Pocomoke River Fishing Guides
A dark cypress-lined blackwater river on Maryland's lower Eastern Shore, deep for its width, famous for bald cypress, largemouth bass and chain pickerel.
Guides on the Pocomoke River
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About the Pocomoke River
The Pocomoke is the most distinctive river in Maryland and looks nothing like the rest of the state’s water. It drains the Pocomoke Swamp on the lower Eastern Shore, and tannins leached from cypress and gum give it the colour of strong tea, dark enough that a lure disappears a foot under the surface. Bald cypress stand in the water along much of the upper river, knees breaking the surface along the banks, and the canopy closes overhead in places. It is also surprisingly deep for its width, which is what first brought commercial traffic this far up and what still holds fish through the hottest part of the year.
Largemouth bass are the headline fish, and the Pocomoke grows them well in the cypress cover and the undercut banks. Chain pickerel are the other character fish here and are often more cooperative, lying in the shade of deadfalls and striking hard. Bluegill, redbreast sunfish and black crappie fill in the panfish water, bowfin and longnose gar turn up in the slower stretches, and channel catfish work the deeper holes. Lower down, where tide begins to reach, white perch and American eel enter the picture and the fishery shifts character again.
Most people fish it from a canoe, kayak or small johnboat, because the overhead cover and the narrow upper channel reward a boat that can turn. The current is slow, so paddling back upstream is realistic on much of the river and a shuttle is not always necessary. Guided trips tend to be half-day paddle trips focused on bass and pickerel around the cypress, often combined with the wildlife watching, since the river corridor is one of the better birding runs on the Shore.
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Access
Willards - the gauge location on the upper river, with a road crossing and limited parking.
Porters Crossing - a traditional canoe launch into the cypress reach, narrow and heavily shaded.
Whiton Crossing - an upstream launch that starts the classic paddle through the swamp.
Snow Hill - the main town on the river, with a public landing, outfitters and full services.
Pocomoke River State Park - Shad Landing and Milburn Landing, with ramps and camping.
Pocomoke City - the lower river town, with a landing and access to the tidal reach.
Nassawango Creek - the main tributary, a preserve paddle in its own right.
Seasons
Spring: bass move shallow and the cypress edges fish as well as they will all year.
Summer: hot and buggy, with the fishing holding up in the shade of the cypress and the deeper bends.
Fall: cooling water brings bass and pickerel back onto the feed and the swamp colour is at its best.
Winter: slow and cold, with pickerel the most reliable fish and the deeper holes worth working carefully.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Pocomoke River?
As of Nov 2, 7:45 am, the USGS gauge POCOMOKE RIVER NEAR WILLARDS, MD reads 14 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Pocomoke River?
Anglers target American Eel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Gar, Redbreast Sunfish, White Perch on the Pocomoke River in Maryland.
Where can you access the Pocomoke River?
Willards - the gauge location on the upper river, with a road crossing and limited parking. Porters Crossing - a traditional canoe launch into the cypress reach, narrow and heavily shaded. Whiton Crossing - an upstream launch that starts the classic paddle through the swamp. Snow Hill - the main town on the river, with a public landing, outfitters and full services. Pocomoke River State Park - Shad Landing and Milburn Landing, with ramps and camping. Pocomoke City - the lower river town, with a landing and access to the tidal reach. Nassawango Creek - the main tributary, a preserve paddle in i...
When is the best time to fish the Pocomoke River?
Spring: bass move shallow and the cypress edges fish as well as they will all year. Summer: hot and buggy, with the fishing holding up in the shade of the cypress and the deeper bends. Fall: cooling water brings bass and pickerel back onto the feed and the swamp colour is at its best. Winter: slow and cold, with pickerel the most reliable fish and the deeper holes worth working carefully.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Pocomoke River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Maryland agency site: https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/regulations/index.aspx