Fishing Conditions Forecast
Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary
December 3-9, 2025
As we move into early December, expect cool and sunny fishing weather and relatively stable conditions for Maryland Bay waters all week. Limited chance of snow on Friday. As reported by the NOAA buoys, main Bay surface water temperatures are currently in the uppers 40’s but continue too slowly cool. Warmer bay waters will be found at the deeper depths of river mouths and main bay areas. River temperatures slightly cooler and holding in the low 40°F's. Maryland’s salinities are slightly above normal for most Maryland waters this time of year. Oxygen conditions throughout the main Bay and Maryland's tidal tributaries are suitable to the bottom.
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 - Cool this week with air temperatures (40’s day/30’s night). Winds 10-15kt most of the week with gusts higher on Thursday. There is a slight chance of snow on Friday. Sunrise next week is around 7:10am and sunset at about 4:44pm.
- Salinity - With the recent reduced rains, Maryland waters have shifted so salinities are above 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 ~36 ft
- Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen to bottom
- Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen to ~36 ft
- Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen to ~43 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 currently in the upper 40's (°F). River temperatures are in the low 40'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: 41.4°F
- Baltimore/Patapsco River: 47.3°F
- Thomas Point: NR
- Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 44.6°F
- For the mid/lower-Bay:
- NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 47.7°F
- Bishops Head: NR
- Choptank, Cambridge: 41.2°F
- For the Potomac River:
- Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): 47.1°F
- Lewisetta: 43.0°F
- Mallows Bay: 66.2°F
- Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 43.3°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.”
- For the upper/mid-Bay:
- 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.”
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Moving water - Expect average flows for most of Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal current conditions Friday through Tuesday as a result of the new moon on Wednesday, December 9th.
- 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.