Next Update: April 2, 2008

Slowly, ever so slowly the water temperature of the Atlantic Ocean near the shores of Maryland are warming up but it will take a lot of warm weather and sunshine to keep the trend moving in that direction. Presently the surf water temperature is hovering around 46-degrees. Fishermen are still catching a few under-sized striped bass in and around the Ocean City Inlet on swim shads, bucktails and small jerk baits. Enough tautog continue to be caught inside the inlet to keep fishermen coming back for more with hope that it will blossom into the spring fishery they are used to seeing.

Surf fishermen continue to fish the suds for striped bass but are coming up with spiny dogfish and skates instead. A number of the spiny dogfish have been fairly good sized this past week and some are going home destined for the fryer. Chunks of dogfish that are battered and fried are hard to beat if prepared properly. They skin is tough and will really dull a knife quickly if one tries to cut from the outside in. If you get a cut started and work the knife under the skin and cut out; you blade will survive a lot longer. The skin can be filleted off the meat giving you nice clean chunks. It also helps to bleed dogfish as soon as they are caught and to keep them cold; if the meat smells of urea, soaking it in milk overnight will help.

Tautog fishing on the inshore wreck sites has been excellent lately and the head boat fleet from Ocean City has been reporting limits around the rails or near so for their fishermen on board. A couple of boats have been scheduling long range offshore deep drop trips and those boats have been experiencing good to excellent fishing for large sea bass and tilefish.

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Click here to view recent bay region satellite images at mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/NASAimagery/EyesInTheSky.cfm

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OFFSHORE MAP Click Map Icon For a Larger View	Please click for the latest sea surface temperatures from Rutgers University Marine Remote Sensing
	Please Click for the latest automated weather observations from Station 44009 - DELAWARE BAY 26 NM Southeast of Cape May, NJ
Please click for the latest automated weather observations from THE HOTEL BUOY.

A Couple of Closing Notes...

Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 320 pixels. Please keep the file size small. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please reference the Catch and Release information located at URL:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/articles/catch_release.shtml

Include the following information:

• Date

• Angler(s)

• Hometown(s)

• Photo credit

• Location

• Weight/length of catch

• Bait/lure

Important Note: If anyone in your picture is under 18 years of age, we must have a photo release signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture.

Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood

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