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Fishing Conditions Forecast

Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary

September 28 - October 4, 2022

forecast icon Weather conditions this week will be driven by the remnants of Hurricane Ian which is expected to reach our area Thursday afternoon. Cool temperatures all week with rains likely Friday through Tuesday with the heaviest rain reaching us on Friday and Saturday. Winds 10 to 20kts with gusts higher through Tuesday. As reported at the NOAA buoys, main Bay surface water temperatures have dropped to the low 70s (74⁰F) and should continue cooling this upcoming week. Maryland rivers are currently running in the low 60s/upper 50s (⁰F). Good deep water oxygen conditions are present in most Bay rivers and there is adequate oxygen down to the bottom. Scroll down to see location specific oxygen conditions. With cooling water temperatures, gamefish will begin to vary their range vertically in the water column to find adequate oxygen and their preferred water temperatures and food. As recommended over the past few weeks, if you are seeking areas with cooler Bay waters in your area, fish surface waters early in the day, deeper waters, or upwind areas.

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 -  Expect cool temperatures all week (day: upper 60s/ night: 50s). Rain arriving Friday night and continuing through Tuesday with the heaviest rains on Friday through Sunday. Expect winds 10 to 20kts with gusts much higher on Tuesday. Sunrise next week around 7:02am and sunset at about 6:49pm.

  • Salinity –  Flows to Maryland waters are running below normal, 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 bottom
    • Point No Point up to the Gooses: Adequate oxygen down to bottom
    • Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen down to bottom
    • Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen down to 35'
    • Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen down to 30'
    • Swan Point: Adequate oxygen down to 30'
    • Still Pond up to the Susquehanna Flats: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • 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."

  • Temperature (⁰F) –  Main Bay surface temperatures have dropped to the lower 70s (⁰F). Expect temperatures to continue to cool as the week progresses. Maryland rivers are currently running in the mid 60s/upper 50s. Shallow, surface waters will cool overnight and be a few degrees cooler than daytime water temperatures. 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): 75⁰F However, Conowingo has been recently currently drawing water for electrical generation in the evening to late night, so early morning water temperatures are cooler (~68⁰F)
      • Tolchester: 68⁰F
      • Baltimore/Patapsco River: 73⁰F
      • Thomas Point: NR
      • Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 71⁰F

    • For the mid/lower-Bay:
      • NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 73⁰F
      • Bishops Head: 68⁰F
      • Choptank, Cambridge: 70⁰F

    • For the Potomac River:
      • Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): 73⁰F
      • Lewisetta: 70⁰F
      • Mallows Bay: NR
      • Near Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 68⁰F

    NEW: “Mallows Bay now has real-time weather conditions!”
    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 poor water clarity for Maryland portions of the Bay and rivers from increased flows because of Ian. 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 above average flows for most Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal current conditions through Saturday as a result of the previous new moon on Monday, September 26th.

  • 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.