Waterlands

NWS zone ANZ534 · Mid-Atlantic

Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA fishing forecast

Maryland · Atlantic coast

Score now

74Great
Spot · 2:00 PM EDT
Named spots
10
Species scored
18
Tide stations
4
Open in the tide mapAll Maryland bay systems

Overview

Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA is NWS marine zone ANZ534 on the Maryland Atlantic coast, in the Mid-Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 10 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 4 NOAA tide stations nearby.

18 species are scored here in this forecast; Spot, Red drum, Little tunny, Spanish mackerel and Sheepshead are at peak season now.

At 2:00 PM it scores 74 (great), led by Spot. The best window for the rest of today is 6 PM-12 AM (flood tide), peaking at 78 for Spot. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sun, Oct 4 at 7 PM, scoring 85.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 2:06 PM EDT.

Best window today

6 PM-12 AM · Flood tide

Top species: Spot

78Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Mon, Sep 21

    81

    9 AM

    Spot

  2. Tue, Sep 22

    75

    2 AM

    Spot

  3. Wed, Sep 23

    67

    3 AM

    Spot

  4. Thu, Sep 24

    74

    11 PM

    Red drum

  5. Fri, Sep 25

    75

    12 AM

    Red drum

  6. Sat, Sep 26

    70

    9 AM

    Little tunny

  7. Sun, Sep 27

    71

    5 AM

    Striped bass

  8. Mon, Sep 28

    81

    5 PM

    Little tunny

  9. Tue, Sep 29

    80

    7 AM

    Little tunny

  10. Wed, Sep 30

    83

    5 PM

    Spot

  11. Thu, Oct 1

    80

    5 PM

    Spot

  12. Fri, Oct 2

    81

    5 PM

    Little tunny

  13. Sat, Oct 3

    84

    7 PM

    Red drum

  14. Sun, Oct 4

    85

    7 PM

    Red drum

    Best day

Species · 18

Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

74Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (83)

70Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sun, Oct 4 at 7 PM (85)

68Great
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 7 AM (81)

68Great
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 7 PM (72)

67Great
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 PM (74)

64Good
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 8 AM (72)

63Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Oct 4 at 7 PM (83)

62Good
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (69)

60Good
ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (81)

59Good
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (73)

58Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 5 PM (76)

57Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (69)

56Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 4 PM (63)

55Good
TautogTautoga onitis · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 7 AM (67)

53Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 7 PM (59)

53Good
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Oct 4 at 6 PM (79)

35Fair
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35)

No score
Winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus · bottom

Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 10

Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.

Nearest tide stations

Bishops HeadNOAA 85714219.1 miSolomons IslandNOAA 857733018.6 miLewisettaNOAA 863575018.7 miCambridgeNOAA 857189229.9 mi

Regulations

Maryland DNR saltwater regulations Buy a Maryland fishing license License types

Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Synced with Maryland DNR Sep 21, 2026.

No reviewed rules for the species listed here are on file yet. Check with Maryland DNR before you keep a fish.

Other Maryland bay systems