The unruly fishing gods conjured up a terrible past week for us, and we can be glad that the forecast has no storms, rain, or high winds for us in the immediate future. The weather should be fine for the Memorial Day weekend approaching, and we are blessed with the arrival of the first bluefish caught from the shore.
  The image
  Some fine rockfish from the Potomac
caught by Vincent Richardt and Brian Mays

Annie Quichocho caught two 18 inch bluefish, a couple of croaker, and a good sized catfish last Thursday evening while fishing from the shore at Goose Creek just below Cedar Point on the Naval Air Station. She was using cut spot for bait. The catfish mixed with the salt water species indicates the amount of fresh water dumped into the bay from last week’s storms.

Bluefish will now become a staple for beach fishermen until October. A report of big bluefish hitting lures meant for rockfish have trickled in this week.

Trophy rockfish continue to be caught by trollers in the bay, but their numbers are rapidly diminishing. Big schools of smaller rockfish are now breaking in the bay. The size limit is now down to the 18 inch minimum, and the bag limit is two per day, only one over 28 inches. The waters below St. Jeromes Creek all the way south across the mouth of the Potomac to Smith Point can become alive with miles of breaking fish most anytime. There are also plenty of breaking fish inside the Targets in Cedar Point Hollow.

Croaker are now most everywhere. We just need the great weather coming up this week to get out and catch a mess for the dinner table. Captain Joe Lore took a night party fishing on his head boat the “Olympus II” last Thursday night to the middle grounds and brought home about 100 fish. This is the first I have heard of the night fishing for hardhead this season.

The crabs are now in the creeks for netters and chicken neckers.