ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND — The lower Choptank River was at 61 degrees this week, and colder water is about to push baitfish out of the tidal rivers and into striped bass waiting along the Bay channels and at the river mouths, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said in its Oct. 21 fishing report.
The report called the falling water temperature the big story in the middle Bay, where Bay water is hovering near 65 degrees. Many areas, including the Eastern Shore, saw their first frost earlier this week, and the report warned of stiff north winds all week. It called the coming baitfish run the scenario striped bass anglers have been waiting for, with juvenile menhaden the main course and bay anchovies and silversides also on the menu.
Soft plastic and metal jigs from 3/8 to 3/4 ounce will be the lures of choice, depending on depth, wind and current, DNR said. Anglers fishing from shore are having good striped bass fishing from rocky shorelines, and the report named Kent Narrows as a good place to fish. Trolling umbrella rigs will become more of an option as October goes on.
White perch may start heading for deeper, warmer water as temperatures drop. Deep-water piers should hold them a while longer before they move to oyster reefs in the lower tidal rivers, and the report again named Kent Narrows for white perch this week.
Sixty-one degrees on the lower Choptank, and the fall run is close.
Source: Maryland DNR
Also: Maryland DNR (2)
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
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