Drifting for flounder in the channel areas behind Ocean City and Assateague Island continues to be the main stay of the summer fishery in the back bay areas. Some of the better sized flounder have been coming from the channel areas close to the inlet such as the Main East Channel and the Thorofare. For those using the traditional baits of squid and minnows the throwback ratio remains high. A number of fishermen have been drifting live spot and coming up with some doormat sized flounder. Medium sized croakers have flooded inside the inlet and can be found in most channel areas that are relatively close to the inlet. Small sea bass, sea robins and small smooth dogfish are also part of the bottom fishing equation.
Small to medium sized bluefish continue to move in and out of the Ocean City Inlet and fishermen have been catching them at times by casting Got-Cha Lures or as an incidental catch while flounder fishing. The evening crew that spends their time casting swim shad type lures and drifting live baits at the Route 50 Bridge/ Inlet area has been chalking up a number of legal sized striped bass and large sea trout lately.
The surf water temperature is presently about 73-degrees and fishermen are finding the best time for fishing to be in the early morning or late evening hours. Those fishermen fishing small baits such as bloodworms are catching a mix of kingfish, croaker and spot. Those using strip baits of squid or fish are catching flounder and finger mullet will give you a chance at the small to medium sized bluefish in the surf. A few striped bass are being caught on larger cut baits and a variety of sharks such as sand tigers and sandbars are being caught at night on large cut baits.
Fishermen who have been hanging over the rails of the head boats that venture out of Ocean City Inlet have been catching sea bass at the wreck sites but a large number of them are too small to keep. Fishermen are coming home with some sea bass but certainly no limits. Flounder have been taking the sting out of lack luster sea bass catches lately at the wreck sites and captains continue to probe the depths of the inshore waters for croakers that seem rather elusive at this point. Underwater photographer
Michael Eversmier sent in this shot of a couple of sea bass who are trying to figure out what the scuba diver had in mind.
Offshore fishermen are catching a mix of chicken dolphin and gaffer sized dolphin out near the canyons and in particular just inside of Poorman’s Canyon. There continue to be a number of white marlin releases reported everyday and for whatever reason the yellowfin tuna catches have been off recently. One thing that may certainly have an effect on reports is the lack of boats exploring the offshore fishing grounds; high fuel costs and long runs to the canyons have left a lot of charter boats sitting at the dock these days.
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 600 pixels. Please keep the file
size under one megabyte if possible. 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.html
Include the following information:
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Date
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Angler(s)
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Hometown(s)
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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. By sending any photos or art to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources you are giving DNR permission to use the image(s) online and in print. You are also giving DNR permission to distribute the photo for non-commercial purposes to other media, print, digital and television for their use. You are not giving up your copyright, but are allowing the photo(s) to be used for educational and news purposes.
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.
