Smallmouth Bass Going Aggressive
Rising temps and moving water are triggering aggressive smallmouth bass bites on the Potomac River in March — guide Jeff Greene is urging anglers to stock up on tackle for the hot action. Spring striper prep is also kicking off in New Jersey rivers as temperatures climb.
The aggressive pre-spawn smallmouth bass bite is triggered as water temperatures climb from the high 30s into the 50s. This "Roaring Forties" period sees the fish moving from their wintering holes to feed heavily before spawning. Anglers are advised to stock up on baits that mimic small minnows, the primary forage for smallmouth in the early spring. Guide Jeff Greene of Shallow Water Fishing Adventures specializes in the Upper Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers, using a custom jet boat to navigate the shallow waters where these fish are found. Recommended tackle for this aggressive pre-spawn bite includes jerkbaits like the Rapala X-Rap, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics such as tubes and swimbaits. Presentations should often be slow, with long pauses for jerkbaits, to entice lethargic but hungry bass. The Potomac River's smallmouth bass population has faced challenges, with poor reproduction recorded every year since 2007. A U.S. Geological Survey study points to climate change, which has led to increased rainfall and routine flooding in May and June, disrupting the spawning season. In 2023, the young-of-year smallmouth bass population was only 39% of the historic 30-year mean. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the spring striped bass migration is a highly anticipated event for anglers. The action often kicks off in March in the back bays and tidal rivers. Water temperature is a key factor, with migratory stripers preferring a range of 55° to 65°F. Key locations for early season striper action in New Jersey include Raritan Bay and its tributaries, where bass feed before spawning in the Hudson and Raritan Rivers. The Delaware Bay and its tributaries are also major spawning grounds. Anglers often find success with swimming plugs and flutter spoons that imitate bunker, a primary food source for the migrating stripers. The Atlantic striped bass stock has faced conservation concerns. In 2018, a benchmark stock assessment indicated the species was overfished and overfishing was occurring. This led to new regulations in 2020, including a "slot" size limit of one fish between 28 and 38 inches and the required use of circle hooks when using bait to reduce release mortality. New Jersey's recreational striped bass harvest is typically one of the highest along the coast.
