Red drum, cobia, speckled trout, and Spanish mackerel are being reported as far north as Man O’ War Shoals, which is just outside the Patapsco River near Baltimore. Speckled trout have been reported inside Hodges Bar near Rock Hall.
The influx of cobia, red drum and, and trout further north has been driven in large part by higher salinity due to lack of rain in combination with high water temperatures.
Reports from New Jersey and Delaware waters are another signal that gamefish may be expanding their range northward.
While rockfish are under scrutiny, gamefish reports in northern waters indicate that the fishery is relatively robust. With numbers and biomass increasing, it is a natural tendency to seek out more food in new waters.
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Another item worth noting is the influx of shrimp on the bayside at least as far north as Nassawadox Creek.
For the past several years it has been common knowledge that they were on the seaside in Mockhorn Bay, and on the bayside up to Plantation Creek.
I work oysters in Westerhouse Creek, and have owned property there since the 70’s and have NEVER seen edible sizes shrimp in this creek before this year.
Would the depletion of bait from Omega Proteins harvesting more than Federal Regulations in Virginia waters have anything to do with the fish moving into waters that do not allow the harvesting?