Maryland Multispecies Trip

[Johnsfolly]

Been in Maryland since Monday. I will likely be in Maryland off and on this year. So I went ahead and bought annual freshwater and coastal/bay fishing licenses. I was able to get out to Tuckahoe creek on the eastern shore with one of the guys from the office. He got interested when I told him about my interest in micro- and multispecies fishing. Prior to my last trip here I researched some spots to fish and found a promising little creek that might have a variety of species and possibly new species. Then I got to the lab and met Tim and he told me about the possibility of catching a redbreast sunfish in Tuckahoe creek, the place that I felt had a lot of promise.

Tim and I got out this afternoon armed with a number of small jigs and worms if needed. When we got to the creek, I found out from another fisherman that they had luck with both yellow and whiter perch using worms. We saw a bunch of fish in a riffle across the creek from us. We threw a few jigs and a roostertail spinner without success. Switched to worms and Tim got a feisty 7 inch yellow perch. I caught a nice fallfish on my first cast. I had caught these minnows previously in Pennsylvania. This is definitely not a species that I would catch anywhere near MO. I ended up with two of these minnows.

That cast was followed by my first yellow perch of the evening. Again not a new life list fish, but one that is not common around MO. I ended up with four yellow perch.

My next cast yielded a new life list fish, a redbreast sunfish. I had set catching one of these fish as a goal for the 2017/2018. These were not big fish, but the were plentiful and ended up catching a dozen before it got too dark.

I also tried to catch one of the small minnows that looked like mosquito fish. Even though they were interested, I couldn't get one to actually bite the bait. I caught a couple of bluegill. Tim caught yellow perch, redbreast sunfish, and a nice 2 pound channel catfish. All of the fish except for the catfish were caught with worms. We fished a couple of hours and caught several species on this trip. It was a great night. Hopefully can get back before I head back to MO and try for a white perch.

[Quillback]

I was stationed near Frederick MD back in 1981.  Used to fish the Potomac near Harpers Ferry.  Really good wade fishing for smallies in that area, just be careful as the rocks are slippery in the river.  The river is very wide but shallow in that area.  There was lots of access, the old B&O canal runs along the river there providing access to the river.  of course this was 35 + years ago so things may have changed.  If you're into history, all kinds of stuff to see in that area, Harpers Ferry, Antietam battlefield,  and if I remember correctly, the house where John Brown and his associates spent the night before their Harpers Ferry raid is still there.

[Johnsfolly]

I got out again and tried another section of the Tuckahoe creek where I heard that during the spawn there are lots of white perch. I hoped that a couple would still be sticking around. I only had about 35 to 40 minutes before I had to get back to the hotel, clean up, and check out before heading into work. Still fishing worms. I caught three bluegill. Then I hooked a fish that did not fight like a sunfish. Kind off disappointed that it turned out to be a yellow perch. The next fish was a redbreast sunfish. Then I landed my first white perch. looked quite a bit like a white bass and less like a yellow perch. When I looked up the species name, Morone americana, it all made sense since the are more closely related to the white bass, Morone chrysops.

I caught one more and another bluegill before I had to leave. Before I left I thought of Marty and took a fish face photo.

 

 

[BilletHead]

  Love a good fish face !

BilletHead

[JestersHK]

Way to get after them in MD John!