Weekend Fishing Report

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By Gene Mueller

A lot is happening in the world of fishing even though the week featured much rain, little sun and cooler than usual temperatures.

Let us remind you that Saturday will be the opening day of the Maryland trophy rockfish season; the 28-inch-and-over minimum size requirement applies through May 15. Here's what the people over at the Tackle Box in Lexington Park had to say about the chance of hooking a good-sized striper: "There are tons of rockfish everywhere just waiting to take trolled lures on Saturday." The store's crew, including owner Ken Lamb, stays on top of fish catches throughout the region; they see many successful fishermen come into the shop, and members of the staff go out onto the water frequently.

And what about the news that croakers have arrived? Local angler Patrick Dodson and friends got into the croakers (aka hardheads) inside the Choptank River a few days ago. All these fish wanted were pieces of expensive bloodworms, fished from two-hook bottom rigs. Then comes Ken Lamb, who said the first croaker of the year in his area was checked in by Tracy Brooks of Avenue, Md., on Tuesday morning. Brooks and a party of four fished before sunup and found croaker in abundance in 8 feet of water in the Wicomico River near Bushwood. The best baits were shrimp and bloodworms.

If it's largemouth bass you want, whopping catches have been made in the tidal Potomac and several of its feeder creeks. One bass buddy tournament that was held out of Smallwood State Park in the Mattawoman Creek was won with a total weight of over 30 pounds for seven fish. Another contest that was won by one angler with a five-bass Maryland limit had the weight scales rest on the 24-pound mark.

(Ratings key: ****Excellent fishing; *** Good; **Fair; *Poor)

AREA 1: D.C. AND VICINITY

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: 0-35 miles (***)/ Around Fletcher's Cove (Georgetown, off Canal Road; call 202/244-0461) the river is murky from recent rains but should be nicely fishable by the weekend. The shad are there but not willing. The same holds for the white perch. Catfish, however, would love a bottom-fished slab of fish. Warmer water will help, and that is going to happen in the next several days. Meanwhile, in the tidal stretches between the District and western Charles County, exceptionally heavy bass are seen during various weekend tournaments. One buddy tournament in which only seven bass could be weighed in was won with a total weight of 30-plus pounds. Many of the emerging grass beds in the river and creeks have been turning up largemouths that appear to like shallow crankbaits, Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits, as well as soft plastics, such as the Paca Craw. White perch of size have been hooked near Marshall Hall and on the drop-offs along the Greenway Flats. Bottom-fished bloodworms are the ticket. Below the Harry W. Nice Bridge (U.S. 301), get ready for trophy striper season, when one 28-incher can be kept a day. Good news also is coming from the Wicomico River around Bushwood, where croakers have started biting.

WICOMICO RIVER: 55 miles (***)/ The first croaker of the year was checked into Lexington Park's Tackle Box store on Tuesday by Tracy Brooks of Avenue, Md. Brooks and a party of four fished before sunup and found croaker in abundance in eight feet of water in the river near Bushwood. The total catch was well over 50 fish, they said. The largest measured 21 inches; it had a 14-inch girth.

MATTAWOMAN CREEK: 40 miles (***)/ Emerging grass beds are home to many bass, but stay away from the Marsh Island area because I saw the Maryland Department of Natural Resources shocking boat there removing bass to take to the Cedarville Hatchery, where they will become brood stock. Shallow crankbaits and soft plastic craws can bring hits from the largemouths.