Skip to Main Content

Fishing Conditions Forecast

Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary

September 18 - 24, 2024

forecast iconModerate weather with limited rain predicted will make for comfortable fishing conditions this week in Maryland’s waters. As reported by the NOAA buoys, shorter daylight periods and cooler day-time air temperatures have cooled main Bay surface water temperatures to the lower 70's. Maryland's part of the Bay continues to run fresher than average. Areas with suitable amounts of oxygen (>3 mg/L) increased this week. So, to find the best combination of well oxygenated, cooler water preferred by many Bay gamefish, focus on fishing deeper during the daylight hours. However, as surface waters continue to cool, shallow water fishing conditions should improve. 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 - Stable, cool temperatures for the week (day: 70s, night: 60s). Chance of rain on Wednesday. Expect 10-15kt winds all week with gusts higher. Sunrise next week around 6:53am and sunset about 7:05pm.

  • Salinity - Rainfall to Maryland waters has been above average so salinity is still slightly below normal for 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 ~30 ft
    • Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen to ~26 ft
    • Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen to ~36 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 have cooled to the low 70"s (°F). River temperatures have dropped to around 70 (°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): 76°F
      • Tolchester: 78.3°F
      • Baltimore/Patapsco River: 76.3°F
      • Thomas Point: 74.3°F
      • Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 75.7°F

    • For the mid/lower-Bay:
      • NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 75.2°F
      • Bishops Head: 75.6°F
      • Choptank, Cambridge: 73.9°F

    • For the Potomac River:
      • Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): 74.8°F
      • Lewisetta: 73.9°F
      • Mallows Bay: 75°F
      • Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 74.7°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 Susquehanna River and some other Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal current conditions through Sunday as a result of the full moon on Wednesday, September 18th.

  • 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.