Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report: Stripers, Reds, Cats, and More in 2025

Howdy anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Sunday morning Chesapeake Bay fishing report for May 11, 2025.

Folks, the Bay is coming alive this spring! Water temps are warming nicely, and the fish are responding. Let's dive right in.

Striper season opens in just five days on May 16th across Maryland waters, DC, the Potomac, and Virginia waters of the Bay. Till then, these beauties remain off-limits, though plenty of anglers are reporting accidental catches while targeting other species. Remember, one fish per person per day with that 19" to 24" slot limit once the season opens.

Red drum action is picking up, with puppy drum being caught in the St. Mary's River. Some locals are having success live-lining small spot at night. If you're after specks and reds, you'll find them in the back bays, but be prepared for those accidental stripers.

Up north, catfish are biting like crazy in the Susquehanna. One fella reported hauling in 45 fish on simple worm rigs. Blue cats up to 40 pounds are following perch schools around Port Deposit and Havre De Grace.

Down in Virginia waters, the sheepshead bite is on, and tautog fishing remains strong along the CBBT islands and Bay structures. Better get after those tog quick though—season closes May 15th.

For you surf casters, black drum are still strong in the Ocean City area, with speckled trout running from Virginia Beach down to Oregon Inlet.

Bait recommendations: For those big drum, try cut mullet, bunker, or peeler crab. Puppy drum in the inlets and rivers are taking shrimp and bloodworms. When you're after flounder, go with live minnows, mullet, or white/chartreuse gulp baits.

Hot spots this week: The Virginia Beach pier is producing puppy drum, black drum, trout and small blues. For a more secluded option, try the flats around the marshes for sight casting to stripers and blues—just remember catch and release only for those stripers till Friday.

Recent rains have increased flow on the upper Potomac, creating a schoolie striper honey hole for fly anglers throwing clouser minnows. Conventional tackle folks are scoring with jigs. With rain in the forecast today, these conditions should hold through the opener.

That's the word from the water today, folks. This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines to ya, and I'll see you on the water!