Click Before You Cast:
using online fishing resources to catch more fish

Step 1 - "Think like a fish":  Understand water conditions and habitat areas your target fish prefers

• There is a wealth of information available in books or on-line about all Chesapeake Bay gamefish that will teach you where, when and how to find and catch them. Once you understand their favorite seasonal haunts, pull out your charts and get ready to start zooming in on productive spots for your next fishing trip.
  
  Follow the 'How To' tutorials in each step to learn how to put this knowledge into practice:
  
  >> How To Think Like a Fish <<

  Think like a fish links: Step 1A - Understand your fish: Chesapeake Creature Conditions - Eyes on the Bay Fish Facts - Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fish Field Guide - Chesapeake Bay Program Step 1B - Get out your charts: Nautical Charts Map - Eyes on the Bay   • use dropdown to change map to 'us: Nautical charts'

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Nautical Charts: Click to choose a Chesapeake Bay nautical chart: Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds Chesapeake Bay Smith Point to Cove Point Chesapeake Bay Tangier Sound Northern Part Potomac River Chesapeake Bay to Piney Point Chesapeake Bay Honga, Nanticoke, Wicomico Rivers and Fishing Bay Chesapeake Bay Cove Point to Sandy Point Chesapeake Bay Patuxent River and Vicinity Chesapeake Bay Choptank River and Herring Bay; Cambridge Choptank River Cambridge to Greensboro Chesapeake Bay Eastern Bay and South River; Selby Bay Chester River; Kent Island Narrows, Rock Hall Harbor and Swan Creek Chesapeake Bay Sandy Point to Susquehanna River Head of Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Chesapeake Bay Approaches to Baltimore Harbor Baltimore Harbor Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers Annapolis Harbor Patuxent River Solomons lsland and Vicinity Potomac River Piney Point to Lower Cedar Point

Step 2 - Eliminate areas outside preferred salinity range

Some Chesapeake Bay fish are better than others at surviving over a range of salinity conditions. For instance, striped bass are found anywhere from freshwater to the ocean. For the fish with limited salinity ranges such as largemouth bass, their habitat will expand or contract with changing bay salinities. However, bay salinities in any spot, will vary greatly due to the amount of rainfall entering through the bay's rivers. During years of low rainfall amounts, saltier conditions will move further up the Chesapeake Bay. If you know what salinity your target gamefish prefers and compare it to current salinity maps, you can eliminate unproductive water. >> How To: Eliminate areas outside preferred salinity range <<

NOTE: Due to weather conditions Virginia did not sample stations: EE3.4, EE3.5, CB6.2 and CB7.1N. Data source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Eyes on the Bay and Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Observing System (VECOS). Funding for monitoring: US Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program and state sources.




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Salinity Preferences for Gamefish: Choose a species to view it's salinity preference.
Blue crab Bluefish Largemouth bass Spot Striped bass White perch Yellow perch	Select a fish from the list on the left.

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Largemouth bass, MD Fisheries Service

Salinity Links: Current vs. Historical Salinity Comparison - Eyes on the Bay     (real-time / near real-time / recent) Salinity Monitoring Stations - Eyes on the Bay   • Use 'Filter station' dropdown to select continuous monitoring, long-term monitoring     (real-time / near real-time / recent) Salinity Monitoring Buoys - Chesapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS)     (real-time)

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Dive Deeper:

  • For more background on salinity, click here.

Step 3 - Eliminate poorly oxygenated areas

• Fish need dissolved oxygen to survive. During cooler months, there is plenty of oxygen in most areas of the Chesapeake Bay. However, when the waters warm, there are large areas of the Chesapeake Bay's deeper waters that have very little or no oxygen. This is caused by the dense, salty, deeper waters inability to be recharged with oxygen from surface mixing. In addition, algae blooms also cause low oxygen levels at night through respiration or when they die and decompose. In general, avoid fishing in waters with less than about 3 mg/l of dissolved oxygen, however for suitable oxygen conditions for gamefish see below. >> How To: Eliminate poorly oxygenated areas <<

NOTE: Due to weather conditions Virginia did not sample stations: EE3.4, EE3.5, CB6.2 and CB7.1N. Data source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Eyes on the Bay and Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Observing System (VECOS). Funding for monitoring: US Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program and state sources.

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Oxygen Preferences for Gamefish: Choose a species to view it's oxygen tolerance level.
Blue crab Bluefish Largemouth bass Spot Striped bass White perch Yellow perch	Select a fish from the list on the left.

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Yellow perch, MD Fisheries Service

Dissolved Oxygen Links: 'Don't Fish Below This Depth' Map - Eyes on the Bay   • This map identifies the depth at which oxygen levels are unsuitable for most Chesapeake Bay gamefish (~3 mg/L) Oxygen Monitoring Stations - Eyes on the Bay   • Use 'Filter station' dropdown to select continuous monitoring, long-term monitoring     (real-time / near real-time / recent) Depth to Low Oxygen Nowcast & Forecast - Virginia Institute of Marine Science   • This map identifies model-derived current and forecasted depth to low oxygen. Striped Bass Habitat Conditions - Eyes on the Bay   • This map identifies Chesaapeake Bay Striped Bass thresholds for dissolved oxygen.

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Dive Deeper:

  • For more background on dissolved oxygen, click here.
  • Read about the current status of low dissolved oxygen in our recent Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Reports.

Step 4 - Eliminate areas outside of preferred temperature range

• Water temperature greatly influences the seasonal distribution of Chesapeake Bay gamefish. Each type of fish has a preferred temperature range where cooler than normal temperatures will slow them down and warmer temperatures will increase their activity. Some fish will avoid high water temperatures and in summer, often move as deep as possible to areas that still have adequate oxygen levels. To find fish in the cooler months, look for warmer water, and in the warmer months, look for cooler water. >> How To: Eliminate areas outside of preferred temperature range <<




NOTE: Due to weather conditions Virginia did not sample stations: EE3.4, EE3.5, CB6.2 and CB7.1N. Data source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Eyes on the Bay and Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Observing System (VECOS). Funding for monitoring: US Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program and state sources.

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Temperature Preferences for Gamefish: Choose a species to view it's temperature tolerance.
Blue crab Largemouth bass Striped bass Yellow perch	Select a fish from the list on the left.

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Black drum, MD Fisheries Service

Temperature Links: Current vs. Historical Temperature - Eyes on the Bay  (recent) Water Temperature by Depth - Eyes on the Bay (near real-time) Temperature Monitoring Stations - Eyes on the Bay   • Use 'Filter station' dropdown to select continuous monitoring, long-term monitoring    (real-time / near real-time / recent) Temperature Monitoring Buoys - Chesapeake Bay Observing Network (CBOS)    (real-time) River and Stream Temperatures - National Weather Service    (real-time) Striped Bass Habitat Conditions - Eyes on the Bay   • This map identifies Chesaapeake Bay Striped Bass thresholds for water temperature.

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Dive Deeper:

  • For more background on temperature, click here.

Step 5 - Eliminate areas with poor clarity

• Poor water clarity can make it hard for fish to find and capture food. Water clarity is impacted by amount of suspended sediment and algae in the water. Excess sediment carried into the Chesapeake Bay by large rains or re-suspended by wave action can reduce water clarity and result in coffee-colored water. Fish will avoid high levels of suspended sediment but they will often feed in or near the edges of this coffee-colored water because these areas often contain food. Large algal blooms can often color the water various shades of green or brownish red. In some cases, fish will avoid areas with dense algal blooms because the algae can be toxic, or cause low oxygen levels at night or when the algae die and decompose. >> How To: Eliminate areas with poor clarity <<

White perch, MD Fisheries Service

Clarity Links: Step 5A - General Water Clarity: Satellite Overview - Eyes on the Bay    (daily updates via NASA) Current vs. Historical Clarity (secchi depth) - Eyes on the Bay Water Clarity Monitoring Stations - Eyes on the Bay   • Use 'Filter station' dropdown to select continuous monitoring, long-term monitoring.    (real-time / near real-time / recent) Turbidity Monitoring Buoys - Chesapeake Bay Obs. Network    (real-time)   • Select a site, then 'Turbidity' Step 5B - Algal Blooms: Satellite Data Maps - Eyes on the Bay    (daily updates via NOAA)   • Under 'Choose a Data Map' select 'Chlorophyll' and click 'View Selected.' Harmful Algal Blooms Map - Eyes on the Bay    (recent) Chlorophyll Monitoring Buoys - Chesapeake Bay Obs. Network (real-time)   • Select a site, then 'Chlorophyll A' (fish generally avoid areas > 50 ug/L.)

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Dive Deeper:

  • For more background on clarity, turbidity, and secchi depth, click here.
  • For more background on algal blooms, click here.

Step 6 - In the remaining area, identify preferred habitat

• Fish need places to live, eat, and reproduce. Due to constantly changing Chesapeake Bay conditions, preferred fish habitat for any type of fish can vary greatly throughout the year. Experienced anglers know that gamefish will often congregate on or near areas where relatively deep water is near shallow water or habitat edges. Typical areas include points, drop-offs, channel edges, flats, grass beds, and oyster bars. In the remaining areas on your chart, mark areas with these types of features. The best fishing areas often include a combination of several key habitats, such as oyster bars or grass beds near channel edges, etc. >> How To: Identify preferred habitat <<




Summer flounder, MD Fisheries

Habitat Links: Maryland Bay Bottom Habitat Mapper - Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Dive Deeper:

  • For more background on submerged aquatic vegetation, click here.
  • To identify the types of submerged aquatic vegetation in your area, click here.

Step 7 - Find moving water

• Once you have identified your fishing spots, find moving water by checking the on-line streamflow, wind, wave conditions and tide charts. Finding moving water is important because it can funnel baitfish and crabs through the prime habitat areas where gamefish feed. Rising tides can move fish into shallower areas while falling tides can pull prey out of the shallower areas into deeper channels where gamefish will feed. Some areas fish better on falling water and others fish better on rising water. Wind direction, duration and speed can mean a big difference to your fishing day. Not only does wind oxygenate the water, but winds blowing against the tide can often produce larger waves than normal and can slow tidal flushing. Winds blowing in the same direction of the tide can speed up tidal flushing. Increased flows can improve fishing by cooling and oxygenating the water and dislodging food, but when flows get too high, they can quickly alter conditions by decreasing water clarity and salinity. >> How To: Find Moving Water <<




Bluefish, MD Fisheries Service

Moving Water Links: Tide Predictions Map - Eyes on the Bay   • Use 'Filter station' dropdown to select 'Tide predictions' Maryland Tides - Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wind & Wave Conditions - Chesapeake Bay Observing Network Marine Forecast - National Weather Service Streamflow stations - United States Geological Survey   (real-time)

Step 8 - Go fishing and catch fish!

• Putting it all together

  The whole purpose of this process is to help you find the best places to fish.

  1. First learn about where your fish live and preferred conditions.
  2. Next, pull out your Chesapeake Bay charts and a marker.
  3. Now visit your regional websites with current oxygen, salinity, temperature and water clarity conditions.
  4. As you move through each step, continue to cross off unsuitable areas on your chart.
  5. Now in the remaining areas on your chart, begin highlighting prime habitat.
  6. At this point, find moving water by checking your tide charts, wind conditions and flow at these prime areas.
  
  You have now identified the best places to find fish right now, not last week or last month, but right now.
  
  The last step, and most fun, is to go fishing and catch a bunch of fish! And when you do, don't forget to take photos and submit them to the Angler's Log!




Other great fishing resources from Maryland Department of Natural Resources:         Fishing Access         Boat Ramps / Water Access         Fishing Report         Angler's Log         Fishing License Information         Fish Consumption Advisory Map