Twenty- to 30-inch stripers have been caught in the lower Susquehanna River and on Susquehanna Flats by anglers trolling surgical tube lures, and also by anglers livelining with white perch. Catfish, including big fish to more than 6 pounds, have also been hooked on white perch baits.

River Rock Outdoor Store (formerly Toy’s Outdoor Store) said anglers in July will be bottom fishing for croaker and chumming for rockfish.

Captain Charlie Reichert aboard the Interlude was trolling 4-inch and 5-inch Storm Lures, small tandem bucktails, and small umbrellas for stripers in June, mostly at Sandy Point and other locations above the bay bridges. He said finding cleaner water was often the key to locating fish. In mid-June, some anglers had begun switching to chumming for rockfish. Charlie is running the MSSA Northwest Chapter’s white perch tournament that will be held July 19. The entry fee is only $25 per boat. For more information call Captain Charlie at (410) 456-7117 or (410) 465-6880.

Kevin at Angler’s Sport Center said while some anglers were still trolling for rockfish in mid-June, more and more were starting to chum and liveline. Trollers were pulling small baits, such as 4-inch and 6-inch swim shads, and small bucktails tied in tandem. Trolling deep, just above the bottom, was often most productive. Spot started showing up in June, and anglers began livelining them for rockfish. In addition to spot, white perch can also be hooked in front of the dorsal fin and livelined for stripers. Kevin said we should all hope that last season’s hot livelining action is repeated this year. Stripers had been caught at Love Point, while action in 30 to 45 feet of water near Hacketts was described as “on and off”. Crabbing action has gotten off to a strong start, with strong numbers of “nice, heavy” crabs showing up in the catches.

Rockfish action in July will be much better than it was in June, as fish in June were “in transition” and difficult to catch at times, according to Captain Richie Gaines at Angler’s Connection Guide Service. By the time you read this report, stripers will have finished moving out of the rivers and will be in their summer pattern and much easier to locate and catch. Richie said rockfish will be set up on main bay structure, especially deeper structure in areas of good current, which will also hold big schools of bait. Anglers will be able to catch stripers every day by jigging with leadheads tipped with plastics, and by casting to breaking fish.

Croaker at night and even on some overcast days, and livelining action for rockfish were reported by Captain Hank DeVito aboard the Afternoon Delight. Some black drum were still around in June, but Hank said heavy fishing pressure had made them skittish. In July, anglers can enjoy good livelining spot for stripers, and also casting to breaking fish.

Clyde’s Sport Shop reported white perch at Chesapeake Beach and other locations, and anglers were buying lots of grass shrimp and bloodworms to fish for them. Spot fishing turned on in June, and anglers in July will catch spot on small hooks baited with bloodworms, and then they’ll hook the spot on a larger hook and liveline it for rockfish. Chumming will also be a popular summertime tactic for stripers. Clyde’s said crabbing action has been “kicking” with lots of crabs reported in Eastern Bay, the South and West rivers, and at Crisfield and Deal Island.

Anglers on the Fin-Finder with Captain Sonney Forrest have been catching 18- to 24-inch stripers while trolling small 6-inch shads and double bucktail rigs at the gas docks. Livelining with spot has also worked well for rockfish at the gas docks, on the rockpiles at Point No Point, and other locations. Croaker fishing at sundown and at night has been excellent with a number of hefty croaker to 18 inches showing up in the catches. In late June and early July, Captain Sonney will be fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay out of the Salt Ponds on Virginia’s Western Shore where his anglers will catch cobia, red drum, sharks, flounder and spadefish. He still has open dates, for trips both in Virginia and in Maryland’s portion of the bay, so give him a call at 800-831-2702.

Captain Curtis Johns aboard the Karen Ray reported good fishing in the Crisfield area. In the evenings after 6 p.m., anglers have been enjoying good bottom fishing action at the Puppy Hole and other locations with croaker to 16 inches. Chumming the rips in Tangier Sound has turned up limit catches of rockfish and some bluefish. Anglers have also been catching spot and livelining them for rockfish. It’s possible Spanish mackerel may make an appearance toward the end of July.