Best time to fish in Indian Head
Today, Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · local time (EDT) · Maryland, United States Today, Wed, Oct 28 · EDT- High tides
- 9:47 am and 10:01 pm
- Major periods
- 1:44–3:44 am and 2:15–4:15 pm
- Solunar activity
- Medium
- Sun
- 7:31 am–6:13 pm
Today, Wednesday, October 28, the best time to fish in Indian Head is 2:20 pm to 4:20 pm, with the 3:16 pm low tide and a major period. It's an average day (6/10). The best day this week is Monday, November 2, at 8/10.
Your day in Indian Head at a glance
The strip runs from midnight to midnight, local time. Night in gray, daylight in yellow; the blue curve is the tide; below, the solunar periods and the best windows.
Fishing forecast for the next 7 days
| Day | Rating | Best times | High tides | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6average day | 2:20–4:20 pm10:10–10:50 am | ▲ 9:47 am ▲ 10:01 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Thu 29 | 7good day | 3:20–5:10 pm3:20–4:50 am | ▲ 10:37 am ▲ 10:52 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Fri 30 | 7good day | 4:20–6:10 pm4:20–5:50 am | ▲ 11:33 am ▲ 11:49 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Sat 31 | 6average day | 5:30–6:40 pm5:10–6:50 am | ▲ 12:35 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Sun 1 | 7good day | 6:10–6:50 am5:20–7:20 pm | ▲ 12:51 am ▲ 12:39 pm | Last quarter |
| Mon 2 | 8good day | 6:10–7:50 am6:30–8:10 pm | ▲ 12:58 am ▲ 1:46 pm | Waning crescent |
| Tue 3 | 7good day | 7:10–8:30 am7:30–9:00 pm | ▲ 2:10 am ▲ 2:55 pm | Waning crescent |
Each day's rating comes from the tide, the solunar periods, the light and, when we have the forecast, the weather.
What can you catch in Indian Head?
Sport fishing species with the most records within about 62 mi of Indian Head: striped bass, spot, Atlantic croaker, summer flounder and weakfish. October is one of the months when these are seen most: spot, summer flounder and weakfish.
- Striped bass Morone saxatilis · fish · 760 records Photo: Steven G. Johnson · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Spot Leiostomus xanthurus · fish · 491 records Photo: NOAA's Fisheries Collection; Collection of Brandi Noble · public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus · fish · 345 records Photo: Carvalho-Souza, Gómez & González-Ortegón (2024) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus · fish · 285 records Photo: U.S. Government - NOAA · public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Weakfish Cynoscion regalis · fish · 221 records Photo: Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Fisheries Service… · public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix · fish · 128 records Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. · public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus · fish · 33 records Photo: United States Fish Commission · public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Too few sightings to tell the months
- Black drum Pogonias cromis · fish · 22 records Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
These are sightings and catches recorded since 1970 (reports from divers and anglers, scientific surveys and museum collections), not a promise that you will catch them. The months come from sightings only, adjusted for how many there are each month; hatched months have too few to tell.
Source: GBIF.org, which also gathers OBIS data. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY 4.0, from 1,130 datasets (retrieved October 24, 2026). Where the data comes from
Photos: each species' image on Wikidata (Wikimedia Commons) or, if there isn't one, one from GBIF; only licences that allow this use, each with its author and licence.
What anglers catch most in Maryland
Recreational saltwater catch across the whole state in September and October (2021–2025 average), from NOAA's recreational fishing survey (MRIP). It counts fish kept and fish released; bait fish are left out.
From shore
Beaches, piers, jetties and rocks
- White perch 1.7 million * 60% released
- Spot 830,000 75% released
- Channel catfish 140,000 75% released
- Summer flounder 120,000 * 95% released
- Atlantic croaker 90,000 * 100% released
Private or rental boat
Private boats and rentals without a captain
- White perch 590,000 60% released
- Spot 530,000 65% released
- Striped bass 510,000 90% released
- Atlantic croaker 190,000 95% released
- Black sea bass 120,000 90% released
Charter or party boat
Charters and party (head) boats
- Striped bass 48,000 45% released
- Spot 32,000 * 45% released
- Black sea bass 30,000 75% released
- Bluefish 20,000 15% released
- Summer flounder 6,400 75% released
Fish a year · * Less precise figure: use with caution
All year: the top three every two months
| Months | Species |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | No data |
| Mar–Apr | White perch, Blue catfish, Channel catfish |
| May–Jun | Spot, White perch, Atlantic croaker |
| Jul–Aug | Spot, Atlantic croaker, White perch |
| Sep–Oct | White perch, Spot, Channel catfish |
| Nov–Dec | White perch, Blue catfish, Striped bass |
| Months | Species |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | No data |
| Mar–Apr | White perch, Striped bass, Blue catfish |
| May–Jun | White perch, Spot, Striped bass |
| Jul–Aug | White perch, Spot, Atlantic croaker |
| Sep–Oct | White perch, Spot, Striped bass |
| Nov–Dec | Striped bass, Tautog, Black sea bass |
| Months | Species |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | No data |
| Mar–Apr | Tautog, Spiny dogfish, Conger eel |
| May–Jun | Striped bass, Black sea bass, Spot |
| Jul–Aug | Spot, Striped bass, Atlantic croaker |
| Sep–Oct | Striped bass, Spot, Black sea bass |
| Nov–Dec | Striped bass, Black sea bass, Spiny dogfish |
These are estimates from a survey of anglers, not a count, and they cover the whole state, not this exact spot. Each figure is the average for one year in those two months, rounded. Only species with a relative standard error of up to 50% are shown, NOAA's standard; those marked * are between 30% and 50%, and NOAA advises using them with caution.
Source: NOAA Fisheries, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), wave-level catch estimates for 2021–2025. Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Where the data comes from
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Fishing pier 9.0 mi
- COL Joseph G. Swift Pier 5.4 mi
- Jetty 1.7 mi
- Fisherman's Point 5.7 mi
- Boat ramp 0.7 mi
- Boat ramp 3.3 mi
- Canoe Boat Launch 5.7 mi
- Pohick Bay Regional Park Marina 5.3 mi
- Tyme N' Tyde Marina 5.5 mi
- Pilot House Marina 5.6 mi
- K&m Outfitters 7.6 mi
- Fuel dock 5.5 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
How we work out the best time
We score every moment of the day, every 10 minutes, with simple rules anglers have used for decades:
- Tide: 2 to 3.5 points in the hour before and the hour after each high and low tide. Spring tides (high coefficient) score more, because the water moves faster.
- Solunar: 2.5 points in the major periods (moon overhead or underfoot) and 1.5 in the minor ones (moonrise and moonset).
- Light: 2 points at dawn and dusk, from first light to the end of the morning golden hour and from the evening golden hour to the end of twilight.
- Weather: falling pressure adds 1 point and rising pressure takes 1 away; wind takes points away from force 4 (about 12 mph), up to 5 points in a gale; waves of 1.6 ft to 4.9 ft add half a point (they stir up the water) and from 8.2 ft they take points away (up to 4).
- Best windows: the stretches of 40 minutes to 3 hours with the most points, at least an hour apart.
- Day's rating out of 10: the best window (up to 5), the moon (up to 2, near new or full moon), the tide coefficient (up to 2) and whether a solunar period lines up with sunrise or sunset (1). Without a tide, we score out of 8 and scale it to 10. Good weather adds up to 1 point and bad weather pulls it down.
Today: best window 3.9 of 5, moon 1 of 2, coefficient 1.5 of 2 and lineup 0 of 1.
It's a guide, not a guarantee: fish don't read tide tables. Always check the sea conditions and local fishing rules before you go.
Learn more
Fishing rules in Indian Head
Licenses, size limits, bag limits and closed seasons are set by the authorities and change often. We don't copy them here: check the official website before you go.
Questions about fishing in Indian Head
What's the best time to fish in Indian Head today?
2:20 pm to 4:20 pm, with the 3:16 pm low tide and a major period. Also 10:10 am to 10:50 am and 2:30 am to 3:40 am. Today's rating: 6/10 (average day).
What about tomorrow? When's the best time to fish in Indian Head?
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 29: 3:20 pm to 5:10 pm, with a rating of 7/10.
Which day this week is best for fishing in Indian Head?
Monday, November 2, at 8/10. Its best window is 6:10 am to 7:50 am.
What can you catch in Indian Head?
Sport fishing species with the most records within about 62 mi of Indian Head: striped bass, spot, Atlantic croaker, summer flounder and weakfish. October is one of the months when these are seen most: spot, summer flounder and weakfish. These are sightings and catches recorded in GBIF and OBIS, not a promise that you will catch them.
When are the solunar periods in Indian Head today?
Major: 1:44–3:44 am and 2:15–4:15 pm. Minor: 10:07–11:07 am and 7:21–8:21 pm. Solunar activity today: medium.
Does the tide affect fishing in Indian Head?
Yes. Today high tide is at 9:47 am and 10:01 pm and low tide at 3:27 am and 3:16 pm, with a tide coefficient of 80 (average tides). The hours around each tide change tend to fish best, because moving water carries food.
How is the rating worked out?
From the tide, the solunar periods, the light at dawn and dusk, the moon phase and, when we have the forecast, the pressure, the wind and the waves. Each factor gives a fixed number of points and the rating sums them up out of 10.
Does it take the weather into account?
Yes. During today's best window: steady pressure (30.36 inHg) and almost no wind. Strong wind and big waves lower the rating; falling pressure raises it a little.
What are the fishing rules in Indian Head?
Recreational fishing rules in Indian Head (licenses, size limits, bag limits and closed seasons) are set by the authorities: Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Fishing and Boating Services; offshore, NOAA Fisheries. They change often: check the official website before you go.
More about Indian Head today
Our own calculation: tide from Indian Head (NOAA), sun and moon with astronomy-engine and, when available, weather and sea from Open-Meteo (ECMWF, NOAA GFS and Copernicus Marine, CC BY 4.0). Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)