Waterlands

NWS zone ANZ531 · Mid-Atlantic

Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point MD fishing forecast

Maryland · Atlantic coast

Score now

75Great
Spot · 1:00 AM EDT
Named spots
35
Species scored
17
Tide stations
4
Open in the tide mapAll Maryland bay systems

Overview

Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point MD is NWS marine zone ANZ531 on the Maryland Atlantic coast, in the Mid-Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 35 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 4 NOAA tide stations nearby.

17 species are scored here in this forecast; Spot, Red drum, Scup, Spanish mackerel and Summer flounder are at peak season now.

At 1:00 AM it scores 75 (great), led by Spot. The best window for the rest of today is 5 PM-12 AM (flood tide), peaking at 79 for Red drum. Over the next 13 days the best hour is Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM, scoring 81.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 7:07 PM EDT.

Best window today

5 PM-12 AM · Flood tide

Top species: Red drum

79Great

Best hour of each day, next 13 days

  1. Thu, Sep 17

    79

    4 AM

    Spot

  2. Fri, Sep 18

    79

    10 PM

    Spot

  3. Sat, Sep 19

    80

    7 AM

    Spot

  4. Sun, Sep 20

    81

    7 AM

    Red drum

    Best day

  5. Mon, Sep 21

    80

    8 AM

    Spot

  6. Tue, Sep 22

    81

    9 AM

    Spot

  7. Wed, Sep 23

    74

    9 AM

    Spot

  8. Thu, Sep 24

    77

    5 PM

    Little tunny

  9. Fri, Sep 25

    81

    5 PM

    Spot

  10. Sat, Sep 26

    78

    7 AM

    Spot

  11. Sun, Sep 27

    79

    5 PM

    Spot

  12. Mon, Sep 28

    79

    6 PM

    Spot

  13. Tue, Sep 29

    79

    6 PM

    Spot

Species · 17

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

75Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (80)

72Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (81)

66Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (70)

64Good
ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshore

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 AM (75)

64Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 5 PM (75)

63Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (76)

63Good
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 9 AM (74)

62Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (79)

62Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (73)

58Good
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (71)

57Good
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 PM (69)

56Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 PM (71)

53Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 9 AM (67)

51Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (63)

50Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (63)

47Good
TautogTautoga onitis · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (60)

35Fair
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Off season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 35

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

23 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Tolchester BeachNOAA 85733646.7 miBaltimoreNOAA 857468011.9 miAnnapolisNOAA 857551220 miChesapeake CityNOAA 857392734.6 mi

Regulations

Maryland DNR saltwater regulations Buy a Maryland fishing license License types

Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Synced with Maryland DNR Sep 16, 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