Planning an angling adventure from afar? Or maybe you live along the Mid-Atlantic coast from New York to Virginia. Whichever category you fall into, you have lots of options when it comes to finding fishing hotspots in this region. The Mid-Atlantic boasts around 20,000 miles of shoreline and both inshore and offshore fishing grounds, as well as plenty of freshwater options.
There are so many fishing opportunities to check out that you’re probably not sure where to begin… Never fear, dear angler! These top five Mid-Atlantic fishing hotspots are all great places to get started. Any angler who fishes here should have these locations on their radar…
1. Lake Seneca, NY
New York’s Finger Lakes are famed for their plentiful Lake Trout, huge Brown Trout, and aggressive Smallmouth Bass. And Lake Seneca is the largest of them all, with rocky shorelines and depths plummeting to hundreds of feet. The over 60 square miles of surface area are perfect for casting, trolling, and jigging!
Trolling is the most common tactic for Trout and Salmon here, while those in search of Bass, Panfish, and Pike usually cast along the shoreline. Expect most of the fish to stay deep in the heat of summer and the chill of winter, while spring and fall offer better action in the shallows.
💡Lake Seneca Fishing Tip! Just about every predator in these waters enjoys eating alewife (called sawbellies locally), so try them for bait or use lures imitating these 3–5″ silver bait fish.
2. Wilmington Canyon
Anglers who want to do battle with offshore pelagic species ranging from Tuna to Marlin should board a boat and head for one of the Mid-Atlantic’s submarine canyons. The Wilmington, located south-east of the mouth of Delaware Bay, is a top pick for anglers departing from ports up and down the coast thanks to its amazing structure and fish-attracting currents. Tuna can show up as early as May, and fishing stays hot until late fall when Swordfish become a prime target.
💡Wilmington Canyon Fishing Tip! Look for the orange polyballs marking commercial fishing gear. They’re usually set right along the canyon wall drop-offs where fish-attracting depth changes are most dramatic, and Mahi Mahi often congregate around them.
3. The Susquehanna River
The mighty Susquehanna River, pumping over 18 million gallons of water per minute at its mouth, runs through New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. And through many different parts of its range, it offers excellent action on Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Catfish, and even Muskellunge. Each different portion of the river has its own highlights, so do some research before figuring out which species to target. But whatever decision you make, make sure you come and fish this river!
💡Susquehanna River Fishing Tip! Crayfish are present throughout this rocky river, and they’re a favorite food for the Bass species here. Dangle one live under a bobber and float it along – or try casting a crayfish-pattern crankbait.
4. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, MD
Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay encompasses its northern half – from the mouth of the Susquehanna to the Potomac River. This is a huge area with many individual hotspots, but the one towering above the rest (literally) is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Consisting of two separate spans – each over 4 miles long – it has thousands of steel pilings, dozens of concrete piers, and two rock islands. All of that structure attracts fish. Lots and lots of fish.
💡Chesapeake Bay Bridge Fishing Tip! Striped Bass (locally called Rockfish) rule the roost here, and they love eating live spot. Fish for spot along the pilings close to shore and fill your livewell. Then, try drifting live spot back to the deeper piers and pilings to tempt those Stripers into biting.
5. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, VA
Known locally as the CBBT, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel complex stretches nearly 18 miles across the mouth of the bay from Norfolk to the eastern shore. It has four artificial islands, well over 5,400 pilings, and its structure is constantly barraged by strong currents washing between the Atlantic and the Chesapeake. Sure, it was built for transportation as opposed to fishing, but forget about all that traffic – the CBBT essentially amounts to one of the largest artificial fishing reefs in the world.
While there are dozens of species to target here, the CBBT is particularly famous for producing fish-of-a-lifetime “Bull” Redfish. This is truly the place to head if you want to tangle with a giant!
💡CBBT Fishing Tip! During the summer months, there are huge numbers of toothy fish like Bluefish and Sharks in these waters, and baits often get sliced to shreds in no time. When this is an issue, switch to fishing with metal spoons, tooth-proof plastics, and other lures that the fish can’t chop up.
Top Mid-Atlantic Fishing Spots: Just the Beginning
Of course, there are plenty of other Mid-Atlantic fishing hotspots that you might choose for your own personal list. Might you visit one of these picks and end up catching a skunk? Yes, that’s always a possibility. But each of these places undoubtedly merits your consideration and provides an excellent starting point for casting in the Mid-Atlantic’s waters.
Have you ever been fishing in the Mid-Atlantic? Where’s your favorite hotspot to cast from? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post 5 Top Mid-Atlantic Fishing Hotspots: A Local Angler’s Pick for 2025 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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