Swan Point Bar, Hodges Bar, Belvedere Shoals and the Dumping Grounds were hot spots for chummers and trollers alike.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Scattered catches of croaker were made at Mattapeake Pier, Hacketts Bar, the mouth of the Severn and Magothy rivers, and inside the mouth of Eastern Bay up to Parson's Island. Nearly all were caught on bottom-fished bloodworms during the late afternoon and early evening, with the largest fish taken about two hours after sundown. A few keeper stripers to 22 inches were found lurking among the Eastern Shore pilings of the twin spans, where small bucktails trimmed with chartreuse Sassy Shad proved effective.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- The river has been invaded by schools of big croaker, some ranging upriver as far as the Route 50 bridge in Cambridge. Bridge anglers caught croaker to 16 inches on bottom-fished bait shrimp and bloodworms last Sunday evening, and there were a few throwback stripers and white perch mixed with them. Downriver, big croaker and a few keeper rockfish were caught along the river's channel edge between Cook Point and Castle Haven, where bloodworms lured croaker to 17 inches and stripers to 20 inches when drifted during the first few hours of ebb tide.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Anglers fishing aboard local charter boats managed to catch their two-fish limits of stripers ranging from 18 to 28 inches, and a few fish measuring up to 44 inches were weighed in later in the week. Overall, trolling action has slowed, but chumming is coming on strong at most of the traditional summer haunts.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Croaker fishing was described by a local tackle shop owner as terrific in the Patuxent River. Rental-boat anglers at Solomons struck the mother lode starting on Saturday and all 15 boats returned to the docks with limit catches of croaker to 20 inches. Most were caught directly in front of the Navy base, under the Route 4 bridge on the Calvert County side of the river, and in Kingston Hollow. These fish are very big, averaging 17 or more inches, and many are close to 20. Early morning and late evening are the best times to catch large fish. Beach anglers at the Naval Air Station caught limits of big croaker in the evening at Hog Point, West Basin, TPS Seawall and the bulkhead at Goose Creek. Striped bass ranging from 20 to 36 inches were caught by trollers fishing the bay's eastern and western channel edges.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Swarms of croaker to 20 inches can be found from the river's mouth up to Bentley Point. Most are slamming bottom-fished bloodworms, but a few anglers reported equal success using bait shrimp and squid strips while fishing in the late afternoon and early evening. This time of year, Hooper Island's mosquitoes are swarming. Anglers should take precautionary measures by applying high-quality insect repellent if they wish to avoid the bites. Trollers found good numbers of stripers lurking south of Hooper Island near Buoy 72A, where rockfish to 36 inches slammed umbrella rigs and tandem-rigged bucktails trimmed with big Sassy Shad.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Bottom-fishing action kicked into high gear in Tangier Sound's upper reaches and the lower reaches of Pocomoke Sound. At both locations, headboat anglers loaded up on a mix of croaker, spot, a few weakfish and even a couple of black drum. The drum tipped the scales at 35 to 40 pounds, while the weakfish measured up to 20 inches. Most of the croaker were 16 to 18 inches.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Local charter boats recently switched over to chumming for striped bass and began fishing the bay's eastern channel edge north of the U.S. Navy target ship American Mariner. Most captains said they limited out on stripers ranging 25 to 36 inches after just an hour or two of chumming, then switched to bottom fishing and caught large numbers of croaker to 18 inches. Shorebound anglers fishing from Point Lookout State Park's public fishing pier and the adjacent causeway at night caught a mix of croaker, spot, snapper bluefish and a few keeper stripers.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- Big croaker, some measuring up to 20 inches, have been caught throughout the river's lower reaches from White Stone Bridge downriver to Gwynn Island. Most were taken on bottom-fished bloodworms, but a number of exceptionally large fish were caught using squid strips and frozen shrimp.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- Flounder to eight pounds were found along the shallow drop-offs inshore of The Cell, where minnow-squid combinations proved extremely effective when drifted over the edges during the first few hours of ebb tide. A bit to the south, tautog action ranged from good to excellent at the Mussel Beds, Kiptopeke and the CBBT's Fourth Island. Chunks of crab and clam lured tog to 10 pounds at all of these locations. Croaker are just about everywhere you drop a piece of squid or bloodworm, and the season's first kingfish (sea mullet) arrived near Cape Charles Light. Black drum to 80 pounds were caught at the Cabbage Patch and Lattimer Shoals by anglers drift fishing with whole sea clams.

Atlantic Coast


OCEAN CITY -- Headboat anglers loaded their coolers with limit catches of sea bass to five pounds and a few tautog to 10 pounds. Warmer water attracted large numbers of slammer bluefish to the inshore lumps, and the few charter captains that are fishing these waters said they had no trouble limiting out on fish to 15 pounds. Shorebound anglers fishing from the Route 50 bridge at night caught stripers to 36 inches, most taken on various bucktails trimmed with twister tails. Tautog to three pounds were caught from among the inlet's jetty boulders and the submerged boulders that make up the bulkheads between Third and Fourth streets.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Offshore, bluefish to 15 pounds slammed a variety of lures trolled over lumps near the 26 and 21 Mile Hills, but still no reports of offshore shark action yet.

OUTER BANKS -- As water temps continue to warm, more fish are becoming available for surf-casters along the Outer Bank's northern beaches. Sea mullet and small bluefish were taken in the Corolla-Duck area, while spot and blues were beached near Oregon Inlet. A mix of spot, small blues, sea mullet and keeper-size flounder were reported between Salvo and Cape Point, where good catches of red drum were made by anglers fishing the falling tide and willing to wade to the offshore bar. Lots of sea mullet, small blues and an occasional weakfish were caught along the South Beach of Hatteras Island.

[treed942000]

Fish Lines

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, May 28, 2004; Page WE56

When's the last time you caught a lion? Federal fisheries managers say they're now actively looking for lionfish, a venomous species that has taken up residence in Atlantic coastal waters during the past few years.

"In March, the first known capture of a lionfish by hook and line occurred off the coast of North Carolina. The fish was 17 inches long and weighed 2.5 lbs. It's the largest specimen to date in the Atlantic," according to a NOAA Fisheries report.

It describes lionfish as natives of the Indian and western Pacific oceans with "distinctive red, maroon and white stripes; fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth; fanlike pectoral fins; and long separated dorsal spines. All of the spines on a lionfish are venomous, creating a danger to primarily divers and fishers if stung.

"They are voracious predators that feed not only on small shrimps but also on large fishes, perhaps including the young of important commercial fish species such as snapper and grouper." NOAA believes it is likely the fish were introduced into the Atlantic via the aquarium trade.

Those with information on lionfish sightings or collections are asked to contact Paula Whitfield at the NOAA Beaufort Laboratory at 252-728-8714, or e-mail [email protected].

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity


TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Local fishing guide Ken Penrod of Life Outdoors Unlimited said it was a great week for largemouth bass, and added, "The river is in great shape, with temps near 80 degrees." In the D.C. area, Lenny Romano caught a six-pound largemouth from the Washington Channel, and a huge channel catfish estimated at 40 pounds. Firetiger crankbaits, Luhr Jensen's Hot Lips and Brush Baby fished along the drop-off at Fort McNair were extremely effective. Pentagon Lagoon was the hot spot for anglers casting tube lures, but nearby bridge foundations were disappointing. In the Woodrow Wilson Bridge area, largemouth bass action ranged from good to red hot for anglers casting Magic Sticks and Mizmo tubes in the Spoils, Smoot Bay and Oxen Run. George Giammottoro had a solid five-pound bass, while Charlie Yingling and Mark Breeding's best five weighed 19 pounds combined. Other locations providing good tidewater largemouth action included the grass beds of Piscataway Creek and between Hog Island and Mount Vernon on the Virginia shore.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- Larger fish seem to be somewhat scarce, and because the cicadas are hatching like crazy and falling into the river, the bass may be foraging on them instead of angler offerings. Some monster carp have been seen chomping on cicadas as well, which could provide fantastic fly rod action for anyone wishing to tackle a 25-pound carp using this type of gear.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The river level at Harrisburg was 5.5 feet last Friday, ideal for smallmouth bass fishing. Any substantial rainfall can cause significant rises, so it would be a good idea to call 888-881-7555 to check river conditions. Mid-river island-eddies and the mouth of Sherman Creek were among the best locations for anglers casting tube lures in darker patterns. The Juniata and West Branch areas also provided anglers with bronzebacks to three pounds, while smaller fish were found between Harrisburg and Montgomery Ferry.

Maryland


TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Both impoundments are surrounded by swarms of emerging cicadas. Those that fall into the reservoirs quickly become food for every piscatorial resident. Most lures resembling a cicada are slammed as fast as they hit the water when cast beneath overhanging branches. Black Tiny Torpedoes measuring just over an inch have been extremely effective, but fly rod anglers using slender, black, popping bugs have the edge under these conditions.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Similar conditions exist at Loch Raven Reservoir, where the constant droning of cicadas is beyond belief. The impoundment's emerging grass beds provided anglers with a good mix of largemouth bass and chain pickerel when cicada-size plugs were tossed in the shallows. Trollers are finding increasing numbers of white perch, crappie and big bluegill migrating to the lake's deeper waters near the mouths of major coves. Inline spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler proved highly effective when fished early and late in the day.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- White perch and crappie arrived beneath Nicodemus Bridge in large numbers and sizes. Anglers dunking live minnows from the bridge's decks are catching both species. Downlake, largemouth bass are still spawning, which makes them easy targets for boating anglers working the shallows of mid-lake coves with plastic worms and lizards. A few big stripers are still lingering in the impoundment's upper reaches, but the vast majority seem to have migrated downlake to the deeper waters just above Route 26 bridge.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Big bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and chain pickerel are being caught in most of the deeper coves by anglers using live minnows and night crawlers for bait. Smallmouth and largemouth bass alike are spawning, which makes them difficult to catch for the next few weeks.

Virginia


LAKE ANNA -- Bass fishing has been red hot in the lake's lower and middle reaches, mainly in shallow coves where largemouths to six pounds smacked a variety of topwater and shallow-running lures fished early and late in the day. Midday anglers found big bass lurking along steep drop-offs inside Sturgeon Creek, where tube lures rigged to half-ounce leadheads proved effective when fished slowly, close to the bottom in depths of 12 to 15 feet. Crappie remain plentiful beneath piers and bridges, where live minnows suspended 10 to 15 feet beneath small floats lure slabsides measuring up to a foot long.

KERR RESERVOIR -- Water temperatures are in the low 80s in the shallows of sheltered coves, too hot for much of anything. However, stripers are cruising the cooler channel edges between Clarksville and Grassy Creek during midday, providing trollers using white bucktails and Sassy Shad the opportunity they've been waiting for. While stripers will feed on the flats in the morning and evening, they're extremely active throughout the day foraging the channel edges. Bass are moving from most creeks, where water temperatures are uncomfortable, to deep channel edges, where temperatures can be 10 degrees cooler. Deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastics rigged to half-ounce leadheads were effective for weekend bass anglers fishing these locations.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Smallmouth bass action got underway during the past week, with several fish to three pounds caught just downriver of Bentonville Bridge. Anglers float-fishing the area and casting artificial flies reported catching a mix of sunfish, bluegill, channel catfish, smallmouth bass and a few small largemouths while tossing wet flies and weighted nymphs along the rock-strewn shores.

Chesapeake Bay


UPPER BAY -- The Chesapeake's upper reaches are still extremely muddy from recent rains, both in Maryland and Pennsylvania. While water conditions are slowly improving, fishing action in the lower Susquehanna River has nearly ceased. A handful of anglers reported modest catches of small white perch, channel catfish and an occasional largemouth bass. The only effective method of fishing here was using various forms of live and fresh bait. Lures were out of the question. Susquehanna Flats anglers found fair numbers of small white perch and a few throwback stripers lurking in the North East River's shallows between Red and Rocky points, where bottom-fished bloodworms were effective when fished during high and the first few hours of ebb tides. Cut herring baits and night crawlers lured channel catfish to nine pounds from the lower North East, Elk, Sassafras and Bohemia rivers. Chummers found a few keeper stripers cruising the Chester River's mouth near Love Point, and across the bay near Belvedere Shoals. Most of the rockfish barely measured 18 inches, and none exceeded 20 inches. Inside the Chester River between the entrance to Kent Narrows and Route 213 bridge, bottom-fished bloodworms lured white perch to 10 inches.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Scattered catches of croaker were reported from Mattapeake Pier, the mouth of Whitehall Bay, Hacketts Bar and inside the Severn River near the Route 2 bridge. Bottom-fished bait shrimp, bloodworms and squid strips produced croaker to 16 inches at these locations when fished late in the day and early in the evening. Trollers managed to sink their hooks into a few stripers to 20 inches using tandem-rigged bucktails, but the best action was reported by chummers fishing near The Diamonds, where stripers to 24 inches slammed cut menhaden and razor clam baits fished in the chum slicks. Inside Eastern Bay and up to Parson's Island, anglers found scattered pods of croaker and white perch, both of which inhaled bottom-fished bloodworms.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- The river's lower reaches between Cook and Todd points provided modest catches of croaker to 18 inches, plus a few keeper stripers to 22 inches. Most of the stripers were found lurking in the river's shallows along the southern shoreline. Upriver, anglers at the Route 50 bridge fishing piers caught a mix of small white perch, channel catfish, throwback stripers and a few big croaker while dunking bloodworms at night.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Good news for headboat anglers fishing at night, as big croaker, some measuring to 19 inches, have been caught in large numbers. The croaker were frequently mixed with good numbers of spot and mid-size white perch, all of which smacked bottom-fished bloodworms. Trollers continue to catch limits of stripers, but most are now found in deep water and are just 18 to 22 inches.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Croaker, croaker and more croaker -- that's the mainstay of the area's fishing action at this point. Most were caught just inside the river's mouth and upriver to the Route 4 Bridge Fishing Pier, but the largest fish seem to be holding just outside the river's mouth in depths of 25 to 30 feet.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Croaker are plentiful inside the river near Bentley Point and downriver near Richland Point Buoy, where bottom-fished bloodworms, bait shrimp and squid strips produced croaker to 20 inches during the past few days. Chummers fishing a bit to the south near Buoy 72A caught limits of striped bass to 24 inches, but still no weakfish at this point.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Bottom-fishing action has been red hot for croaker, spot, a smattering of small weakfish, and during the past week, black drum to 66 pounds. Nearly all were found along the sound's eastern channel edge, where bottom-fished chunks of peeler crab and bloodworms were the best bet.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Most of the local charter boats are chumming for stripers along the bay's eastern channel edge, mainly in the stretch between the U.S. Navy target ship American Mariner and Buoy 72. The vast majority claim they caught their limit of stripers to 24 inches in just a few hours, then switched to bottom fishing with squid strips and bloodworms, which produced good numbers of big croaker to 20 inches, spot to 10 inches and a few small weakfish. Croaker action continues to range from good to excellent for anglers fishing near the mouth of the Wicomico River. Most anglers also caught a mix of spot, white perch and a few keeper-size stripers while drifting bloodworms and squid strips. Pier anglers at Point Lookout State Park caught a mix of croaker, spot, rockfish and a few throwback flounder while fishing at night from both the pier and causeway with squid strips, cut bunker and bloodworms.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- The river's lower reaches downriver of White Stone Bridge have been good for big croaker, pan trout and an occasional keeper-size flounder to 20 inches. Nearly all were taken on bottom-fished bait shrimp and squid strips drifted along the river's channel edge.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- Flounder catches at Buoy 42 continue to improve daily, with some flatties reaching 22 inches during the past week. Schools of spadefish recently arrived at the Cell, and the CBBT's manmade islands. These fish primarily feed on small jellyfish, but they will hit a morsel of clam suspended beneath a small float and drifted back to them. A monster black drum weighing more than 90 pounds was boated by an angler fishing the Cabbage Patch with a whole sea clam, and several in the 45- to 60-pound range were taken from the north end of Lattimer Shoals. Croaker are just about everywhere you drop a piece of worm, and tautog to eight pounds can be found lurking among the CBBT's submerged boulders at the Fourth Island, and up the bay at Kiptopeke's concrete Liberty Ships.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- The season's first yellowfin tuna were caught at the north end of Washington Canyon last Saturday, somewhere between the 50- and 100-fathom curve. Additionally, there were a couple of big mako sharks, several blue sharks and at least one large thresher shark taken at the same location. Closer to the beach, slammer bluefish to 16 pounds were found foraging on the ocean's surface at the Jack Spot, Bass Grounds and First Lump, locations where Hoochy Trolls and large, silver spoons produced limit catches on calm days. Headboat anglers loaded up on sea bass to six pounds, tautog to eight pounds and an occasional cod. Shorebound anglers found stripers to 35 inches lurking beneath the Route 50 bridge, where bucktails trimmed with six-inch white twisters proved effective.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder action seems to have stalled, but anglers fishing the inshore wrecks are loading their coolers with tasty sea bass to five pounds using squid strips and clam for bait. A few big tog were also taken from the wrecks, the largest tipping the scales at 15 pounds. Offshore, the south tip of Norfolk Canyon provided good blue shark action and an occasional yellowfin tuna.

OUTER BANKS -- Sea mullet and snapper bluefish dominated the catches for surf anglers at Duck, while a bit to the south at Nags Head speckled trout to three pounds were hauled in from the suds. Snapper bluefish, Spanish mackerel and grunts were mixed with yearling black drum at the ends of the piers, most taken on cut bunker and squid strips. Hatteras anglers fishing Cape Point caught a mix of mackerel, sea mullet, snapper bluefish and several pompano topping the two-pound mark. Offshore, the Oregon Inlet fleet returned to the docks with hauls of yellowfin tuna to 80 pounds, dolphin to 30 pounds and one mako shark. Several billfish were reportedly caught and released, including a blue marlin that was estimated at just over 500 pounds.

[treed942000]

Fish Lines

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, June 4, 2004; Page WE68

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Grass beds up and down the river continue to produce good numbers of largemouth bass. Topwater plugs worked well early and late in the day, but midday anglers resorted to tube lures and plastic worms to draw strikes from fish in somewhat deeper water. The cicada hatch is in high gear, which is good news for fly anglers casting large black popping bugs. Black buzzbaits also mimic the cicada's movements when twitched over the surface close to shore. The most effective topwater plug was a black Tiny Torpedo. The secret to success is to cast the lure close to shore, allow it to sit motionless for a few seconds, then twitch the rod tip enough to make the propellers spin and churn the water's surface. Deep-diving crankbaits fished along the dropoff at Fort McNair, and among the submerged boulders of Pentagon Lagoon continued to provide anglers with mid-size largemouths to three pounds. The Spoils, Smoot Bay, Oxen Run, and the grass beds of Piscataway Creek and Bryan's Cove relinquished significant numbers of larger bass. The mouth of Pomonkey Creek, Gunston Cove, Hallowing Cove, Mattawoman Creek, Chickamuxen Creek and bridges at Neabsco and Powells creeks continued to provide anglers with good catches of both largemouth bass and a few keeper-size stripers.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- High, muddy and unfishable.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA) -- Heavy rains pushed some of the smaller creeks over their banks and caused lowland flooding during the past few days. The river is above the safe level for boating anglers.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Ronald Huffman of Catonsville, Md., nailed a 2-pound, 12-ounce crappie while dunking live minnows at Rocky Gorge. His fish measured 18 inches long and had a girth of 14 inches. Robin Rupp of Westminster, Md., caught a 1-pound, 1.5-ounce crappie at Triadelphia that measured 13 3/4 inches with a girth of 9 3/4 inches while casting a crankbait. Scattered catches of largemouth bass were made in both impoundments over the holiday weekend, and channel catfish seem to be everywhere you drop a night crawler.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Hatching cicadas provided anglers with great fly-fishing and topwater plugging opportunities for nearly every species of fish in the lake. Swarms of cicadas blown off trees were gobbled down as soon as they hit the water. Small topwater plugs, those measuring just over an inch long and sporting small propellers, drew explosive strikes from largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, white perch, chain pickerel, and even some monster carp to 25 or more pounds. "There have been a few landed this week, but not many. These are really big carp and they're lots of fun to catch, but you have to be ready for them with heavier-than-normal tackle," said Loch Raven Fishing Center manager Kevin McComas.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Similar conditions exist at Liberty Reservoir, where hatching cicadas provided the impoundment's piscatorial residents with a high-protein diet for the past two weeks. The lake's upper reaches provided anglers with a good mix of white perch and crappie, especially above Nicodemus Bridge. "During the past week, there were more walleye caught than anyone has seen in more than 20 years. The fish are holding along the edges of grass beds in muddy water," said Doug Gies at Old Reisterstown Bait & Tackle.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Largemouth bass action kicked in during the past week, mainly in the shallows of the lake's upper reaches. Most were found lurking near large, submerged boulders or partly submerged trees in depths of two to five feet, where live minnows and small crankbaits proved effective. Crappie are stacking up at the mouths of most of the deeper coves, and there were good numbers of big bluegills taken from the cove's shallows. Rainbow trout fishing has been somewhat slow, but should improve as water temperatures rise into the mid-60s and these fish begin to congregate just above the dam.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- Larry Olson of Spotsylvania was fishing the lake's shallows with a shallow-running crankbait last week when he caught a 5-pound, 7-ounce largemouth bass. Luray resident Earl Embrey found a six-pounder lurking the shallows that slammed his lure like a freight train. Most of the bass are in post-spawn mode, which essentially means they'll hang around the spawning area for a week or two before migrating to deepwater haunts throughout the impoundment. Striper action ranged from good to excellent for weekend anglers willing to get out of bed and be on the water at the crack of dawn. Hunter's Landing, Holiday Bridge, The Splits and all locations in between held stripers to 12 pounds, most of which were taken on Sassy Shad and topwater plugs fished in depths of four to 10 feet. Paul Rider of Spotsylvania had four fish with a combined weight of 38 pounds, 5 ounces. Shallow brush piles, bridge supports and pier pilings hold good numbers of crappie to 15 inches, most taken on live minnows fished four to six feet beneath a small float.

KERR RESERVOIR -- The lake is again quite muddy. Striped bass are scattered between Clarksville and the dam, and largemouth bass fishing has been slow at best.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- The river is still a bit high, but relatively clear. Smallmouth bass action was mediocre at best and fisheries biologists were at a loss to explain why. A few bronzebacks were caught downriver of Bentonville Bridge on live minnows and night crawlers, but not in the number that normally are found this time of year.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- The Chesapeake's upper reaches continue to be a sea of muddy water from Conowingo Dam down to the Chesapeake Bay Bridges at Sandy Point. Muddy water continuously flows down the Susquehanna on a daily basis, often loaded with various forms of flotsam that range from large sticks to logs the size of telephone poles. Scattered catches of white perch were made in the river's muddy waters just above I-95 bridge by anglers drifting night crawlers and bloodworms along the bottom. White perch and an occasional keeper-size striped bass were found lurking just inside the North East River's mouth at Turkey Point, Rocky Point and the deepwater trough situated in front of the VA Hospital at Perry Point. Channel catfish are everywhere you drop a piece of cut herring or night crawler, and they range in size from 12 to 24 inches. Trollers caught a few stripers just below Pooles Island, where tandem-rigged bucktails trimmed with chartreuse Sassy Shad lured fish to 20 inches. Chummers at Love Point, Swan Point Bar and Belvedere Shoals caught significantly more stripers, but the percentage of keepers is quite small. One angler talked of catching more than 200 fish during a single chumming trip, but between the six anglers aboard his boat, they were only able to keep two fish. Similar reports were heard from the Dumping Grounds, Man-O-War Shoals and the Patapsco River's mouth -- lots of fish, but nothing big enough to keep. White perch to 10 inches and a few large croaker were found just inside the Chester River's mouth near the entrance to Kent Narrows. Bottom-fished bloodworms proved to be the best bait here. Upriver, anglers fishing with night crawlers and cut herring baits beneath Chestertown's Route 213 bridge caught a mix of small stripers and channel catfish while fishing the river's channel edges.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- A few croaker are being taken from Mattapeake Pier at night, but more often than not baits are being gobbled down by throwback stripers before the croaker have a chance of reaching them. Large croaker were found in Eastern Bay and along the channel edge near Parson's Island. Most were taken on bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips. Scattered catches of white perch to 10 inches were reported by anglers fishing between pilings of the old Chesapeake Bay Bridge and there were a few keeper rockfish mixed with them.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- The river's lower reaches between Cook and Chlora points, especially along the southern channel edge, provided anglers with a mix of small stripers and big croaker. Upriver, anglers fishing from the Route 50 bridge fishing piers caught a mix of white perch and channel catfish. Some of the catties ranged up to six pounds. Bottom-fished cut herring baits lured the largest catfish, while bloodworms were effective for perch.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Most of the charter boats are still fishing locations south of Chesapeake Beach, mainly near the Gas Docks, where chummers caught large numbers of rockfish to 22 inches during the past week. Again, the throwback ratio has been quite high, with more than half the fish caught measuring less than 18 inches. Few if any exceed the 28-inch size limit for the second fish. Some captains are still trolling the bay's western channel edge with small bucktails and spoons and reported somewhat larger fish.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- The river's lower reaches are loaded with various sizes of croaker, small stripers to 22 inches, and even an occasional flounder. Most anglers had no trouble catching their 25-fish limits of croaker to 18 inches while fishing the river's southern channel edge down to Cedar Point. Cedar Point Hollow, and the bay's western channel edge, provided anglers with good-to-excellent catches of croaker as well. Nearly all were taken on bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips fishing late in the day and into the early evening.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Croaker up to 20 inches were found lurking along the bay's eastern channel edge between Punch Island Bar and Richland Point Buoy, locations where bottom-fished bloodworms, bait shrimp and squid stripers were extremely effective when drifted over the bottom in depths of 20 to 25 feet during the first few hours of ebb tide. Plug casters found legal-size stripers to 20 inches lurking among the pilings of Lower Hooper Island Bridge, where topwater plugs and small bucktails trimmed with four-inch pearl and chartreuse twister tails were hit with arm-jolting strikes.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- The headboat and charter fleet running from Crisfield continues to catch good numbers of big croaker in both Tangier and Pocomoke sounds, some measuring up to 20 inches or more. The fish are congregated along the sound's eastern channel edge in depths of 25 to 40 feet, and they're frequently mixed with large spot and an occasional weakfish. Most of the weakfish are still quite small, but a few caught at night tipped the scales at nearly three pounds.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- If you head upriver from Point Lookout State Park to the Wicomico River's mouth, just drop something in the water and you'll get an immediate hit from a broad-shouldered croaker. That's what anglers that returned to Quade's Store in Bushwood claimed. Nearly every boat returns to the docks after a couple of hours with their 25 fish-per-angler limit of croaker, plus a bonus of white perch and spot. At the point's public fishing pier, a mix of croaker, spot, snapper bluefish, striped bass and throwback flounder are caught both day and night. Nighttime anglers usually end up with the largest fish, plus a few keeper rockfish as well. Charter boat anglers chummed along the bay's eastern channel edge and caught rockfish to 26 inches, plus several big croaker.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- The river's mouth and upriver to White Stone Bridge continue to provide anglers with a good mix of big croaker, spot, flounder and a few pan trout. Most are taken on bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips. Scattered catches of small- to mid-size stripers were reported at Windmill and Stingray points, locations where schools of small breaking fish had keeper-size rockfish lurking just beneath them.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- The Cell was the holiday weekend hot spot for just about everything that swims in Chesapeake Bay. Croaker to 20 inches, flounder to six pounds, similar-size weakfish and some monster spadefish were all caught at this single location near Buoy 42. Spadefish to 10 pounds were also found lurking among the CBBT's submerged boulders at the Third and Fourth islands, where pieces of clam drifted into a chum slick of ground clam proved extremely effective. Scattered catches of both black drum and red drum were also reported just above the bridge at Lattimer Shoals, while at Kiptopeke's concrete ships, tautog to six pounds gobbled down pieces of hard-shell crab fished tight against the wrecks.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- The season's first yellowfin tuna were found at the south tip of Washington Canyon, and while there were no billfish caught, two white marlin were seen trailing behind skipbaits intended for the tuna. Closer to shore, headboat anglers caught good numbers of sea bass to five pounds, a lone seven-pounder being the pool winner on Friday. Shorebound anglers had no trouble catching keeper stripers from the Route 50 bridge, some tipping the scales at more than 30 pounds. Most were taken on small bucktails trimmed with varying soft plastics. Scattered catches of tautog to three pounds were made on chunks of peeler crab. Flounder to seven pounds were taken from the shallows above Route 50 bridge, mostly on frozen shiners and squid strips fished in shallow depths along the back bay's channel edges.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder action picked up a bit since last week, but there are still a fair number of throwbacks being caught for every keeper-size fish. Offshore, the north tip of Norfolk Canyon provided trollers with a mix of yellowfin tuna, small dolphin and the season's first wahoo.

OUTER BANKS -- Surf anglers fishing between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head reported fair catches of snapper bluefish to three pounds, small spot and sea mullet while dunking bloodworms. Pier anglers fared a bit better with a mix of bluefish to five pounds, Spanish mackerel, spot, weakfish and an occasional striped bass. Most of the stripers ranged up to 24 inches, but there were lots of throwbacks as well. Offshore, trollers using rigged mullet baits loaded up on yellowfin tuna to 60 pounds, gaffer dolphin and several big wahoo. There were a number of blue marlin tagged and released. Hatteras boats fishing near shore caught a mix of cobia, king mackerel and bluefish just outside the inlet.

[treed942000]

i]Fish Lines[/i]

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, June 11, 2004; Page WE56
What's the Catch?
Washington & Vicinity


TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- In Washington, largemouth bass and stripers were caught in the confines of Washington Channel on fire-tiger crankbaits fished near Fort McNair Wall and the outer edges of nearby grass beds. The main river bridge foundations held fair numbers of largemouth bass, but no smallmouths were caught by weekend anglers. Pentagon Lagoon has been very productive for largemouths, but anglers struggled in the murky waters beneath Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Good numbers of mid-size bass were hauled from beneath boat docks and the edges of grass beds in Piscataway and Broad creeks. The dropoff between Dogue Creek and Gunston Cove was also productive for largemouths. Mattawoman Creek's spatterdock, and grass beds in Chickamuxen and Aquia creeks, are still producing fair numbers of mid-size largemouth bass for shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- Smallmouth bass to 18 inches were caught at Point of Rocks, Lander, Whites Ferry and Edwards Ferry. Most of the past week's catches were made by anglers casting small tube lures rigged to quarter-ounce leadheads and fished in the heads of deeper pools.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The river is high, a bit murky and unseasonably cool. This put a damper on weekend smallmouth bass action.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- It was a quiet weekend at both impoundments.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- This Baltimore County impoundment continues to amaze anyone that fishes its waters. White perch to 12 inches slammed trolled spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler in the deeper waters, while the shallows provided excellent catches of chain pickerel, largemouth bass and some carp. Any lure resembling a 17-year cicada is quickly hit.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Heavy rains muddied the impoundment's upper reaches, curtailing white perch and crappie fishing action above Nicodemus Bridge, but good reports did come from downlake anglers fishing sheltered coves with live minnows and small shad darts suspended beneath floats. Most caught a mix of crappie, white perch and big bluegills, plus an occasional bonus largemouth bass. One big striper was taken just below the Route 32 bridge while trolling a deep-diving crankbait along channel edges.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Big bluegills are still in the lake's shallows, and nasty weekend weather kept water skiers and jet skis to a minimum, so most of the larger coves provided good to excellent catches of bluegills for anglers dunking night crawlers and live minnows. A good mix of chain pickerel and yellow perch was also found at the same locations. Trout fishing remains slow, but should improve when summer conditions return.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- Many anglers not even trying to catch catfish came up with big numbers, most caught on live bait while striper and bass fishing. Linda and Earl Devers of Spotsylvania, Va., had seven fish with a combined weight of 29 pounds. Largemouth bass are in the shallows holding close to any type of structure, docks, stumps, submerged brush, etc. Bass are also starting to cruise shorelines in depths of just two to five feet. Fish topwater plugs in the early morning and late evening using Storm Chug Bugs, Topwater XPS and Pop R's in chrome/black color combinations. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits will also work during periods of low light. Lots of stripers at the splits, where warmer water made trolling a desirable option. Topwater action has been good early and late in the day, but during midday, stay in the main lake and use Redfins, Zara Spooks and sassy shads, mainly in silver and pearl colors. The Deverses had three fish averaging five pounds apiece.

KERR RESERVOIR -- Nasty weekend weather muddied the impoundment all the way to Clarksville. Fishing will likely remain slow until conditions improve.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- The river is again muddy, temperatures are a bit below normal, and smallmouth bass action was only fair at best for those fishing downriver of Bentonville Bridge.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- The upper bay remains muddy, and striped bass action is nearly nonexistent in the Susquehanna River and Susquehanna Flats, but there are loads of big channel catfish everywhere. The Susquehanna River's lower reaches near Lapidum Landing provided weekend anglers with channel catfish to 10 pounds, most caught on large, live shiners intended for striped bass. Cut herring baits fished downriver of Conowingo Dam also produced good catfish action as well. Live white perch fished near the river's mouth lured a few keeper stripers measuring up to 20 inches, but limit catches of two fish per angler were indeed rare. Channel catfish to eight pounds were found lurking in the deeper waters of the North East, Elk, Sassafras, Bohemia, Bush and Gunpowder rivers, and the C&D Canal near Chesapeake City. Nearly all were taken on bottom-fished cut herring baits and night crawlers. Trollers found a few keeper rockfish just south of Pooles Island at the Peach Orchard, Belvedere Shoals and Love Point.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Small white perch, spot and an occasional croaker were caught from the decks of Mattapeake Pier on Sunday, while trollers and chummers caught lots of throwback rockfish just a short distance to the south at Brickhouse Bar and Bloody Point. Inside the mouth of Eastern Bay and northeast to Parson's Island, scattered catches of croaker to 17 inches and white perch to 10 inches were made by anglers drift fishing with bloodworms and squid strips. A few white perch and throwback stripers were found lurking among the bridge pilings and jetty rocks of Kent Narrows at night.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- The river's lower reaches continue to provide good catches of croaker late in the day and into the evening, but daytime anglers have been hard-pressed to find good concentrations of these fish. Striped bass to 20 inches were found in the shallows of Cook and Chlora points, where small bucktails trimmed with chunks of peeler crab produced the best action during the first few hours of ebb tide.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- It was a slow weekend for charter boat anglers, mainly because of weather conditions. During last Thursday's Emerald Society Tournament, everyone returned to the docks with good numbers of stripers to 24 inches, most taken while chumming at The Gooses and other locations south of Sharps Island Flats. Headboat anglers caught a mix of croaker and spot while dunking bloodworms at the Choptank River's mouth, and bottom fishing is improving.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Bad weather curtailed much of the bottom fishing in the river's lower reaches, but shorebound anglers fishing at night from the Patuxent Naval Air Station continue to catch good numbers of croaker, a few spot and an occasional keeper flounder.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- The river's shallows continue to provide anglers with fair numbers of mid-size stripers, most of which seem to lurk among the bridge pilings of Lower Hooper Island Bridge. Small bucktails trimmed with chartreuse twister tails and trimmed with a chunk of peeler crab were the most effective baits. Croaker can be found at the river's mouth near Richland Point Buoy and to the south at HS Buoy, where squid strips and bait shrimp lured fish to 18 inches.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Charter and headboat anglers had a rough weekend, mainly because of windy, rainy weather. Those who opted to fish on Sunday found good numbers of big croaker along the sound's eastern channel edge between Puppy Hole and Fox Island buoys. Bottom-fished chunks of peeler crab, bait shrimp and squid strips were best for the croaker, while bloodworms lured good numbers of big spot and a few kingfish.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- On days when the wind's not howling from the northeast or northwest, chummers are scoring well on stripers to 22 inches while fishing the bay's eastern channel edge just south of Buoy 72. When the sun goes down, croaker to 20 inches school over rock piles at the Southwest Middle Grounds, Northwest Middle Grounds and Mud Leads, where drift-fished squid strips produce limit catches. A few weakfish and snapper bluefish were caught from Point Lookout Pier during the day, while at night anglers loaded their coolers with croaker, spot, and a few keeper flounder and stripers, all taken on bloodworms and squid strips. Anglers fishing the mouth of Wicomico River caught limits of croaker and significant numbers of big spot while dunking bloodworms in depths of 20 to 30 feet.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- Medium-size croaker and small spot are available in shallow waters from piers and beaches, while larger spot are available off Parrot Island in the Rappahannock River, and in deep holes in the Piankitank River. Local charter captains continue to cross the bay to find consistent deep-water croaker action east of The Cell. These fish are measuring 18 inches or more. A citation croaker measuring 21 inches and weighing 3 pounds 8 ounces was taken from that area earlier in the week and checked in at Queen's Creek Outfitters. Bloodworms, followed by peelers and squid, are the favored baits.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- Trollers caught fair numbers of keeper-size stripers south of Buoy 42 along the bay's eastern channel edge. Similar-size stripers were also found at the CBBT's Third and Fourth islands, where topwater plugs and bucktails trimmed with twisters lured mixed sizes of stripers from the submerged boulders. Croaker are plentiful throughout, with the largest fish coming from the bay's eastern channel edge. Flounder to 20 inches were found on the flats near Kiptopeke, and fair numbers of snapper bluefish to three pounds were seen breaking on days when the winds were calm.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Friday was the only day that the weather permitted the charter fleet to venture offshore, and most of the captains who opted to run to Washington Canyon found a mix of yellowfin tuna, mid-size dolphin and some monster mako sharks to 250 pounds. Similar-size blue sharks were also available a bit closer to shore, but the largest sharks caught were threshers, some of which were estimated at 450 or more pounds. The threshers were found lurking along the 20-fathom curve between Delaware Light Ship and DB Buoy. Anglers bottom-bouncing live minnows above Route 50 bridge found flounder to six pounds willing to gobble down their offerings. "If you can't catch flounder this time of year at Ocean City, it would probably be a good idea to seriously consider taking up golf," said Lynn Jarmon at Delmarva Sports Center. "We're seeing lots of big flounder come in every day, and the folks that are persistent usually end up with good catches of bigger fish."

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder catches were good at both ports, but the size of the fish caught here seems to be smaller than just a week ago.

OUTER BANKS -- When the weather cooperated, fantastic catches of cobia were made by trollers fishing just east of the Nags Head surf line, often within casting distance of the piers. Pier anglers caught a mix of spot, croaker, Spanish mackerel, a few cobia and lots of sea mullet. Snapper bluefish are abundant throughout the area, while just inside the inlets, fair numbers of sheepshead, spot and speckled trout were landed. Offshore, dolphin and big wahoo dominated, but there were a few blue marlin and white marlin tagged and released. Morehead City's headboats returned to the docks with sea bass, snapper, grouper and triggerfish.

[treed942000]

Fish Lines

By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, June 18, 2004; Page WE56

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- Grass beds from Piscataway to Potomac creeks continue to produce medium-size bass during periods of tidal exchange. At high tide and during midday, tube lures and stick baits fished painfully slow produced the best results. The dropoff at Fort McNair wall in Washington Channel was a good bet for monster carp, an occasional bass and even a legal-size striper on days when the weather cooperated. Nearly all were taken on bottom-fished bloodworms, night crawlers and cut herring baits fished along the outer perimeters of grass beds. Pentagon Lagoon was the weekend hot spot for anglers casting tube lures near submerged riprap and pilings. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge area was slower than normal over the weekend, possibly because of weather changes. The same was true for The Spoils, but prospects improved in Oxen Run Cove, where a couple of five-pound largemouths were caught. Other productive areas include the grass beds of Piscataway Creek and those found on the Virginia side between Hog Island and Mount Vernon. Bulltown Cove, the mouth of Pomonkey Creek, Gunson Cove and Hallowing Cove are loaded with mid-size largemouth bass, most of which seem to be congregated along the edges of grass beds. Mattawoman and Chickamuxen creeks, and bridges at Neabsco and Powell creeks held a few exceptionally large fish until the front passed through and lowered water temperatures nearly five degrees. The mouth of Aquia Creek proved productive for anglers casting buzzbaits early and late in the day.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river's upper reaches are finally clearing, though not substantially at this point. Most of the fish caught earlier in the week were somewhat small, and many were taken on black surface plugs that resembled cicadas. The best action was at Lander, followed by Whites and Edwards ferries.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The river's water temperature fell to 55 degrees after the passage of the cold front, and river levels rose at Harrisburg shortly after the rains hit. Just before the changes in river conditions, anglers caught good numbers of smallmouth bass to three pounds at a half-dozen locations between Fort Hunter and the Juniata River's mouth. Nearly all were taken on tube lures fished slowly, close to the bottom.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Another slow week here, with mixed catches of channel catfish, bluegill, crappie and a few largemouths. Most were taken on live minnows fished in the impoundment's upper reaches, but some of the largest catfish were taken close to the dams.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Another great weekend for white perch anglers -- catches to 12 inches slammed slow-trolled, in-line spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler and fished at the mouths of major coves. The lake's grass beds continue to give up a few chain pickerel, largemouth bass and lots of bluegill. Bridge anglers managed to catch a few crappie from Dulaney Valley Bridge, but the action was slow at best.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Anglers fishing above Nicodemus Bridge from shore found good numbers of white perch, an occasional striper and even a few trout lurking along the edges of drop-offs. Live minnows were the key to success when fished four to six feet beneath small floats. Bridge anglers caught a mix of white perch and crappie while dunking chicken livers close to the pilings, while downriver, trollers using deep-running crankbaits continue to reel in lunker walleye. A few big stripers were reportedly taken just downlake of Route 32 bridge and just above Route 26 bridge, again, with live minnows producing the best results.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Weekday anglers were able to load up on big bluegill, yellow perch, chain pickerel and a few big crappie while dunking live minnows in the deeper coves. Downlake, near Deep Creek Dam, live minnows lured a few big rainbow trout to three pounds from 20 feet beneath the surface. Scattered catches of both largemouth and smallmouth bass were made along the lake's rocky shorelines while casting shallow-running crankbaits in depths of just two to four feet. A few big largemouths were also pulled from beneath floating docks using live minnows suspended a few feet beneath floats.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- The lake's upper reaches continue to provide anglers with excellent catches of striped bass to seven pounds. Hot spots included Jett Island, The Splits, mouth of Sturgeon Creek, d**e No. 3 and the upper lake's main channel edges. Trollers scored best using a variety of deep-diving crankbaits and large, live minnows, but early and late in the day plug casters enjoyed good topwater action on somewhat smaller fish. Bass fishing ranged good to excellent in the deeper coves and major creeks, where tube lures, plastic worms and deep-diving crankbaits lured a number of largemouths to four pounds. Crappie are beginning to migrate to deeper water, but you can still find some lurking beneath docks.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- Scattered catches of legal-size stripers were made at the base of Conowingo Dam during the past week, most taken on four- to six-inch white and chartreuse twister tails rigged to half-ounce bucktails and cast into the tailrace waters. A few anglers used surf rods to heave whole, live bluegill into the swirling tailrace, which resulted in catches of substantially larger rockfish. Downriver, just below Lapidum Landing, anglers trolled small, red, surgical hose eels in depths of four to 12 feet, which produced a few stripers to 22 inches and lots of throwbacks measuring 12 to 15 inches. Channel catfish to 10 pounds smacked cut herring baits fished in the same vicinity, mostly from depths of 15 to 20 feet on the Cecil County side of the river. The Susquehanna Flats gave up a few keeper stripers to anglers casting bucktails trimmed with Bass Assassins along the channel edges in depths of four to six feet near the North East River's mouth. Water conditions here are still quite murky, but a week of dry weather could trigger a good run of striped bass here. Channel catfish are just about every place you drop a piece of cut herring, night crawler or chicken liver. Catties to eight pounds were caught in the North East, Elk, Sassafras and Bohemia rivers nearly every day last week. The same was true for the Chester River's upper reaches, Bush River, Dundee Creek, Gunpowder River and the cut behind the Hart/Miller Island complex. Trollers fishing last weekend's Rock Hall Rockfish Tournament found tough conditions in the upper bay, so some opted to run to more productive southern locations in an attempt to catch a prizewinner. At the time of this writing, the largest striper weighed in tipped the scales at 14 pounds and was caught south of the Bay Bridges. Trollers found a few keeper-size rockfish lurking tight against the submerged boulders of Love Point Light, while just a short distance up the Chester River, pods of white perch were found along the river's southern channel edge near the entrance buoy to Kent Narrows.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- White perch and small schools of croaker were found lurking in the mouth of Eastern Bay. The croaker were primarily caught along the channel edges near Parson's Island, while the perch seemed to be concentrated at creek mouths and the southern end of Kent Narrows. Bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips produced the best action when fished just after sundown during periods of moving tide. Trollers found a few stripers lurking among finger pilings of the Bay Bridges, where bucktails trimmed with white twisters were effective early and late in the day.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- Croaker are scattered along the river's southern channel edge between Cook and Chloras points, where squid strips and bait shrimp lured fish to 16 inches from depths of 12 to 20 feet. The river's shallows near the mouth provided some light tackle rockfish action for anglers casting bucktails trimmed with four-inch, chartreuse twisters and fished in depths of two to five feet. White perch and channel catfish remain plentiful beneath the Route 50 bridge fishing piers, where bloodworms, clam snouts and cut herring baits all proved effective at night.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- The local charter fleet is primarily chumming for stripers just above the Gas Docks, and across the bay at The Gooses, locations that produced fair numbers of stripers to 20 inches. Headboat anglers caught a mix of spot, white perch and big croaker while fishing the Choptank River's mouth at night.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- The river's lower reaches have experienced an invasion of big croaker, some measuring up to 22 inches, which is huge by any standard. Several exceptionally large fish were found at Hawk's Nest near the mouth of Cuckolds Creek late in the week, with the best action taking place during high tides. Many anglers reported catching two at a time on double bottom rigs. Croaker averaging 17 inches were caught by shorebound anglers at TPS Pier, West Basin and Hog Point on the Naval Air Station. Spot and flounder have also arrived in the Patuxent River's confines, with most found lurking along the drop-off near the Three Legged Marker. The spot are frequently mixed with croaker and are best taken with bottom-fished bloodworms.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Big croaker were caught at the river's mouth at night, some measuring up to 21 inches and tipping the scales at nearly three pounds. The largest fish were found just a short distance from Lower Hooper Island near Richland Point Buoy and the HS Buoy in Hooper Straits. Lower Hooper Island Bridge's pilings and some of the nearby sloughs and guts held a few keeper stripers to 20 inches, but the speckled trout just have not materialized. Flounder to 21 inches were found along the bay's eastern channel edge, primarily in depths of 20 to 30 feet between buoys 74 and 76. Large, live bull minnows sandwiched between squid strips proved to be a deadly combination.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Most of the past week's bottom-fishing action centered on croaker and spot, both found in abundance in lower Tangier Sound near a location known by locals as California. Croaker to 17 inches were commonplace and spot to 10 inches were mixed with them. Lurking nearby were a few monster black drum weighing just over 60 pounds. A few weakfish and flounder were also caught at the same location.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Most of the local charter fleet headed across the bay to chum along the bay's eastern channel edge just below Buoy 72A, where stripers ranging from 15-inch throwbacks to 27-inch keepers were boated by anglers using light tackle. Westover, Md., resident John Jordan tried his luck casting streamer flies into a chum. Jordan boated a hefty 25-inch striper on the fly rod, a fish that Capt. Dave Stone says put up one heck of a battle before being landed. You don't have to be on a boat to catch big croaker at Point Lookout State Park. Anglers fishing from the park's causeway and public fishing pier caught good numbers of big croaker at night while bottom fishing with squid strips and bloodworms. Upriver, big croaker were found just off St. George's Island, Brenton Bay, St. Mary's River and the Wicomico River, locations where limit catches were the norm with many fish measuring 18 inches or larger.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- Chummers caught good numbers of stripers at the Asphalt Pile, Northern Neck Reef and the lumps just north of Smith Point Bar. Nothing exceptionally large, but the vast majority were keeper size. Croaker fishing ranged good to incredible at many locations, including the confines of the Rappahannock, where croaker to 15 inches and spot to 10 inches seemed to cover the entire bottom just downriver of White Stone Bridge. Larger croaker were found outside the river's mouth just east of Windmill Point and across the bay at the lumps southwest of Tangier Light. A few keeper-size weakfish were caught at the remains of the Davidson and Tangier wrecks by anglers casting bucktails trimmed with chunks of peeler crab, most tipping the scales at three to four pounds. Scattered catches of flounder were made on the flats south of Windmill Point and just outside the Little Wicomico River's mouth near the north jetty.

CAPE CHARLES AREA --   Good numbers of keeper-size flounder were found lurking near buoy 42, The Cell and down the bay at Plantation Flats. Minnow/squid combinations were the most effective at both locations. Spadefish to eight pounds arrived in relatively large numbers at The Cell, the CBBT's Third and Fourth islands, and Chesapeake Tower. Croaker are plentiful throughout the area in mixed sizes ranging from 10 to 18 inches, with the largest fish caught at night along the bay's eastern channel edge in depths of 25 to 35 feet. A fair number of dusky sharks were caught and released by weekend anglers at the same location. Scattered catches of cobia were reported at Lattimer Shoal, the Inner Middle Ground and Plantation Flats, the largest tipping the scales at 70 pounds. Several red drum ranging from 40 to 55 inches were also caught and released at the same locations and from the shoals surrounding Fisherman's Island.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Most charterboat anglers enjoyed fast and furious yellowfin tuna action while trolling rigged ballyhoo and spreader bars at Washington Canyon, where limit catches of tuna to 55 pounds were made on days when the weather cooperated. Closer to shore, an occasional bluefin tuna to 80 pounds was caught from some of the lumps and bumps near the 20 Fathom Curve. Sharkers caught lots of blue and mako during the past week, with the largest makos topping 150 pounds. Headboat anglers enjoyed great wreck fishing for sea bass and tautog, with many of the sea bass weighing three or more pounds. Shorebound anglers caught good numbers of striped bass and big weakfish from the Route 50 bridge at night while casting bucktails trimmed with twister tails. Back bay anglers enjoyed good to excellent catches of flounder to 22 inches while drifting live minnows along the channel edges. Surf catches consisted mainly of kingfish, small shark and snapper bluefish.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Flounder fishing was somewhat like the past week's weather -- hot and cold. There were days when many of the boats returned to launch ramps and docks with limits of flatfish to 20 inches, while the following day the same people found it difficult to catch a single keeper-size fish. Offshore, slammer bluefish can be found at most of the traditional tuna fishing hot spots, including the 21 and 26 Mile Hills, Parking Lot and Ammo Wreck.

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Fish Lines
By Gary Diamond
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, June 25, 2004; Page WE56

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- The entire river is muddy because of heavy runoff from recent thunderstorms. While there is some clear water near grass beds, much of the river resembles Bosco with sticks and debris. The best bet for weekend anglers hoping to hook up with a chunky largemouth bass is to fish some of the smaller creeks, where water quality is a bit better. Woodrow Wilson Bridge anglers continue to catch an occasional fish to four pounds, but the action is anything but consistent. Oxen Run Cove, Belle Haven and Hog Island piers and grass beds may provide some action if the weather remains dry, and don't overlook the mouth of Four Mile Run -- there's always a few big fish lurking in the grass beds here as well. Slightly clearer water may be found in Washington Channel and Pentagon Lagoon. Fletcher's Landing is still the hot spot for big channel and flathead catfish. Shorebound and boating anglers alike caught good numbers of catties to 15 pounds, most taken on bottom-fished cut herring and chicken liver baits.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- The river's upper reaches remain high, muddy and unfishable.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- When the river clears, look for smallmouth bass in the mouths of creeks and in main river grass beds situated relatively close to shore and behind islands, locations where eddies provide some shelter from the current and a good supply of food.

Maryland

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- Loch Raven Fishing Center had a busy weekend when a local bass club conducted its one-day tournament. "They caught a lot of big bass, the largest weighed about 5 1/2 pounds, and I believe the winning total, combined weight, was nearly 18 pounds," center manager Kevin McComas said. Most of the bass were taken from the edges of grass beds situated relatively close to shore, while just outside the beds, trollers caught large numbers of chunky white perch while dragging inline spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler. Trollers also caught a few big chain pickerel, lots of chunky bluegill, and a few crappie from the mouth of Pierce's Cove.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Anglers fishing with live shiners and chunks of chicken liver from the decks of Nicodemus Bridge caught a mix of white perch and crappie, both of which averaged about 10 inches in length. Just a short distance downlake near Oakland Mills Point, trollers using large, live shiners and deep-diving crankbaits managed to sink their hooks into a few hefty stripers to 10 pounds. Most of the stripers were caught just after sunrise. Largemouth bass action ranged fair to good in some of the mid-lake coves, where shallow-running crankbaits cast among the submerged trees and stumps lured bucketmouths to five or more pounds. Trollers using small shad darts trimmed with a morsel of night crawler caught a mix of white perch and crappie that were suspended just beneath the lake's surface uplake of Route 26 bridge and downlake of Route 32 bridge.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- Most of the impoundment's largemouths were found in shoreline grass beds between Turkey Neck and Green Glade, and downlake near the town of McHenry. Big bluegills, some measuring up to 12 inches, were caught from depths of four to 10 feet, most taken from the back ends of larger coves on weekdays when boating traffic was relatively light. A few walleye were caught from among the huge, submerged boulders near the state park, where live minnows and leeches suspended beneath floats were the keys to success.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- Most of the week's largemouth bass action took place early and late in the day, with the best catches made from depths of two to seven feet by anglers casting a variety of tube lures, plastic worms and deep-diving crankbaits near pier pilings, along drop-offs and near the mouths of small creeks. Some of the bass were exceptionally large, but the average fish tipped the scales at less than three pounds. Peyton White and Frankie Sipe of Fluvanna, Va., caught three fish that had a combined weight of 14 pounds 5 ounces. Their largest bass weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces. Striped bass continue to dominate the big fish action. The fish are concentrated along the main lake channel edges from the Splits to Stubbs and Holiday bridges. Drift-fishing with live bait and trolling works best during the mid-day, while topwater action has been good morning and evening. The secret to catching the largest fish while plug casting is to stay in the main lake and use topwater Redfins, Zara Spooks and Sassy Shad, silver and pearl colors. During the heat of the day, fish the same areas in depths of six to 15 feet using Sea Shad, Sassy Shad, Boss Baitfish or Storm Wildeyes, mostly pearl color patterns. Troll with Normans DD-22 or Cordell Redfins. Local angler Earl Devers had a nine-fish day of catfish and stripers, with a combined weight of 35 pounds. Water temperatures ranged from 82 to 86 degrees during the week, which is warm for this time of year, but not too warm to drive crappie to deep water. Most of the lake's shoreline brush piles and pier pilings continue to provide anglers with crappie to 13 inches while suspending live minnows four to six feet beneath a small float.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- While the river is perfect for taking an exciting float trip downriver from Bentonville Bridge, fishing action continues to be considerably slower than normal, and no one seems to have an explanation as to why. Water temperatures are in the mid-70s, the grass beds have all emerged, and water quality is high, but the fish just are not there. In the meantime, you can take advantage of the whitewater rafting opportunities.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- Another week of muddy, fast-flowing water and poor fishing conditions throughout much of the upper Chesapeake. Just about the time the Susquehanna, North East, Elk, Sassafras, Bush, Gunpowder and Bohemia rivers began to clear, the region was hit with a gully-washer that dumped several inches of rain. Lowland flooding has been the norm lately, but there was at least one bright spot on days when it was not raining. A cold front passed through the region last Saturday, which triggered a catfish feeding binge. Channel catfish to 15 pounds ate just about anything that was within range, including bucktails cast along the river's channel edges for stripers. The largest fish were caught in the C&D Canal and Elk River, where bottom-fished cut herring and chicken liver baits were gobbled down by catties averaging eight or more pounds. Trollers found a few legal-size striped bass while dragging bucktails trimmed with white twisters and pearl Sassy Shad near Love Point Light, Peach Orchard, Belvedere Shoals and just east of Bodkin Point. While most of the fish were 18 to 20 inches in length, there were a few exceptional stripers that tipped the scales at 12 to 14 pounds. White perch and channel catfish are the main staple in the Chester River's lower and middle reaches. Bottom-fished bloodworms were best for the perch when fished along the river's channel edges, while cut herring and clam snouts lured catties near Chestertown's Route 213 bridge.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Chummers found pods of small stripers lurking along the drop-offs between Kentmoore Marina and Bloody Point Light, but keeper-size rockfish were quite scarce. Inside the mouth of Eastern Bay, scattered catches of croaker were made while drift-fishing with squid strips, razor clam, bait shrimp and chunks of peeler crab. Recreational crabbers found good numbers of blue crabs lurking in Eastern Bay near the mouth of Crab Alley Bay and Wye River. Most measured 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 inches point to point and were taken in collapsible traps baited with chicken necks and small white perch. White perch remain plentiful in Kent Narrows at night, but most of the fish caught during the past week were too small to keep.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- Croaker action dropped off after the passage of the weekend cold front, and only a handful of keeper-size stripers were found in the river's confines. The channel edge between Todd and Cook points was the lone hot spot in the river's lower reaches, with stripers ranging from throwbacks to 27 inches, and a few croaker to 18 inches. Both species were taken on bottom-fished chunks of peeler crab during the first few hours of afternoon ebb tide. Anglers fishing from the decks of the Route 50 bridge piers caught a mix of small white perch, throwback stripers and lots of big channel catfish. Most of the catfish were taken on cut herring and chicken liver baits fished near the channel edges.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- Another good weekend of striped bass action for both chummers and trollers. Limit catches of stripers to 24 inches were made at the Gooses, Gas Docks and several locations between the Radar Towers and mouth of Parker's Creek. Headboat anglers did not fare as well on croaker, but they did manage to find a few spot and white perch lurking in the mouths of the West and Choptank rivers.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Croaker action varied, likely the result of rapidly changing weather patterns. They seem to have adopted nocturnal habits a few weeks earlier than usual. Night fishing has been good for a mix of croaker and spot near Hog Point and inside Cedar Point Hollow, with the majority of the larger fish being caught on bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips. Mixed sizes of striped bass were seen breaking near Cedar Point Rip, most measuring just under the 18-inch minimum size limit. Scattered catches of flounder to 20 inches were made directly across the bay from Punch Island Bar to Hooper Island Light, where minnow/squid combinations proved deadly early and late in the day.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- The river's mouth was still the spot for croaker at night, particularly along the channel edges near Richland Point and HS buoys. Squid strips and chunks of peeler crab lured croaker to 17 inches, and when conditions were ideal, most anglers reported catching two at a time just as fast as their baits touched bottom. Stripers to 22 inches continued to come into the chum slicks, and most of the charter boats reported limit catches were made within a few hours.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- The lower reaches of both Tangier and Pocomoke sounds were alive with headboat and charterboat anglers despite weekend winds. Most caught good numbers of spot and croaker, plus a few bonus flounder and weakfish. The drop-offs just above Tangier Light and an area known locally as California provided the best action.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Most of the local charter boats ventured out to the bay's eastern channel edge, where they chummed for stripers and limited out on fish to 26 inches. After a few hours, they switched to bottom fishing and caught limits of big croaker to 18 inches while drifting squid strips and bait shrimp at the same location. Up in the Potomac, large numbers of spot were found just inside Cornfield Harbor, while anglers fishing the mouth of the St. Mary's and Wicomico rivers caught croaker to 16 inches on bottom-fished bloodworms and squid strips.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- Most of the larger croaker seem to have migrated out of the river, leaving 12- to 15-inchers behind to keep anglers busy on days when it's too windy to fish the bay's open waters. Big croaker to 20 inches were found along the bay's western channel edge from Smith Point Light south to Windmill Point Light, where squid strips were extremely effective.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- The Cell was the place for big flounder, the largest tipping the scales at more than six pounds. Several anglers reported sighting huge schools of spadefish at the same location, but only a few smaller fish were caught. The same was true with Wolftrap Light and the CBBT's man-made islands, where large spadefish were sighted, but only a few caught. Flounder action picked up at Plantation Flats and down the bay near Kiptopeke Flats, where limit catches of flatfish to four pounds were made on days when the wind was calm.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Capt. Sean Welsh, skipper of the Justified, may have a new state- and world-record shark, caught by an angler fishing with him last week during the Ocean City Shark Tournament. The 375-pound hammerhead, if confirmed, should eclipse the current record by several pounds. Sean's crew won the three-day event, with total earnings of $24,690, which includes payouts from various skill-level entries as well. Offshore, anglers continue to catch good numbers of yellowfin tuna to 60 pounds while trolling cedar plugs, rigged ballyhoo and Green Machines at Washington and northern Norfolk canyons. A few dolphin have been mixed with them as well, most weighing 10 to 12 pounds. Closer to the beach, a few bluefin tuna were boated by trollers at the Lumpy Bottom and Parking Lot, but only one bluefin tuna per boat may be kept until National Marine Fisheries Service decides what the season size and bag limits will be. (If officials don't make up their minds soon, it could affect the Ocean City Tuna Tournament, which kicks off July 8.) Headboat anglers managed to catch modest numbers of sea bass, but the action is a bit slow because of spawning. Trollers using large spoons, surgical hose eels and Hoochy Trolls caught slammer bluefish to 12 pounds at the Jack Spot, Parking Lot, Hotdog and Hambone. While most of the blues went into anglers' cooler chests, a number were put in live wells and used for shark bait. Blue shark to 150 pounds, mako shark to 200 pounds, dusky shark to 125 pounds and some monster hammerheads gobbled down the live bluefish during the weekend tournament. Shorebound anglers found good numbers of striped bass, large weakfish and an occasional tautog lurking in Ocean City Inlet and beneath the Route 50 bridge. Small boat anglers fishing north of the bridge caught good numbers of flounder to four pounds.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Lots of flounder caught at both ports just inside the inlets, but keepers were limited to just one fish in 10. Inshore, headboat anglers caught a mix of sea bass and tautog at the wrecks, while farther east at the 21- and 26-Mile hills trollers found a mix of slammer bluefish and bluefin tuna that slammed cedar plugs and rigged ballyhoo.

OUTER BANKS -- Offshore anglers found a good mix of yellowfin tuna, king mackerel, small to mid-size dolphin and an occasional billfish. Closer to the beach, smaller king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and swarms of snapper bluefish provided action for light tackle anglers fishing just a few hundred yards beyond the surf line. Surf and pier anglers caught lots of sea mullet, snapper bluefish, a few speckled trout, and, at times, keeper-size flounder.

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Fish Lines
By Gary Diamond
Special to the Washington Post
Friday, July 2, 2004; Page WE52

What's the Catch?

Washington & Vicinity

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER -- The drop-off in Washington Channel along Fort McNair's wall always has some bass and stripers. Sometimes they are on the shelf, and at times they are suspended over the drop-off. Cast spinnerbaits to the center of eel-grass beds and quarter-ounce crankbaits along edges and you'll undoubtedly catch a mix of both species. Nearby bridge foundations hold both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The best bridges have been Key, Roosevelt and Long. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge can be highly productive one day and boring the next. Bridge foundations, sunken barges and submerged concrete chunks at the Spoils all held a few bass that slammed tubes or crankbaits. Smoot Bay, especially South Point and south of the construction area, also produced a few fish for weekend anglers. Coves south of Belle Haven, Hog Island and boat docks, and the mouths of Piscataway and Broad creeks, offered topwater activity in the mornings and evenings. Pomonkey Creek is loaded with algae but during mid-tides we find some nice bass with Case Magic Sticks and Mizmo tubes. Grass beds at Bulltown Cove, Marshall Hall and below Dogue Creek have been fairly consistent for anglers casting crankbaits and tube lures along the edges of the beds. Lots of big catfish were caught both by shorebound and boating anglers near Fletcher's Landing, where bottom-fished chicken livers, night crawlers and cut herring baits lured catties to 14 pounds. Scattered catches of small white perch and mid-size crappie were also made in the same area, mainly on live minnows suspended beneath small floats in deeper pockets. An occasional striped bass to 20 inches was taken using the same technique.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER -- If the weather remains dry, look for good smallmouth bass action in the fast water areas of Whites and Edwards ferries, and also downriver at Lander, where tube lures and small spinners cast in mid-river backwater eddies lured bronzebacks to two pounds. Live minnows and hellgrammites produce somewhat larger fish, particularly early and late.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER (PA.) -- The river has cleared to the point where smallmouth bass fishing ranged from fair to good, but with water levels at Harrisburg not at four feet, boating anglers will find it tough to navigate through some of the boulder-strewn areas. Downriver near Three Mile Island, smallmouth and largemouth bass were taken on live minnows fished along the shaded shorelines. Conowingo Lake anglers found a good mix of both bass and panfish that were willing to hit live minnows and tiny crankbaits fished near the mouth of Muddy Creek and among the cuts between Big Bear and Little Bear islands.

Maryland

TRIADELPHIA AND ROCKY GORGE RESERVOIRS -- Jerry Sauter of Baltimore caught a 6-pound half-ounce largemouth bass at Triadelphia that measured 21 3/4 inches long while casting a Pop-R. Catonsville's Craig Walrath got a 6-pound 9-ounce largemouth, 23 inches in length, while fishing Triadelphia with a plastic worm. Clarksville resident Peter Congedo was fishing with live crayfish when his bait was slammed by a 22-inch smallmouth bass that weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces.

LOCH RAVEN RESERVOIR -- If you're looking for white perch -- lots of them, eight to 12 inches in length -- Loch Raven is the place to go. Trollers in rental boats returned to the fishing center with huge catches of white perch caught while trolling small, inline spinners trimmed with a morsel of night crawler. Plug casters caught a mix of chain pickerel and largemouth bass while casting the edges of grass beds and along the rocky shoreline in most of the deeper coves. Lots of big carp in the lake's upper reaches, where bottom-fished, whole-kernel corn lured specimens to 20 pounds.

LIBERTY RESERVOIR -- Anglers fishing from the decks of Nicodemus Bridge caught a mix of small white perch and crappie while dunking live shiners from the structure. Walleye seem to be everywhere, and any spinner baited with a night crawler proved effective on fish to four pounds. Largemouth bass were found lurking in the shallows of spring-fed coves, where small crankbaits and spinnerbaits cast to depths of two to four feet were effective. Rockfish to 17 pounds were taken from deepwater haunts just above Route 26 bridge from the depths to 25 feet off shoreline points. Most were taken on large shiners drifted along the drop-offs just south of the launch ramp.

DEEP CREEK LAKE -- A slow weekend for anglers, mainly because of heavy boating and jet ski traffic. Those who were willing to get out of bed and on the water before sunrise managed to sink their hooks into a mix of big bluegill, mid-size yellow perch and a few largemouth bass, all taken on small, live minnows and night crawlers fished in the mouths of coves.

Virginia

LAKE ANNA -- A great week for bass anglers with lots of five-pounders weighed in at local marinas. Most were taken on large, dark-colored plastic worms fished near boat docks, submerged stumps and grass beds. There was a fair amount of topwater action early and late in the day, mostly in the shaded areas of larger coves. Striper action was pretty limited to trolling and deep-jigging during much of the day, but anglers fishing at the crack of dawn managed to score on large stripers using topwater plugs fished near Jett Island, the Splits and d**e III. Crappie remain plentiful, but seem to be seeking deeper areas. Most have migrated to the vicinity of deepwater bridge pilings and drop-offs, where live minnows and tiny jigs were effective.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Smallmouth bass and panfish action have improved considerably during the past week, with fair catches of both made by anglers fishing with live minnows, hellgrammites, crayfish and night crawlers in deeper pools near grass beds. Water temperature in the Bentonville Bridge area is 77 degrees, which is perfect for anglers that want to drift the river in float tubes and cast to open pockets of water with ultralite spinning and fly fishing gear.

Chesapeake Bay

UPPER BAY -- The upper bay is finally beginning to clear, but striped bass fishing remains extremely slow for this time of year, especially north of Pooles Island. Fortunately, channel catfish to 10 pounds seem to be everywhere you drop a chunk of cut herring or drift a piece of chicken liver. Big catties were caught in the lower Susquehanna, North East, Elk, Sassafras, Bohemia, Bush and Gunpowder rivers through most of the week. Chummers managed to sink their hooks into some keeper-size stripers just south of Rock Hall at Hickory Thickets, where rockfish to 28 inches were boated. Good catches of small to mid-size white perch were reported at the mouth of Chester River and upriver to the entrance buoy to Kent Narrows, where bottom-fished bloodworms and chunks of peeler crab were effective during the first two hours of ebb tide. Across the bay, the mouth of Bodkin Creek holds a few keeper-size stripers and small white perch. Crabbing just kicked off at the mouth of the Gunpowder and Dundee rivers, where sport crabbers using collapsible traps baited with small white perch managed to catch a couple of dozen blue crabs for weekend picnics.

BAY BRIDGES AREA -- Croaker arrived at Brick House Bar, most measuring 12 to 16 inches and taken in crab pots fished along the bar's drop-off. Recreational catches have been sparse at best, but as water temperatures rise the action should pick up, mainly at night. The fish are holding in depths of 25 to 30 feet and will hit squid strips and bait shrimp drifted over the drop-off. In Eastern Bay, croaker and white perch are scattered along the channel edge up to Kent Narrows Bridge. The largest concentrations of croakers seem to be from Bloody Point up to Parson's Island, where bait shrimp and razor clams have been the best baits. Bottom-fished bloodworms and chunks of peeler crab accounted for the best perch action, with the largest fish taken near Kent Narrows Bridge. Bay Bridges anglers managed to catch lots of small white perch and throwback stripers while fishing among the pilings with bloodworms and bait shrimp.

CHOPTANK RIVER AREA -- A few croaker were caught at the river's mouth, but the action was slow. Near Castle Haven small bucktails trimmed with a chunk of peeler crab and cast into the river's shallows produced stripers to 27 inches and an occasional croaker to 17 inches. Route 50 bridge anglers caught a mix of small white perch, big channel catfish and throwback stripers.

CHESAPEAKE BEACH AREA -- While most boats returned to the docks with limit catches of stripers to 20 inches, at least one 30-incher was taken last Saturday by an angler fishing aboard a local charter boat. Headboat anglers had another tough weekend for croaker, but spot action seemed to improve, especially at night. Most of the keeper-size stripers were taken while trolling small bucktails along the bay's channel edges near the Gas Docks and across the bay at the Gooses.

PATUXENT RIVER AREA -- Lots of croaker near the river's mouth and upriver to the Route 4 bridge, mainly along the channel edges, where squid strips and bait shrimp lured specimens to 17 inches during the day. A few flounder were found near Cove Point Light and just south of Cedar Point Rip, where minnow/squid sandwich combos lured flatfish to 20 inches. White perch seem to be holding strong at the mouths of creeks, with fish to 12 inches lurking in the shadows of piers and smacking chunks of peeler crab. Stripers to 20 inches have been breaking at Cedar Point Rip and inside Cedar Point Hollow. Use small jigging spoons.

HONGA RIVER AREA -- Croaker and flounder can be found along the bay's eastern channel edge north of Hooper Island Light and up to Punch Island Bar. While bait shrimp produced croaker to 19 inches, live killfish lured flatties to 22 inches when fished just after sunrise. By 11 a.m., the action shifts to croaker only, with most of the fish only measuring 12 to 14 inches that are caught midday. Chummers near Buoy 72A caught good numbers of striped bass to 20 inches and lots of throwbacks.

TANGIER SOUND AREA -- Anglers fishing dozens of locations throughout Tangier and Pocomoke sounds caught a mix of large spot, croaker and an occasional weakfish while drifting a variety of baits. A few flounder were caught near Watts Island, most measuring 17 to 20 inches. Throwback flounder were found in lower Pocomoke Sound. They were frequently mixed with snapper bluefish to two pounds, an occasional keeper rockfish and good numbers of small weakfish.

POINT LOOKOUT AREA -- Weekend anglers loaded their coolers with a mix of monster croaker to 21 inches, striped bass to 24 inches, bluefish to three pounds, spot to 10 inches, an occasional keeper-size flounder and even a few weakfish. Nearly all were taken at the bay's eastern channel edge south of the U.S. Navy target ship American Mariner. Shorebound anglers fishing from the pier at Point Lookout State Park and the adjacent causeway caught a mix of croaker, spot, flounder and snapper bluefish, most taken during late afternoon and early evening. Upriver, spot and croaker dominated the action near the mouths of the Wicomico and St. Mary's rivers, where limit catches of croaker to 17 inches were made while drifting squid strips and bait shrimp.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AREA -- The river's mouth continues to provide good catches of spot, croaker and an occasional flounder. A few Spanish mackerel were sighted free jumping near Windmill Point.

CAPE CHARLES AREA -- The Cell is still the place to catch lots of fish. Good catches of spadefish to eight pounds were made on small pieces of clam floated into a slick of clam juice, while nearby anglers drifted live minnows and squid strips to flounder up to six pounds. At Lattimer Shoals and the Inner Middle Grounds, cobia to 70 pounds were boated by anglers chunking and chumming with bunker. CBBT anglers caught a mix of snapper bluefish, Spanish mackerel and big spadefish. Similar catches were also reported at Chesapeake Tower and the Tower Reef on days the winds cooperated.

Atlantic Coast

OCEAN CITY -- Last week's tuna bite was fantastic. On days when the weather cooperated, anglers trolled Green Machines and rigged ballyhoo between Baltimore and Poormans canyons, where they battled yellowfin tuna to 45 pounds, an occasional gaffer dolphin to 25 pounds, and a few billfish, which were caught and released. Closer to shore, trollers found huge numbers of bluefin tuna ranging from 10-pound throwbacks to 50-pound keepers lurking southwest of the Hambone. Some captains said they caught almost three dozen fish, mostly on light trolling gear, before calling it a day. Shorebound anglers caught a mix of keeper-size striped bass and weakfish from the Route 50 bridge at night, while small boat anglers foundlots of flounder at the Thoroughfare while drifting live minnows along the back bay's channel edges.

CHINCOTEAGUE & WACHAPREAGUE -- Offshore, bluefin tuna to 70 pounds slammed trolled cedar plugs and rigged ballyhoo at the Parking Lot, Lumpy Bottom, 21-Mile Hill and 26-Mile Hill. Flounder catches in the back bays ranged from good to excellent, but only about one fish in 20 is large enough to keep.

OUTER BANKS -- Surf and pier anglers caught a mix of snapper bluefish, croaker, sea mullet and pan trout in the stretch of beach between Nags Head and Hatteras Inlet. Most of these fish were relatively small, but there were some exceptions. They included an occasional cobia, Spanish mackerel and a number of sheepshead, most taken from the ends of piers just after sunrise and just before sundown. Offshore, the charter fleet continues to find good numbers of yellowfin tuna to 90 pounds, fair numbers of small to mid-size dolphin, a few wahoo and several white marlin and blue marlin.