Artificial Lure here with your Chesapeake Bay and Baltimore/Washington D.C. fishing report for Wednesday, November 5th, 2025.

Clear, crisp fall air greeted early risers today. Sunrise rolled in at 6:31 a.m. and anglers can expect sunset at 5:03 p.m. Temperatures hold in the upper 40s to mid-60s, with northwest winds pushing 11–15 knots. A Small Craft Advisory is active until 6 p.m. and a Gale Watch kicks in for the Bay and tidal Potomac from 6 p.m. tonight through Thursday morning, so boaters should plan accordingly, especially for post-work sessions. Waves hover around 2–3 feet; if you’re trailering in, keep that in mind for launch conditions—especially near the Key Bridge and deeper main channels.

Tides favor an early morning high at 6:35 a.m. on the Bay Bridge Tunnel, with lows mid-day and another peak near dusk. Outgoing late afternoon tides have produced the most consistent rockfish bites, so plan to fish the drop for best results, especially with cooling water below 60°F and river temps in the high 50s.

Fish activity this past week saw striped bass (rockfish) bites slow after a stormy stretch that scattered schools and kept many boats docked, as reported by Ken Lamb from St. Mary’s Tacklebox. Over the weekend, trollers working the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers managed a few keepers in the 20–25-inch slot, but many crews logged just one or two fish per trip. The best success came from deep jigging in the 30–40-foot contours near drop-offs and channel edges where bunker and silversides are thick. Umbrella rigs, tandem rigs, and white Tony No. 18 spoons have been producing along the Sea Breeze area. Slow-pitch jigging, 1–3 ounce metal jigs, and shad lures worked under diving birds or near structure, like rips or the Solomons bridge pilings, are still top options.

Fresh bunker—both peanut and adult—are drawing fish, especially as the big fall migration begins. This week, breaking fish showed around Tangier Sound, the mouth of the Potomac, and Chinese Mudd section, with more sporadic bluefish and sea trout showing in lower Bay and river mouths. Smaller bass are pushing shallower in calm spells, where paddletails, poppers, and fluke-style soft plastics can be deadly on light spinning gear. For the deep bite, vertical presentations with 7–9 inch flutter spoons closely mimic the local forage.

In the local scene, perch and tautog are starting to move, with tautog taking green crab and Asian crab baits near oyster rock and bridge foundation. White perch are still active in deeper holes—try small jigs and grass shrimp for a guaranteed tug, especially close to Baltimore’s hard-bottom areas.

Two hot spots to keep on your radar:
- **Cedar Point rockpile**: When winds lay down, boats drifting or anchoring around this gravel outcrop see steady rockfish action, especially during outgoing tide windows.
- **Bay Bridge pilings and Sandy Point shoals**: Always reliable when water clarity is good; target suspended fish with heavier jigs and be ready for big surprises.

Regulations put striped bass at one keeper per person per day in the 19–24-inch slot. Be sure you’re using non-offset circle hooks for natural and cut bait to meet conservation rules and help release mortality.

Eyes on the Bay's Click Before You Cast tool remains your friend for real-time water temperature and oxygen data—worth checking before launching to dial in your game plan, especially in fluctuating conditions after strong winds that can push bait and fish deeper.

All said, it’s that classic November pattern: cooling water, blustery winds, outgoing tides, and migrating fish. Layer up, check your weather window, watch bait concentrations, and hit those deep drop-offs with heavy metal for your best shot at a November trophy.

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