First off, I’m not sure if the official name is Solomons Island, MD, or simply Solomons. I’ve see it written and heard it spoken both ways. But I do know from personal experience it is a fun place to drink cold beer and even a better spot, when the fish cooperate, to boat a variety of gamefish. Located about halfway between the mouth of the Chesapeake and its headwaters to the north (Susquehanna Flats), it’s a lovely, picturesque island town set on the north side of the Patuxent River in Calvert County. Only an hour’s drive from either Washington, D.C. or Annapolis, or roughly two-plus hours from points north of Baltimore, there are plenty of places to eat, drink, and stay the night after a fun day on the water.

Each fishing day is different out of Solomons, and over the next month it’s possible you can catch several species of gamefish in one day. Solomons area offers rockfish, bluefish, sea trout, flounder, and Spanish mackerel in the late summer/early fall. Bottom fishing can be excellent in the river proper, or on one of the natural live shell bottom areas or man-made reefs within an easy steam from Solomons.

Early in the fall, jigging, casting to breaking fish or shoreline, bottom fishing, or trolling small bucktail tandem rigs, swimbaits on cut-down umbrellas, and spoons can produce. This time of year when the blues are around, jigging metal jigs Crippled Herrings or Specilaized Bait’s Lil’ Bunker works well. In past years I’ve taken chunky bluefish to five pounds or more on surface plugs off Cedar Point at first light, and then headed upriver to catch spot and white perch. It’s also not uncommon to score a keeper puppy drum and even a few black sea bass.

If you want to take a family or work outing, or just don’t feel like driving the boat, the Solomons charter fleet has experienced skippers and well-maintained boats in a variety of sizes that should fit any group. While there are numerous productive fishing spots just outside the Patuxent River, don’t be surprised if your captain decides to chase the bite that’s going off at another spot.

No boat? No worries. You can fish from the shore at designated fishing piers or rent a skiff from one of several local outfitters. Visit solomonsmaryland.com for details.

When You Go:

Solomons Island Public Boat Ramp (operated by Calvert County)
Days/Hours of Operation: Open daily, 24 hours
Coordinates: E 38-19-29N, 76-27-41W
Address: 14195 Solomons Island Road South, Solomons, MD 20688
Phone Number: Call for free rates (410) 326-8383
Directions: Traveling south on Route 4 to Solomons, MD, turn right on the access road to Solomons Island just before reaching the Thomas Johnson Bridge, then right again to the launching site just after passing under the bridge.

Charter Fishing:

Bunky's Charter Boats - Family owned tackle shop and charter fleet bunkyscharterboats.com (410) 326-3241 Solomons Charter Captain's Association - fishsolomons.com by Capt. Chris D. Dollar