Next Update: April 16, 2008

Surf water temperatures are currently holding around 46-degrees and the waters behind Ocean City can be as high as 56-degrees up towards the Route 90 Bridge. The best tautog fishing at the Route 50/Inlet area continues to be at the bottom of the ebb tide as the warmer bay waters tend to get the tautog in a better feeding mood. Frozen sand fleas and pieces of green crab have been the standard baits of choice. Reports of a few flounder being caught up by the Route 90 Bridge continue and a few under sized striped bass show up at the inlet now and then.

Surf fishermen are mostly catching spiny dogfish and skates and ever so rarely an undersized striped bass. There have been a few reports of spring “runner bluefish in the 14” size range being caught this past weekend by fishermen.

The weather and particularly the winds have really been playing havoc with the part boat fleet trying to get out to the wreck sites to fish for tautog. The tautog are there; fishermen and boat captains just need acceptable weather to get out there to fish. The same goes for the party boats that have been going offshore for deep drop trips for large sea bass and tilefish; the weather has just been too rough.

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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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