Fishing Report – May 4, 2026 | Rock Hall MD & Indian River Inlet DE

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FISHING REPORT

Monday, May 4, 2026 · Mid-Atlantic Region

✅ DECENT DAY TO FISH

Stripers moving · Bluefish incoming · Drum in surf

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ROCK HALL CRABBING UPDATE

Season OPEN (Apr 1–Dec 15). Population near historic lows (~238M per 2025 survey). Work coves & creek mouths as water warms past 60°F. Chicken necks/razor clams on trotlines or pots. Patience required this year.

⚓ ROCK HALL, MD Upper Chesapeake Bay 🐟 What's Biting 🎯 Striped Bass (Rockfish) Post-spawn fish moving down Bay. Trolling & jigging channel edges. Harvest open — 19–24" slot. 🌿 Largemouth Bass C&R on Susquehanna Flats grass beds & tidal rivers 🐍 Snakehead Mixed in with bass on the flats — bonus catch 🪝 Hot Baits Paddletails Jerkbaits Glide Baits Trolling (6-line) Jigging 📍 Best Spots Main Bay Channel Edges Susquehanna Flats Grass Bay Shorelines 🌊 Conditions Water Temp ~60°F Clarity Average River Flow Below Avg Weather Partly Cloudy ⚖️ Regs: 1 fish/day · 19–24" slot · Bay main stem only · Trolling: barbless, no stingers · Tributaries: C&R only

🌊 INDIAN RIVER INLET, DE Rehoboth Bay / Atlantic Coastal Inlet 🐟 What's Biting 🎯 Tautog (Tog) Decent keeper bite at north jetty; more keepers in the mix lately 🐟 Striped Bass Slot & over-slot off north jetty end; shorty stripers in South Pocket (Big Chill) 🫓 Flounder Indian River Bay — drift outgoing tide off sandbars 🥁 Black Drum Surf alive with drum 25–35". Skates & smooth dogfish abundant ⏳ Bluefish / Weakfish — INCOMING Blues ~Mother's Day · Weakfish ~1 week after blues 🪝 Hot Baits Bucktails Black Plugs Wind Cheaters Rapalas (Black) Live Minnows 📍 Best Spots North Jetty End South Pocket / Big Chill IR Bay Sandbars Surf Beach 🌊 Conditions Water Temp 54°F Tides Spring Phase Air Temp Hi 57° / Lo 44° Slack Tide ~6:42 AM ⚖️ Regs: Flounder: 12" min, 4/day · Confirm striper & tog limits with DNREC

Sources: MD DNR · DNREC · FishTalk Mag · Old Inlet B&T · Tides4Fishing · CBF Compiled May 4, 2026 — Always verify regs before keeping fish