Flounder is the big word this week; fishermen are starting to catch flounder in the back bay areas in enough numbers that they are talking about catching limits. This is great news for fishermen since flounder hold such a dear spot in their hearts (and stomachs). The area around the Route 90 Bridge; the Thorofare and the waters behind Assateague have all been producing good catches at times. The action can be spotty at times and several fishermen mentioned that the best action tends to occur in 6’ to 10’ of water. Tide is another issue that some seem split on, a number of fishermen said the beginning of flood tide was best and others said the bottom of the ebb tide. The water temperature in the back bay areas is generally around 53-degrees. Fishermen have also been reporting that they have been amused by the group of harbor seals that have set up residence on some of the tiny sedge islands in the Thorofare area.
Fishing for tautog continues to be good in the Ocean City Inlet area. The ends of 5th and 6th Streets, the bulkhead between 1st and 4th Streets, the Route 50 Bridge, the inlet jetties and the Oceanic Fishing Pier are all good places to try your hand. Frozen sand fleas and pieces of green crab are the baits of choice.
Surf fishermen continue to battle with spiny dogfish and clear-nosed skates in the surf. A few fish such as undersized striped bass and bluefish show up on the end of someone’s line now and then; but mostly fishermen patiently wait. The first post-spawn striped bass migrating out of the Chesapeake Bay should be making the left hand turn at Cape Charles right about now so perhaps it will only be a couple of weeks before they show up along Maryland beaches.
The party boat fleet that has been heading out to the wreck sites have been reporting limit catches of tautog around the rail when the weather cooperates.
Click here to view recent bay region satellite images at mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/NASAimagery/EyesInTheSky.cfm
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:
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Date
-
Angler(s)
-
Hometown(s)
-
Photo credit
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Location
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Weight/length of catch
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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
The Fisheries
Service is pleased to have you visit. We want to make this
site as user friendly as possible, if you have any suggestions, please
mail them to
Paul Genovese.
