Crab Alley Bay Fishing near Chester, Maryland

• Overview

  Crab Alley Bay is a Queen Anne's County water, in Maryland. The land about it is rolling hill. At 3.2 sq miles this is proper open water rather than a pond. By size it stands out even at Maryland level. Chester at 3.9 miles is the nearest place to stop. Baltimore is the closest city, 31 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Crab Alley Bay

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Being tidal, the water moves twice a day, and the fishing moves with it. Slack water is dead water on a place like this. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Across Queen Anne's County, recorded fish include white perch, striped bass, alewife, largemouth bass and gizzard shad. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Crab Alley Bay decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 34°F to 77°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Anyone fishing Crab Alley Bay regularly works to that calendar. Autumn cools the shallows first, so work deeper as it goes on.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A platform or pier sits within 0.9 miles. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Coxes Bay is 2.2 miles off. The position on Crab Alley Bay is worth confirming on the day.