PAX, why do I bother

[Slackdaddy]

Pax river - Hill bridge(rt4)
Was on the water at 5:30AM this morning, High tide 8:30Am,, fished till 10:00AM, So I caught incoming, high, out going.
I live 10 min from here, so it would be a great spot, IF there was better water and something besides catfish.

3 years ago in 4 outings I did catch a few small bass, some yellow perch and a good sized SH.
Last year 5 outings, this year 4 outings,, 2 cats, a few yellow perch, but for the most part skunk city.
There are roughly SEVEN sewage treatment plants dumping in the pax in this general area.
The water has 6-8" visibility, not rain run off, but a constant brown-red stain that looks to be microscopic plant,, I am guessing high nutrient levels.

Anyhow, the habitat is spectacular, it rivals anything that Blackwater has to offer (except fish)
I go way back and up feeder creeks in beautiful Lilly pad fields, picture perfect.
As a comparison, I went to blackwater a few weeks ago for 3 hours in the AM, in 200 yards I counted 5-7 different SH "fry balls".
In my last 9 outing over 2 years I have seen ZERO fryballs on the PAX.

I guess there is a reason in the last 3 years and ~ 12-15 outing I have seen a total of TWO other people on the water fishing this area.

This stretch of the Pax is Lucy with the football, and I am Charlie Brown LOL

[CHOC]

I hate to say it, but I agree. I don’t bother with it anymore. Complete waste of time. I don’t know what keeps bringing back the guys that sit on that dock and fish every single day. My guess is it’s the talkin and not the fishin that keeps them there.

[ronaultmtd]

The lower Pax...from Benedict and further south can be some great fishing...and just about everywhere in Maryland can have some good Catfishing...these fish are all over the place...good thing they are good to eat, otherwise, it would be even worse...same with snakeheads, they are some really good to eat mild, tasty fish...I have a few favorite places that historically produce fish for me...not everytrip but often enough I keep going back..the super heat wave this week is putting a damper on all outdoor activities, but hopefully it will be short-lived. Early mornings, late afternoon and twilight are the calling card of summertime fishing...

[Slackdaddy]

Ron,
Not interested in catfish, not a "bait -N- Wait" type of person.
I was targeting SH and Bass on this trip.
Years back I brought home 1 SH and 2 cats,, after 1 bite of the Sh meat, the catfish went in the trash.

I was launching at 5:15, it was still dark, if this was Mattawomen, or any water on the shore it would have been hitting.
I have no idea why this stretch from Lothian to jug bay is so "dead". The habitat is 2nd to none, but suspect the water quality has issues.