maryland Angler Sets State Record, Fall fishing Heats Up
ANNAPOLIS, MD – An Anne Arundel County angler recently achieved a remarkable feat, breaking the Maryland state record for pompano dolphin and concurrently earning FishMaryland Master Angler status within the same week.This accomplishment highlights the ongoing opportunities for exceptional fishing in Maryland waters as fall migration patterns take hold.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that surf conditions are improving, promising action with bluefish and catch-and-release opportunities for large red drum migrating south. Flounder and occasional black drum are also present in the surf. Anglers are finding success at the inlet targeting sheepshead with fiddler crabs, green crab, or sand fleas, alongside tautog, striped bass, and bluefish. The inlet and connecting channels are becoming key passageways for flounder leaving back bay areas,responding well to larger baits like live spot,finger mullet,or Gulp baits.
both the black sea bass and tautog seasons are currently open, making wreck and reef sites productive fishing locations. The fall flounder migration is underway, with anglers successfully targeting them at lumps, wrecks, and reefs. Offshore, the canyons are expected to see activity as yellowfin tuna, longfin albacore, and bigeye tuna move south. The full impact of a recent Nor’easter on offshore conditions remains to be seen.
Maryland anglers are encouraged to participate in DNR’s Volunteer Angler Surveys to contribute valuable data for fisheries monitoring and management.
The Maryland Fishing Report is compiled by Keith Lockwood, a fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, with contributions from Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Director Tom Parham through “Click Before You Cast.”
