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Fishing Conditions Forecast

Weekly Fishing Conditions Forecast Summary

December 4 - 10, 2024

forecast iconExpect cool, windy weather to shape fishing conditions in Maryland's waters during the second week of December. Salinity in Maryland’s part of the Bay continues to run slightly higher than average. As reported by the NOAA buoys, main Bay surface water temperatures have dropped to the upper 40’s, with bottom waters slightly warmer and the rivers running slightly cooler. In comparison to historical Bay conditions for late November, both the main Bay and tributary water temperatures are still warmer than the long-term average. However, with the water temperatures in the upper 40’s,bottom waters will be a few degrees warmer and provide some opportunities to catch fish at the traditional late season places deeper in the water column such as channel edges, underwater points, hard bottom, and drop-offs.

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 and cooling temperatures through Saturday (day: 40's, night: 30's) but then warming through Tuesday (day: 50's, night: 40's). There is a chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday. Winds 20-25kts with gusts higher through Thursday but decreasing to 10-15kts the rest of the week. Sunrise next week around 7:12am and sunset around 4:44pm.

  • Salinity - Rainfall to Maryland waters has been slightly below average so salinity is still slightly above normal down to the mouth of the Potomac 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 bottom
    • Little Choptank up to Choptank River: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Bloody Point: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • Bay Bridge: Adequate oxygen to bottom
    • 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 40's (°F). River temperatures have dropped to the upper 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): 46°F
      • Tolchester: NR
      • Baltimore/Patapsco River: 46°F
      • Thomas Point: NR
      • Annapolis NOAA Buoy: 48°F

    • For the mid/lower-Bay:
      • NOAA/DNR Gooses Reef buoy: 53°F
      • Bishops Head: 40°F
      • Choptank, Cambridge: 43°F

    • For the Potomac River:
      • Point Lookout NOAA buoy (surface): NR
      • Lewisetta: 44°F
      • Mallows Bay: 42.3°F
      • Washington DC at Little Falls (USGS): 38°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 other Maryland rivers and streams. There will be above average tidal current conditions on through Friday as a result of the new moon on Saturday, December 1st.

  • 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.