a relaxing and fun way to fish with light tackle. Speckled Trout are a big part of the mix especially on the lower eastern shore with most being 20" or better and Red Drum over 18" have also been a very welcomed addition for some lucky anglers. Jeremy Mercer holds up a nice Speckled Trout he caught on a jig in the Honga River recently.

Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Mercer

White Perch are now a big part of the shallow water fishing action around shoreline structure for fishermen casting spinners and jigs whether in a boat or the shoreline. White Perch offer some great fishing opportunities for young fishermen when fishing from docks; often the best fishing is right next to the dock and fishing with grass shrimp on abottom rig or bobber is hard to beat. Fishing for croaker has improved this week in most areas of the middle and lower bay and they mix in well with White Perch, spot and Channel Catfish; in the lower Potomac medium sized Blue Catfish often out number the croaker.

Recreational crabbers are finding their success improving ever so slowly each week as the season progresses. Small and light crabs are a big part of talk among trot liners and collapsible trap crabbers during this early segment of the season. The best crabbing reports are coming from the lower bay tidal creeks and rivers; especially on the lower eastern shore.

Freshwater fishermen are reporting some fun fishing in many of the trout management waters in the western and central regions this