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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Striped Bass in Chesapeake Bay (Lower) may fishing.

Morone saxatilisMigratoryGood

Post-spawn fish recovering; migration continuing north out of the Bay.

Year-round calendar

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Tap a cell for the month-specific note and water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Fair Resident bay fish in deep channel water; some holdover migration fish. Typical water temp: 38–46°FFairFeb — Good Pre-spawn fish staging at bay mouth; late winter trophy fishery on big migratory fish. Typical water temp: 40–48°FGoodMar — Peak Spring trophy season — pre-spawn migrants stage at the mouth of the Bay. Typical water temp: 44–52°FPeakApr — Peak Spring spawn moving up the rivers. Trophy fish and migrating bass throughout. Typical water temp: 50–58°FPeakMay — Good Post-spawn fish recovering; migration continuing north out of the Bay. Typical water temp: 56–64°FGoodJun — Fair Resident summer bass on structure; larger migrants gone north. Typical water temp: 64–72°FFairJul — Fair Hot water pushes fish to deeper channels and the cooler bay mouth. Typical water temp: 70–78°FFairAug — Fair Same hot-water pattern. Early/late tide and structure focus. Typical water temp: 72–80°FFairSep — Good Cooling water reactivates resident fish and brings southbound migrants back. Typical water temp: 64–72°FGoodOct — Peak Fall run — bait migrations through the Bay produce blitz conditions. Typical water temp: 56–64°FPeakNov — Peak Peak fall striper season. Big fish on bait throughout the Bay. Typical water temp: 50–58°FPeakDec — Good Late season fish pushing south but resident bay fish still active. Typical water temp: 42–50°FGood

Migration pattern

The Chesapeake spawning population dominates the Mid-Atlantic. Pre-spawn fish stage at the Bay mouth in February–March; spawn in tributaries April–May; resident bay fish through summer; fall run produces peak October–November fishing.

Best locations

  • Bay Bridge Tunnel structure
  • Mouth of the Potomac
  • Fisherman's Island
  • Buoys 36/42

Top lures

  • Live menhaden
  • Soft plastic shads on jigheads
  • Bucktail jigs
  • Topwater pencil poppers
  • Trolled umbrella rigs
Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year to year. Cross-reference NOAA marine forecasts and a local source the week of your trip.

Striped Bass in other regions

Get a notification when striped bass show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in Chesapeake Bay (Lower).

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