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Fishing Conditions Forecast

Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary

July 17 - 23, 2024

forecast iconContinued scorching temperatures with low winds and a chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday and early next week will make for uncomfortable fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. As reported from the NOAA buoys, main Bay surface water temperatures have risen to 87 (°F), while the Potomac and Susquehanna River temperatures are holding in the low 90s. Maryland's part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. Areas with suitable amounts of oxygen (>3 mg/L) have moved towards typical summer conditions, however, when combined with high water temperatures, current conditions continue to be stressful for many Bay gamefish .On the Potomac River, continue to avoid the low oxygen areas below 15’ between the Wicomico River and St. George's Island. On the main Bay, from Tolchester to Bloody Point, avoid areas deeper than 20’ while from Bloody Point south to the State line, avoid areas deeper than 35'. 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 - Warm and sunny again this week (day: 80/90s, night: 70s). Thunderstorms are possible Wednesday and early next week. Expect winds most of the week to be 5-15kt, but slightly higher on Wednesday. Sunrise next week around 5:57am and sunset about 8:27pm.

  • Salinity - Rainfall to Maryland waters has been above average so salinity is slightly below normal for this time of year.

  • Oxygen - Recent oxygen conditions are as follows:
    • Stateline up to Point Lookout: Adequate oxygen to ~36 ft
    • Point No Point up to the Gooses: Adequate oxygen to ~39 ft
    • Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen to ~46 ft
    • Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen to ~52 ft
    • Swan Point: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • 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 around 87 (°F). River temperatures are holding in the low 80s. 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): 86°F
      • Tolchester: 83.1°F
      • Baltimore/Patapsco River: 82.8°F
      • Thomas Point: 74.8°F
      • Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 85.1°F

    • For the mid/lower-Bay:
      • NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 82.2°F
      • Bishops Head: 80.8°F
      • Choptank, Cambridge: 82.6°F

    • For the Potomac River:
      • Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): 82.2°F
      • Lewisetta: 82.2°F
      • Mallows Bay: 83.8°F
      • Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 83.7°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 the Maryland portion of the Bay. 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 the Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal current conditions all week as a result of the full moon on Sunday, July 21st.

  • 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.