Sassafras River

The Sassafras is a small, scenic tidal river on the Kent–Cecil county line, flowing west past Georgetown, Fredericktown and Betterton into the upper Chesapeake. Its miles of marsh-edged shoreline and creeks hold white and yellow perch, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, catfish and snakeheads, with striped bass around the points and channel ledges near its mouth. In July and August its coves bloom with acres of lotus flowers.

When to fish

• Late winter: yellow perch in the tidal river's shallower, confined waters (DNR cut the tidal yellow perch limit in 2026 and asks anglers to release pre-spawn females).
• Spring: white perch spawning runs. The Sassafras is part of the Upper Bay striped bass spawning area, which is off limits to striped bass fishing from March through May.
• Summer and fall: bass, pickerel and snakeheads in the creeks and coves; stripers around sod points in low light and along the channel near the mouth (August is closed to striped bass fishing).

Where to fish

• Turner's Creek and nearby sod banks and points: a Fish & Hunt Maryland guide's starting point.
• Across the river around Ordinary Point and the Sassafras River Light.
• Howell Point and Grove Point near the river mouth: fish both close to shore and along the ledges by the shipping channel.
• Docks, duck blinds and submerged rock piles: white perch.

How to fish it

DNR's standbys for perch are small jig heads or shad darts tipped with grass shrimp, a lip-hooked minnow or bloodworm, worked slowly near bottom. The fly guide suggests poppers around sod points at dawn and dusk for stripers, minnow patterns sized to the bait, and poppers and frog patterns for largemouth.

Getting there

Turner's Creek Park near Kennedyville has a concrete ramp and floating kayak launch (entry and launch fee); the lot fills on weekends. DNR also lists access at Betterton, Fredericktown and Foxhole Landing. You'll need a boat or kayak, since shore fishing is limited. You need a Maryland Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License.