Bay Salinities Back to Average

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Statewide
Location: Cheasapeak Bay waters

Higher than average salinities (salt content) all summer long in Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay have allowed some ocean/saltwater species such as black sea bass, cutlassfish, northern kingfish, and summer flounder to move large distances to the upper Bay/Baltimore area. Also, at the C and D canal near the head of the bay, salinities were up to nearly 10 ppt (about one third of full strength ocean sea water levels) at Delaware City (13,700 conductivity) and 5-6 ppt on the Maryland side of the Canal. Now, for the first time in months, salinity has dropped down to average levels, as noted in this week's fishing report and bay fishing conditions forecast.

Maryland DNR fishing report
news.maryland.gov/dnr/2023/10/18/maryland-fishing-report-october-18/

Bay conditions forecast
eyesonthebay.dnr.maryland.gov/eyesonthebay/FishingConditionsForecast.cfm#forecast

Chesapeake City-NOAA Observational forecast system (OFS)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/ofs_station.html?stname=Chesapeake%20City&ofs=cb&stnid=8573927&subdomain=0

Data buoy off mouth of Patapsco
buoybay.noaa.gov/locations/patapsco