Artificial Lure here, giving you the latest on Chesapeake Bay fishing around Baltimore and Washington D.C. for Friday, October 17, 2025. If you’re headed out today, you’ve lucked into classic mid-October conditions: cool, sunny skies linger after the Nor’easter that’s long gone, and water temps are just right for fired-up fall action. Expect main bay surface temps in the upper 60s, with the tidal rivers hanging around 60. Sunrise comes at 7:13 AM and sunset’s 6:24 PM, so get on the water early to catch that morning bite.

For tides, the morning high hits around 7:52 AM and another high shows up at 8:13 PM. Low tides fall at 2:34 AM and 2:54 PM. We’re seeing above-average tidal currents, thanks to the new moon brewing next week—a good push to get bait and fish moving.

Fishing action’s perking up all over the upper bay. At Conowingo Dam, night and early-morning releases are stirring up the pool. Anglers are tossing long casts with light surf rods to reach the turbines. There’s a good mix of striped bass here, with blue cats and flatheads prowling just below the dam pool and out the Susquehanna River. For monster blue cats, make a beeline for the river mouth or try the lower Elk and Northeast rivers.

In the middle bay, the Bay Bridge piers are a hot ticket right now. Folks are drifting live spot or eels into the pilings, pulling up respectable striped bass holding tight to structure. Casting soft plastic jigs—think 5-inch paddletails in chartreuse or white—at dawn or dusk is also putting fish in the box. Don’t underestimate the power of an outgoing tide here; that water movement is key.

Trolling’s productive along the main channel edge from Bloody Point past Buoy 83 down to False Channel. Pulling umbrella rigs with shad bodies, or classic tandem bucktails, is producing a solid mix of striped bass and bluefish. Keep an eye out for birds and surface blitzes—stripers are starting to chase menhaden and bay anchovies to the top, and the gulls pinpoint the action.

Water cooling in the rivers is urging menhaden, anchovies, and spot to make a break for open water. Striped bass are staging on channel edges and suspending, a good window for jigging with heavier plastics or trolling deeper divers. According to the latest Maryland DNR survey, we’re still catching more adult striped bass than juveniles, with this year’s young-of-year index ticking up a touch but remaining shy of long-term averages. If you’re after consistent action, target schoolies and slot-sized keepers.

For shallow-water game, low-light periods are prime. Poplar Island rocks, Thomas Point, the mouths of the Choptank and Little Choptank, and Eastern Bay are all producing on topwater lures—walk-the-dog baits and poppers at dawn are sparking blowups, especially as stripers move up on warmer flats. Jerkbaits and swimbaits also draw strikes around rocky points and oyster beds.

White perch are bunched up on oyster reefs in the lower tidal rivers, easily caught on small jigs, grass shrimp, or bits of bloodworm.

Best baits are local menhaden and live spot, but don’t shy away from soft plastics in natural bunker, chartreuse, or pink. Plastics like Z-Man DieZel Minnows or Bass Assassin Sea Shads are locals’ favorites, rigged on half-ounce heads for deeper haunts. Eels are drawing in the bigger fish at structure.

For a couple of hot spots:
- Check the Bay Bridge pilings for stripers and bluefish,
- The mouth of the Choptank for suspending bass (and maybe a shot at a late-fall trout),
- The main channel ledge by Bloody Point,
- Poplar Island for shallow water topwater action.

And don’t ignore the catfish bite—chunk baits near the Elk and Susquehanna mouths are bringing up bragging-size blues and flatheads.

Plenty of bait in the system, and fish are feeding hard ahead of winter. Dress warm, work the tides, and keep moving till you find the...