Wow! The fishing really does not get much better than this.

The spot are thick everywhere in the lower Patuxent up as far as Benedict. The spot will readily take a hook baited with bloodworm from the shore or in a boat as long as the tide ismoving. Reports of spot caught at will came from the mouth of Cuckold's Creek, Helen's Bar, the mouth of Town Creek, Green Holly, Sandy Point, Kingston Hollow, the fishing reef off
the 'O Club, the Three Legged, Second Beach, etc. The spot are mostly small (but growing daily) with some medium ones mixed in, and an occasional jumbo. Reports of jumbo spot (saucer sized) came from Capt. Walleye Pete, who found them just north of Point Patience not far off the fishing pier at the Navy Recreation Center. Spot are numerous enough to show
up in crab pots in the creeks off of the Patuxent.

Croaker (hardhead) are as hot as a bottle rocket on the Fourth of July in the bay. The bottom fishermen using bloodworm, peelers, squid, and shrimp are finding the fish on the middle grounds east of Point No Point at sunset. The fish are averaging 12 to 13 inches, and the big boys up to 17 and 18 inches are mixed in to add excitement. Croakers in the Patuxent are biting fast enough to tire out most sturdy fishermen in an afternoon, but most are under-sized (around 8 inches). These little guys are being caught two at the time as fast as you can bait your hooks and reel them in. There are some bigger hardhead in some holes in the Patuxent,but you have to search them out. If the fish are too small where you are, then move.

White perch are mixed in with the spot and croaker, and many are hefty. The Potomac has plenty of croaker and some small spot. Ragged Point is very good as is the Wicomico near Bushwood.

Rockfish reports are fabulous. Live liners are doing very well using live spot. Breaking fish are active at sun-up from Little Cove Point north to Cove Point and at the Gas Docks north to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Some rockfish over thirty inches can be jigged up or tempted with a live spot under the breaking fish.

A typical story of fishing last week was Captain Andrew on the "Fin Finder" (301-873-1327) who, with a party of 12 and trusty first mate Joe Tippet, started out at about 5 p.m. With one anchoring at Hawk's Nest in the Patuxent at the entrance to Cuckold's Creek, they caught about 120 spot in about an hour. They proceeded to Second Beach just outside the mouth of the Patuxent in the bay and live lined the spot to get their limit of rockfish (24) in about 40 minutes. These rockfish averaged 20 or so inches (Joe said that they were big enough that he never even had to measure to make sure they were the required 18 inches). About six of the catch were close to 30 inches (7 plus pounds). Then, off to 72A down the bay east of Point No Point where on one long drift of several miles enough croaker were caught that the boxes were full and the party was eager to go home and rest. The fish were cleaned and packed and everyone sent home by 1 a.m.

Flounder fishing is very good at the Three Legged in the Patuxent, and on the edge of the ship's channel from buoys 74 to 76.

Crabs are very plentiful right now. There are large amounts of little crabs that will be keepers in a couple of sheds. September will be prime for crabs this year.

Bass fishing continues to be excellent at St. Mary's Lake. A friend came in and showed me photos of big bass he caught jigging a medium sized brown speckled crawdad in the middle of the lake last Thursday. He said he drifted along continuously connecting with three pounders for several hours.

A novice bass hunter came in last week seeking information on the lake and techniques. We told him a few tricks and got him some gear together. He returned later with photos of five bass (good sized!) that he had caught, and asked why everyone so excited about largemouths when they were so easy to catch!