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Fishing Conditions Forecast

Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary

May 31 - June 6, 2023

forecast iconContinued warm weather in the upcoming week will keep water temperatures rising for Bay fish in Maryland waters. As reported from the NOAA buoys, main Bay surface water temperatures have risen since last week to upper 60s (⁰F). Bay salinity is still above average. Some areas of low oxygen are appearing in the bottom waters from Swan Point down to the mouth of the Potomac River, as well as, in the Potomac River, from Colonial Bay to Breton Bay. However, there are still plenty of cool, well oxygenated areas to pursue Maryland gamefish.

For more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast.

Fishing Condition Details:

  • Pattern Stability - Mostly sunny with warm temperatures all week (day: 70-80s / night: 60s). Rain possible Saturday and Monday. Expect winds 5-15kt with gusts higher on Saturday. Sunrise next week around 5:42am and sunset at about 8:26pm.

  • Salinity – Flows to Maryland waters are running below average, so salinity is above normal for this time of year.

  • Oxygen – Recent oxygen conditions are as follows:
    • Stateline up to Point Lookout: Adequate oxygen down to 40'
    • Point No Point up to the Gooses: Adequate oxygen down to 35'
    • Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen down to 35'
    • Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen down to 15'
    • Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen down to 20'
    • Swan Point: Adequate oxygen down to 20'
    • Still Pond up to the Susquehanna Flats: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Potomac River - Colonial Beach to Breton Bay: Adequate oxygen down to 15'
    • Potomac River - Breton Bay to the Potomac River: Adequate oxygen down to bottom

    For oxygen forecasts, see VIMS Depth to 3 mg/l.
    To identify your local conditions, see "Don't fish below this depth."
    For information on Maryland’s main bay oxygen conditions, see Maryland's latest hypoxia report.

  • Temperature (⁰F) – Main Bay surface water temperatures are holding in the upper 60s. River temperatures remained stable last week at the low 70s. As recorded at the real-time NOAA and DNR buoys, daytime Bay water temperatures are as follows:

    • For the upper/mid-Bay:
      • Susquehanna River at Darlington (USGS): 79⁰F
      • Tolchester: 69⁰F
      • Baltimore/Patapsco River: 70⁰F
      • Thomas Point: NR
      • Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 70⁰F

    • For the mid/lower-Bay:
      • NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 68⁰F
      • Bishops Head: 68⁰F
      • Choptank, Cambridge: 68⁰F

    • For the Potomac River:
      • Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): 69⁰F
      • Lewisetta: 68⁰F
      • Mallows Bay: 71⁰F
      • Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 76⁰F

    To see water temperature by depth, check out our interactive “Water Temperature by Depth map.” For water temperatures in some of Maryland’s smaller rivers and streams, check “NOAA’s Mid-Atlantic Water Temperatures.”

  • Clarity – Expect average Bay water clarity for Maryland's bay, rivers, and streams. To see the latest water clarity conditions on NOAA satellite maps, check “Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps.”

  • Habitat – To see locations of key Bay bottom habitat, see the ”Bay Bottom Habitat Mapper.”

  • Moving water – Expect below average flows for most Maryland rivers and streams all week. There will be above average tidal current conditions all week as a result of the upcoming full moon on Sunday, June 4th.

  • Putting it all together – The best fishing areas could be further refined by intersecting these prime areas with underwater points, hard bottom, drop-offs, and large schools of baitfish.

For a step-by-step way to find the best fishing areas based on water conditions, be sure to check out Eyes on the Bay’s Click Before You Cast. Have a safe and enjoyable fishing trip, and as always, drop us a line with comments or suggestions.