Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Charters: Quick Limits & Fat White Perch
Halloween kicked it off, and the fish haven’t let up since. This week brought some of the smoothest Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing for Rockfish aka Striped Bass we’ve had all fall. We limited out fast on light tackle, then switched straight to Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing for White Perch and loaded the cooler.
One crew of eight put a mess of fat Perch in the boat in just 30 minutes. Our Humminbird Apex 13 SideScan found the school, and the rods did the rest. The Perch are running 8.5 to 12 inches right now, and they’re thick, hungry, and delicious.
This report covers October 31 through November 5, 2026, day by day. You’ll see how the combo trip is playing out, how we’re finding the fish, and what our new fish cleaning options look like. You’ll also see how to grab a date before our upper Bay window closes.
Here’s the quick version:
- Oct 31: A spooky good Halloween on light tackle Rockfish and White Perch
- Nov 1: Excellent live lining, then White Perch from 8.5 to 12 inches, plus Blue Catfish on Miss Susie III
- Nov 2: An awesome afternoon with our crew from Pennsylvania
- Nov 3: Quick Striper limit, then 8 anglers loaded up on White Perch in 30 minutes
- Nov 4–5: Excellent morning live lining for Rockfish first, then fat White Perch on the bottom
- Fish cleaning available for a fee: scaled and gutted, filleted, or scaled only. Your choice!
See full details on our Rockfish & White Perch Combo Charters →
How Was Fishing This Past Week?
In one word: efficient. The Stripers are eating, so we’re reaching our limits quickly. That leaves more time for the White Perch, and the Perch are cooperating in a big way.
Here’s the day-by-day breakdown from the captain’s log.
October 31: A Spooky Good Halloween
No tricks out here, just treats. Halloween brought a spooky good day of light tackle Rockfish fishing out of Pasadena, MD. Once the Stripers were handled, we went bottom fishing for White Perch and kept the action rolling.
Our crew skipped the candy and went home with fillets instead. That’s a trade we’ll take every time.
November 1: Excellent Live Lining and 8.5–12 Inch White Perch
We had excellent light tackle live lining for Rockfish, then switched to bottom fishing for tasty White Perch. These fall Perch are quality fish. The largest measured 12 inches, and the smallest came in at 8.5 inches.
A 12-inch White Perch is a real slab. Fish that size give you thick, sweet fillets that fry up perfectly.
Down on the Upper Tidal Potomac, Miss Susie III’s charter group put a nice mess of Blue Catfish in the boat this morning. They fished out of Tantallon Marina in Fort Washington, MD. Protected water and a steady bite made for a great day.
November 2: Awesome Afternoon With Our Pennsylvania Crew
A big shout-out to the guys who made the trip down from PA! We had an awesome afternoon together on the water. It’s always a thrill to see anglers drive a few hours for the fall Chesapeake bite, and this crew made the most of it.
If you’re coming from Pennsylvania, Delaware, or Northern Virginia, Pasadena is an easy run. Ventnor Marina sits right off the upper Bay near Baltimore and Annapolis.
November 3: Quick Striper Limit, Then 30 Minutes of Perch Mayhem
This was a textbook combo day. We limited out quickly on Stripers aka Rockfish, and we had plenty of time left on the clock.
So we went looking for White Perch schools with our Humminbird Apex 13 SideScan. We stumbled on a good handful of fish, and in 30 minutes our crew of 8 passengers had a mess of tasty, fat White Perch landed.
That’s the power of good electronics. We don’t need to drift around hoping to run into fish. We scan, spot the school, set up, and drop the lines.
November 4–5: Morning Rockfish, Then White Perch
Two straight mornings of excellent live lining for Rockfish, followed by bottom fishing for fat, tasty White Perch. Same game plan, same great results.
Morning trips are hitting hard right now. If you like an early start with a cooler full of fish by lunchtime, these are the trips for you.
The takeaway: Fast Striper limits, quality White Perch from 8.5 to 12 inches, and SideScan finding new schools on demand. The combo trip is firing on all cylinders.
Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing for Rockfish aka Striped Bass
Early November is prime time in the upper Bay. The water keeps cooling, the Rockfish keep schooling, and they’re feeding hard before winter. Last year, late October and early November gave us epic fishing for both Rockfish and White Perch, and this fall is following the same script.
How Light Tackle Live Lining Works
Light tackle live lining means fishing a live Spot on a light rod with little or no weight. The bait swims naturally, and Rockfish can’t leave it alone.
- We find the fish. The Humminbird Apex 13 SideScan shows Rockfish, bait, and structure off both sides of the boat.
- We hold the boat on them. Our Minn Kota Instinct Riptide Quest trolling motor keeps us in the strike zone without spooking the school.
- You drop the bait. Your mate hooks the Spot and coaches you through the bite.
- The line starts peeling. Let the fish run, set the hook, and hang on.
We fish until your group reaches its legal limit under current Maryland regulations. Your captain handles the rules. You handle the reeling.
Why Quick Limits Are Good News for You
Most anglers think a fast limit means a short day. On our combo trip, it means the opposite. The faster we limit on Stripers, the more time you get on the White Perch, and that’s where the cooler really fills up.
Want to see every way we chase Stripers from spring through fall? Visit our Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Charters page.
Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing for White Perch
Once the Rockfish are on ice, we head for the Perch and switch to bottom rigs. White Perch have no size or creel limits, so you can keep as many as you want.
Why Fall White Perch Are Worth the Trip
- Quality size: this week’s fish ran 8.5 to 12 inches
- Two at a time: double-headers on two-hook rigs happen often
- Fast action: a crew of 8 loaded up in 30 minutes on November 3
- Great eating: sweet, mild fillets that fry up crisp and golden
- Kid-friendly: steady bites keep young anglers and first-timers smiling
If you’re torn between a “big fish” trip and an “action” trip, you don’t have to choose. The Rockfish & White Perch combo gives you both in one day.
How SideScan Puts You on More Fish
Our Humminbird Apex 13 SideScan looks out to both sides of the boat, not just straight down. That means we can spot Rockfish, bait balls, and White Perch schools long before we’re on top of them.
Here’s what that means for your trip:
- Less searching and more time with lines in the water
- Faster moves when a school slides off or the bite slows
- Better setups on structure where fish hold tight
Most boats rely on what’s directly under the hull. We see the whole picture, and that’s how a crew of eight filled the cooler in half an hour.
Scaled & Gutted or fileted or scaled only: It is your choice!
Fish Cleaning Options: Your Choice
You caught them. Now let us handle the messy part. Fish cleaning is available for a fee, and you pick how you want your catch prepared:
- Scaled and gutted: great for frying or baking White Perch whole
- Filleted: boneless, table-ready fillets for the grill, oven, or fryer
- Scaled only: perfect if you like to finish the prep at home
Just let your mate know your preference before the end of the trip. With no creel limit on White Perch, it’s a big time-saver when the cooler is heavy.
Pasadena MD Rockfish Charters: The Window Is Now
We run by one simple motto: “We will be where the fish are!” Right now, that’s the upper Bay.
Fishing out of Ventnor Marina in Pasadena keeps us close to productive Rockfish and White Perch water. You spend less time riding and more time catching. Our Pasadena trips run into mid-November. Then we follow the fish south to Harbor Island Marina in Solomons, MD, through December 5.
Choose this if: you want the upper Bay bite while it’s at its peak.
Do this next: check open dates and book before the boats head south.
Rockfish & White Perch Combo Charter Details
| Detail | Info |
| Season | October 15 – December 5 |
| Current location | Ventnor Marina, 8070 Ventnor Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122 |
| Late-season location | Harbor Island Marina, Solomons, MD |
| Boats | Miss Susie II and Miss Susie IV |
| Step 1 | Light tackle live lining for Rockfish with live Spot |
| Step 2 | Bottom fishing for White Perch, no size or creel limits |
| Fish cleaning | Available for a fee: scaled and gutted, filleted, or scaled only |
For the full season breakdown, read our guide to Chesapeake Bay Rockfish & White Perch Combo Charters starting Oct 15. You can also visit our Rockfish & White Perch Fishing page.
Blue Catfish Still Biting in Fort Washington
Miss Susie III keeps putting nice catches of Blue Catfish in the boat out of Tantallon Marina in Fort Washington, MD. The water is calm and protected, so it’s a great pick for families and anyone who prefers a smooth ride. Blue Catfish trips run through Thanksgiving.
Common Mistakes to Avoid This Fall
- Waiting too long. The upper Bay window closes in mid-November, and prime dates go fast.
- Underdressing. November mornings on the water are cold. Bring layers, gloves, and a windbreaker.
- Skimping on cooler space. No creel limit on White Perch means you’ll want extra room.
- Forgetting to pick a cleaning option. Tell your mate early whether you want fish scaled and gutted, filleted, or scaled only.
- Skipping the 8-hour option. More time means more Perch after your Rockfish limit.
Book Your Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Charter Today
Here’s the recap:
- Rockfish limits are coming fast on light tackle live lining.
- White Perch are big and plentiful, with fish from 8.5 to 12 inches and no size or creel limits.
- SideScan finds the schools, like the 30-minute Perch blitz on November 3.
- Fish cleaning is available for a fee, prepared your way.
- Pasadena trips run into mid-November, then we move to Solomons through December 5.
The bite is hot, the fish are fat, and the upper Bay window won’t stay open forever. Grab your crew and pick your date. We’ll put you on the Stripers first and a cooler full of White Perch second.
Reserve your Rockfish & White Perch Combo Charter now →
You can also see all available dates and rates, call Captain Greg at 1-301-873-1327, or contact us online. We’ll be where the fish are. Come join us!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Rockfish bite in Pasadena, MD right now?
It’s excellent. From October 31 to November 5, 2026, our crews had strong light tackle live lining for Rockfish and often limited out quickly.
How big are the White Perch this fall?
This week’s White Perch ranged from 8.5 to 12 inches. Fall Perch are thick and well-fed, which makes for great fillets.
Are there limits on White Perch?
No. White Perch have no size or creel limits, so you can keep as many as you like.
Do you clean the fish?
Yes. Fish cleaning is available for a fee. You can choose scaled and gutted, filleted, or scaled only.
What is the Humminbird Apex 13 SideScan?
It’s an advanced sonar unit that scans out to both sides of the boat. It helps your captain find Rockfish and White Perch schools fast, so you spend more time fishing.
What is light tackle live lining for Rockfish?
Live lining means fishing a live Spot on a light rod with little or no weight. The bait swims naturally, and Rockfish strike it hard.
Is Rockfish the same as Striped Bass?
Yes. On the Chesapeake Bay, Striped Bass are commonly called Rockfish. They’re the same fish.
How much does a Rockfish & White Perch combo charter cost?
The charter is $900 for the first 6 passengers, plus $110 per additional passenger.
How long will Pasadena MD Rockfish charters run?
Pasadena trips run into mid-November. Then we move south to Harbor Island Marina in Solomons, MD, and fish there through December 5.
