Catching striped bass on dock lights in December is great, as long as you have tide movement and the right fly fishing gear. I personally like an 8 wt fast action rod with a floating line, for a leader I prefer a 20 lb tapered fluorocarbon leader 9’ long, and a black and purple size 2. Now not just any dock with a light will produce, you need to find one that has at least[...]

Results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2017 young-of-year striped bass survey in the Chesapeake Bay shows the fish is reproducing in strong numbers. The annual survey’s index is 13.2, above the 64-year average of 11.7. Striped bass, popularly known as rockfish, is Maryland’s state fish. The fish spawns in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries each spring. The survey is conducted annually to track the reproductive success of this important species and help[...]

We knew where they should be, and we can affirm that catching big fish right there that time of year with heavy jig-heads and plastic baits on conventional spinning gear is quite doable. We’ve done that. But, could we dial in an effective fly pattern, achieve the perfect drift, and get the nearly weightless fur, feathers and wide-gape hooks down in the rip-current to where the fish were hunkered? There was only one way to[...]

With so much wildlife and natural beauty throughout Maryland, and with so many options to choose from, planning a hunting or fishing trip is easy. Start planning your trip with ideas from our highlighted "Only in Maryland" experiences.

Taking smallmouth bass with popping bugs is some of the most exciting fishing available. The strike is explosive and there is the added benefit that poppers take some of the largest bass. The Potomac River in Washington County provides exactly these types of prime smallmouth bass fly fishing opportunities given its wide, shallow nature with lots of rock ledges running across the river leading to riffles and long pools. Walking the footpath alongside the C&O[...]

Combining the chase of Maryland’s two most sought-after species into one day-long adventure, Cast and Blast trips are a truly unique Maryland experience. As one of the only states that offers such a trip, Maryland is the perfect place to try your hand at this little-known hunting and fishing experience. Built around serious sportsmen’s knowledge and skill sets, Cast and Blast trips are guided hunting and fishing trips that bring sportsmen duck hunting from a[...]

All of Maryland’s natural beauty springs open for the enjoyment of sportsmen and women with the coming of spring. As the days grow longer and the temperatures warmer, it’s time to grab your fishing gear and head out to take advantage of the abundance of perch and trout stocks throughout the state. Three Fish to Chase this Spring Yellow Perch: Yellow perch are a favorite sportfish in Maryland – especially in the Chesapeake Bay area[...]

If you haven’t had the pleasure of biting into some crispy, fried blue catfish, you are truly missing out. They’re easy to catch, easy to clean, and easy to cook. What’s more, they’re invasive. Just about everything alive in the Chesapeake Bay will be better off each time you enjoy dining on these fish. It is illegal to throw them back, so why not reap the rewards of your hard-earned catch? Here’s a great way[...]

Captain Mike Starrett has been guiding anglers on the tidal Potomac River for almost 30 years. He specializes in largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, the invasive Northern snakehead, and blue catfish, also an invasive species. He and his partner, Captain Dave Snellings, work together, each in their own boat, keeping in touch by VHF marine radio to find fish for their clients. It has been my pleasure to fish with both gents. Saturday, November 16[...]