North East River

The North East River is a short, freshwater tidal river at the head of the Bay in Cecil County, flowing past the town of North East and Charlestown into the upper Chesapeake just east of the Susquehanna Flats. It's best known for winter and early-spring yellow perch, and it also holds white perch, largemouth bass, catfish (channel, white and blue), snakeheads and, along the flats at its mouth, striped bass. North East Community Park and the Charlestown stone wharf are both license-free fishing areas.

When to fish

• November to early March: yellow perch school in the deep holes; fish them until they spawn in early March, when they move shallow and then scatter.
• Spring: white perch run up to the upper river. The river follows the Susquehanna Flats rules for striped bass, which are closed in April and May.
• Summer: stripers along the flats at the river mouth at first light, often before sunrise; bass and snakeheads in the grass.

Where to fish

• Deep holes near the river mouth: winter yellow perch.
• The shallows at the river's entrance: perch as the water warms in March.
• The upper river: spring white perch.
• Docks, piers, bulkheads and grass edges: the Fish & Hunt Maryland guide says the developed shoreline gives fish plenty of cover.
• North East Community Park: a shoreline and fishing pier where you can fish without a license.

How to fish it

For perch, DNR suggests lip-hooked minnows worked slowly along the bottom with a split shot, dropper rigs with small minnows in deeper water, or small jigs, spinners and shad darts tipped with grass shrimp. A top-and-bottom rig with a worm and a minnow is a simple option from the pier. For white perch, try small jig heads or shad darts tipped with grass shrimp, minnow or bloodworm.

Getting there

From I-95, take Route 272 into North East and turn onto West Walnut Street for North East Community Park, which has a paved lot, a fishing pier and a sand launch for canoes and kayaks. Elk Neck State Park, about 10 miles south, has a boat ramp. License-free areas (North East Community Park and the Charlestown wharf) still require a free saltwater angler registration; elsewhere you need a Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License.