Skip to Main Content

Fishing Conditions Forecast

Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary

October 1 - 7, 2025

forecast iconFor the first week of Rocktober, expect cool and cloudy fishing weather and relatively stable conditions for Maryland Bay waters all week. Low chance of rain all week. As reported by the NOAA buoys, main Bay surface water temperatures are currently in the mid-70’s but continue to slowly cool. River temperatures slightly cooler in the mid-60°F's. Maryland’s salinities are below normal for most Maryland waters this time of year. Oxygen conditions throughout the main Bay are much improved and suitable to the bottom in most places.

As always, the best fishing areas could be further refined by intersecting them with underwater points, hard bottom, drop-offs, and large schools of baitfish.

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 - Partly cloudy next week with air temperatures (70’s day/60’s night). Winds 10-15k all week. Limited chance of rain all week. Sunrise next week is around 7:06am and sunset at about 6:45pm.

  • Salinity - With the continued recent rains, Maryland waters have shifted so salinities are below normal for most Maryland waters this time of year.

  • Oxygen - Recent oxygen conditions are as follows:
    • Stateline up to Point Lookout: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Point No Point up to the Gooses: Adequate oxygen to ~26 ft
    • Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen to ~36 ft
    • Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen to ~36 ft
    • Swan Point: Adequate oxygen to ~23 ft
    • Still Pond up to the Susquehanna Flats: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Potomac River: Adequate oxygen 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 (°F) - Main Bay surface temperatures are currently in the mid- 70's (°F). River temperatures are in the upper 60's (°F). 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): NR
      • Tolchester: 72.5°F
      • Baltimore/Patapsco River: 73.9°F
      • Thomas Point: NR
      • Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 73.9°F

    • For the mid/lower-Bay:
      • NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 72.1°F
      • Bishops Head: 71.2°F
      • Choptank, Cambridge: 72.3°F

    • For the Potomac River:
      • Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): 72.5°F
      • Lewisetta: 71.6°F
      • Mallows Bay: 66.2°F
      • Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 74.3°F

    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 water clarity for Maryland’s streams, rivers and main Bay waters. 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 average flows for most of Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal current conditions Saturday through Tuesday as a result of the full moon on Tuesday, October 7th.

  • 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.